Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-12-27
SELBACH DELIGHTED
With the News That He is to Become
Red Leg.

With the News That He is to Become
a Red Leg.
Columbus Special to the Cincinnati Enquirer
Il am mighty glad to hear it, was Al
Seibach's declaration when the Enquirer
representative apprised him at midnight
that he had been secured by the Reds
i have wanted to go to Cincinnati for
two years. The city is a good one full of
good fellows, and know and like the men
on the team; and then, too, it's close at
home. and l can run up to Columbus and
see my wife once in a WHILE
rs the news surprise to your" was
asked
I'm one way, yes; in another no. Wag-
ner told me at the end of last season that
he might sell me. and that, anyhow, some
mighty funny moves were on the cards for
spring. He declared he would pay no man
more than the limit, and / thought l ought
to have more than s., 400 if l stayed with
Washington. / declined the captaincy of
the Washington team last year, but ii was
understood that if | stayed there this year
would be in charge. / wasn't altogether
pleased at the prospects, for | didn't like
some of the timber / would have to work
with. Still, l suppose 1 would have taken
a chance if Wagner had done the proper
thing in a financial way.
Buck Ewing was negotiating for me last
season, he told me, and the last time l saw
him he said: Sci. old boy, Wen have you
sure this season. / told him to go ahead
and get me- He had my consent. But III
ask more than 81 400 to play in Cincinnati"
Why
III be dumped in hard place, you see.
Of course, they will play me in the sun
field and while 1 amt afraid of the sun, as
| told Buck, it's a bad place to put a man.
In seVenty-seVen games on the home
grounds the man in right field has a lot
Of devils to handle. and I'll have to work
harder than l have had to in Washington
Besldes l think | am entitled to ask that
the limit be tilted with me. / am hitting
way up. and 1 don't bar any fielder in the
league in competition. Toward the end of
last season / had a slump in my hitting,
caused by the fact that the tendous in my
right ankle were torn. / had to bat when
1 was not fit to be on my feet. and /
couldn't do myself justice 1t had to be
done. though. and L did it. But l have
been a bit sore about ii ever since"
''How's your ankle noW?'
ITS strong and well ever, though you
can see for yourself that it is still little
bigger than the other. But I was never in
better physical condition in my life. There
is practically no fat on me and what there
is / will take off in gymnasium work here
at home. / will start training right after
New Year and do long walks and hot baths
until / am perfectly fit. When I go south
for the spring training l will be better than
1 ever in my life before
How do you view the chances Of Cincin-
MATHS success the coming year,"
There's the best team of ball PLAYERS in
the circuit, but some of the boys have a
yellow streak. They ought to be dropped
and let aggressive be the watchword this
year There's nothing like team of scrap
pers to pull game out of the mire after 1t
seems lost. / think the Reds will have the
best team in the circuit this year, and I'm
tickled to be with Them
Mr.. Setback has been acting as steward
of the Philos Club here this winter, and is
one of the star members of the Ail-Star
bowling team of Columbus He will drop
bowling in a few weeks. however, and de-
vote himself to active preparation for the
season
Tell the ENQUIRER to give the boys my
regards, he said in parting. "Il have all
Columbus down there to my first game
in red stockings