The times., 1898-02-15

years ago have lovers of baseball seen
teams of the major organization as
they will see when the various mines
take the field this season. 1t will be
q difficult matter even for the most
dyed in-the-w wool enthusiast to recog
niZe some of the teams except by their
uniforms. Since the last game of the
81 schedule was played there has been
plenty of action on the part of the
managers. The results of such extra
ordinary activity will be watched with
great interest. 1t may be that a dark
horse will appear in the race for the
pennant and fight it out with those
teams that are supposed to have the
battle to themselves. The fans here
are, of course, hoping that the Sena-
tors may prove that dark horse, but
unless another seasoned twirler is ad-
ded to the pitching department and
good man secured for third base
Washington will do well to keep in the
first division. Doyle on first and Reitz
on second are the new men secured
by Washington for the infield.
Cleveland and Boston are satisfied
with the teams they had last season,
and will make no changes, although
they have drafted several new players.
The New York club secured Hartman
and Grady from st. Louis, but did not
feel that it wanted to take any
chances with young blood and so
signed only one minor Lacquer. His
name is Sperline and he is a pitcher
Every other club drafted or picked up
more than one youngster. The Phila-
delphias Will be an almost entirely new
team. The full complement, including
George Staliings, is thirty seven. The
nations represented include America,
France. Germany, Ireland and Italy.
According to bulk, the '-phillies'' have
already won the championship, with
the other teams nowhere. Douglass
may play first base, and Billy Nash
may be shifted from third 10 second
as he did SO well in the latter posi-
tion in California. Lajoie may cover
third and Monte" Cross short Dele
hanty is the only one who is really
sure of his position. Donahue, who
was secured with Monte" Cross and
Douglass from St Louis. is expected
to materially strengthen the team iii
the box. He made his debut as Roger
Connor's protege with the New Yorks.
Another big shift viii be in the Chi
helm instead of Anson. Burns will
have quite a problem to face. as he
will find a badly demoraIized team.
lacking fire and ginger. He has sew
eral first class East1,n and Western
League players to select from. It is
thought that he viii use Callahan as a
pitcher and put Connor on second. Nc
Cormfck may cover third, Everett thus
being switched to first. Decker, Woods
and Isbel Will fight it out for left field.
the chances being in favor of Woods.
The St Louis Browns, under the
guiding hand of Tim Hurst, will be
scarcely recognizable. Holmes, Dom
nelly. Clements, Taylor. Lave Cross.
DoWd. Sugden and Hugkey have join
ed the team as the result of deals with
Philadelphia, New York and Pitts
burg. Several minor league players
have also been secured The Browns
ought to make better showing than
they have made for some years paste
Barring Clingman at third Louisville
viii have new infield and also two new
outfielders. Perry Werden. who covered
first base, has gone to Minneapolis, TAX
ing along his bunch of jokes This is the
second time he has made his exit from
the National League Still Billr Hill.
the pitcher. has been traded to Cincin-
natl Cor Ritchey. Hoy and Ehret Ritch-
ey VIII play short and Plug up the hole
that existed there Hoy Will do duty in
the outfield. Smith or Wagner will play
second and Carey or Dillard first.
w. II. Watkins. the new president and
manager of the Pittsburgs, is trying TO
get a team that will make all the others
hustle. Billy Merritt VIII not be one OF
the catchers He has gone to Kansas
City. Among the new men is John Gan
eel, brother Of Charley CAMEL, CT the
Bostons. Camel was secured from
Grand Rapids. and is a candidate for
first base Elmer Smith and Pink
Hawley have been traded to Cincinnati
for Schriver, Rhines, Gray and McCarty.
and Sugden and Hughey to ST. Louis for
Morgan Murphy and Hart.
Buck Ewing has been hopping about
like youngster this winter, and lovers
of the game in Cincinnati think that the
Reds will surely win the pennant this
year 1t certainly looks as if Ewing had
strengthened his team considerably. In
Pink Hawiey and Still Bill Hill he
has two clever pitchers. and he ought TO
be able to get them to put forth their
best efforts. Then he has Elmer Smith
a heavy hitter. who will strengthen the
outfield. The infield is one of the best
in the League, and will remain the same
Eddie Burke goes to st. Paul. Mcbride
who led the Western League in batting
last year will be one of the outfielders.
The Orioles present two new infielders
They will have McGann; an Eastern
Lacquer. on first base, and DeMontre-
Vile on second. Brooklyn has twenty
one men on it's list, and there will be
several changes in the makeup of the
team, but Billy Barnie has not decided
upon them yet.