Evening star., 1898-12-22
EWING ON THE SITUATION.
Cincinnati's Manager Believes an
Eigbt-CIub League Certainty.

CiHcinnati's Manager Believes
EiEht-CIub League n Certainty.
Weldon in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
1t was the first annual meeting in four
years that the Cincinnati club did not fig
ure in sensational deal Captain Ewing
told me before he started to the meeting
that he did not expect to make trade.
He argued that the Reds were so strong
that it would take something exceptionally
tempting to induce him to let go of any
of his players. He tried to make two deals,
one for Ruse, the mighty pitcher of the
New Yorks. and the other for Selbach, the
sensational outtielder of the WaShingtonS.
He not successful in either instance.
1t is possible that something may come
from both deals. He offered four players
for Rusie. A number of names have been
mentioned in connection with this trade,
but. according to Ewing. the names of sev-
eral players who would have figured in the
deal have not been made public. Breiten-
stein and Irwin were two of the players
mentioned. but there were two others, and
Ewing will not give their names. Il have
very little hope that the trade with New
York will go through said Captain Ew-
ing on the train yesterday. Il am of the
opinion that the trade, is good de-
clared off. Yes, there was another player
besides Rusie in the New York end of the
deal, and several Cincinnati players. whose
names | will not mention, who would have
been transferred had the deal been made
Captain Ewing has little hope of getting
Selbach unless the Washington club either
quits the business joins the proposed
new American Association. If the Wash
ington club is purchased by the league
said Captain Ewing, then | presume the
stars of the senatorial team will be sold by
auction. Then there Will be a chance for
trade
Saturday night in New York city Captain
Ewing told Patsy Donovan that had he
known that the Pittsbnrg club intended to
trlh Sslutr to hi Iy
have made a cash offer for the little West
ern Lacquer why, | would give $1,000
cash for Slagel.' said Ewing to Donovan
Saturday evening, The writer, remember
ing what Ewing had said Saturday, asked
the Reds leader why he did not make the
same offer to the Washingtons. 1t was
suggested that as Wagner got Sagel prac-
tically for nothing, getting him as one
third part of three for one trade for ReitZ,
a cash offer might have secured the little
fellow.
4 might have made the same offer to
Wagner for Sagel that l told Donovan
about" said Captain Ewing. but Wagner
took all the wind out of my sails when be
asked $1,000 for Freeman. l thought that if
he wanted $1,000 for a man that he will
probably release later on for nothing he
would want $4,000 or 5000 for such
well-boomed youngster as Slagel"
do you think Slagel is "a comer?" L
asked.
Il have never seen him play ball said
Captain Ewing. 'All | know about him
has been told me. From all accounts he
must be fine player. | have been told that
he is second Billy Keeler. 1t must have
cost the Pittsburg club pretty penny to
secure him. After paying much for his
release l can't understand why they should
trade him off without even giving him a
chance"
In your opinion the Pttsburg club got
the worst of that trade with Washington"
1T looks that way on paper was the re-
ply. There isn't much difference between
10 ha a
shade the best second baseman. He is TAX
ing on flesh so rapidly, however. that 1t
may handicap him next season. The trade
is nearly even the second baseman.
Washington has two extra men thrown in
to boot. Slagel is $1,000 man, and, ac
cording to Arthur irwin, O'Brien is even
better than Slagel.''
If the league is reduced to eight clubs
what do you think will become of the best
players on the Louisville and Washington
teamS?'
1T Is my opinion that the eight-club
league for next year is cinch,'' said Ew
ing. Everything looks that way. The
right kind of people in the league are be-
hind the movement to reduce the circuit.
1t is being urged and promoted by the most
powerful and richest clubs in the league.
They are not going to stop until they ac-
complish their purpose. II the Cleveland
club is transferred to St. Louis Patsey Te-
beau will take all his men with him. All
the cracks in the Baltimore and Brooklyn
teams will be used to make up that crack
bTOOhlSu team. Inc BOSlOIS are diIedus
strong enough. The Chicagos only need
one or two men to make them hit to cope
with the best in the league. The Philadel-
phia and New York teams are badly in
need of star players. When the league buys
out Washington and Louisville there will
be chance to strengthen up these weak
places"
"In what way?"
Il expect to see the dicker for these clubs |
also include their star players, said Ewing.
In ST. Louis there are not great many
There are some, however, who would do,
Jake Stencil. Dick Harley, Lave Cross and
Clements are very liable to play in the
league. From Louisville the league would
take Fred Clark, Billy Clingman, Charlie
Dexter, Cunningham. McGee, Bowling and
Wagner. In the Washington club there are
a half dozen players who would help fill out
the weak places in leagne teams Mercer
is very liable to go to Chicago. Charlie Far
rell, Jimmie Mcclure and Selbach will also
be in demand. With these players league
of eight magnificent teams could be formed. |
The Boston. Brooklyn, Cincinnati and
Cleveland teams are pretty nearly strong
enough as they stand. The Chicago team
only needs one or two players. With the
extra players secured from Louisville |
Washington and st Louis, the New York, |
Philadelphia and Pittsburg teams could be
patched out that the race next season |
would be very even. With eight such teams
it would be a hard matter to pick out the
pennant winner. If the circuit is reduced |
and l think it will be, you will see the
greatest base ball next season in the history
of the game 1t will be case of tip-toe |
and everybody in the hunt down to the
end"