Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-16
SPORTING ITEMS.

There are a few National league mag
mates who are beginning to realize the
fact that farming" is an evil that should
be abolished. It was all right for a
time, but when the Western league man
ayers began burying players with Ma
tiOnal league clubs it caused a howl.
Ned Hanlon is one of the men who is
against the farm A question as to
what he thought of the report that Brodie
was to be sent to the farm" by Pitts
burg led him 70 discuss what he consid-
ers one Of the greatest evils in baseball
at thep resent time.
Under the present rules and practice
| could send Jennings or Keeler to a farm
and keep them there permanently if [
wanted. Suppose, for instance, I had an
my farm | would first of all write to
all the league clubs asking them to
waive claim to Keller, unless they
wished to buy his release for, say, $780,
600
Now, Keller, if free to sign, could
get job on any team in the country,
but L would put the price too high, and
him. Then [ would sell him to Rich
mond for $4,000, the sale being, Of
course, fictitious by previous agreement.
The next fall | would buy him back
from Richmond before the drafting sea-
son began, for some eXOrbitant price,
that sale being also regular in form, the
checks passing through President Young's
hands, and the transfer being regularly
made, but by previous agreement, no
money would actually pass, the sale be-
ing mere matter of form to prevent
his being drafted. Then Keeler would
belong to me until a year hence, when
l would again set tremendous price on
hi rnIn IL Ilo Il, i ~
pay, they would waive claim again, and
again he would be sold fictitiOusly to
Richmond, and so on year after year.
Now Of course nobody would be foolish
enough to send Keller or Jennings to a
farm but l am showing how it could
be done, and L know numbers of players
who are good enough for the big league
who are treated in just exactly that way.
and have been kept in minor leagues year
after year.
Il know some young pitchers who were
drafted for $500 whom several league
clubs would like to have for $780, but
the clubs that drafted them run up the
price as high as $4,000, and as nobody
vii! give that they will go to the farm.
1t IS simply an outrage less
and ought to be stopped, but it will not
be because too many clubs profit by the
traffic"
Pitcher Frank Parvin of Carrollton.
Mo-, has signed with Atlanta in the
Southern league
A player by the name of Collars is so
anxious to be on the indianapolis team
next season that he promises to forfeit
part of his salary if he fails to bat above
the 300 mark
Pitcher Wayne, the tall, weird, erratic
kansan, who tried to break into the
Western league through the Kansas CITY
RlupS ciU
with New Orleans in the Southern
league
Manager Schmelz has decided to
change the color of the uniforms of the
Mlllers. In place of the familiar gray
and black, he will substitute light cadet
blue with black trimmings. The players
will wear light cOatS-a la Chicago-to
match the suits.
Somebody has started the story, and
it is going the rounds Of the press, that
.N oiceless' Tim O'Rourke is to captain
the Newcastle team in the Interstate
paragrapher will assert that Dummy
Hoy is going to do all the kicking for the
Louisville team.
The st. Joseph correspondent of Sport
ing Life says that Jacob Menefee will
manage and captain the Western associa-
will probably be Of interest to Manager
Manning, who owns the franchise. Mr..
Manning said the other day that Menefee
had been given his release
when the Washington team was on
the downward grade" says a Washing
ton writer, with hardly chance of
stopping this side of last place, the
Messrs. Wagner signed Tom Tucker,
who, with Tom Brown, worked for all
they were worth, and everyone knows
we'll the result; therefore, it is a pity
Washington is TO lose SO faithful player
l.
luck and success wherever he goes, and
he will always be warmly welcomed
whenever he comes to Washington.
There are some clubs in the major league
today that have not the equal of Tom
Tucker on their first base, and why they
don't grab him is a question that is I'M
answered"
Billy Barnie, manager of the Brook
lyns, who had a controlling interest in
the Hartford Conn club, has sold out
to a Hartford syndicate.
Algie Mcbride, the Reds new outfield-
er, now is visiting relatives at Punxsu-
taWney, Pa.
Dad Clarke is said to be in first rate
condition to pitch the game of his life
for Louisville.
Pete Ward, once a Philadelphia twirler,
now is physician and a choir leader at
Anaconda, Mont.
Catcher Criger of Cleveland has refused
to sign 4 contract for next season at the
salary offered him.
Pitcher Pittinger, the new Beaneater.
has record of forty games won out of
forty-fve played last season.
Hugh Nicol was an applicant for a
franchise in the Western association for
Omaha. He did not reach.
Charley thinner may not go to Hot
Springs with the Clevelands. He is in
good playing form even now.
Pitcher Wheeler of the Phillies is max
ing his board money this winter by play
ior al in, obue