The times., 1898-12-17
THE Big BASEBALL DEAL
Brooklyn and BaltimoreRe
to Consolidate.
STRONG TEAMS ON PAPER
Divide the Net Proceeds Equally
The sixteen-Ciub Two-Circuit
scheme Advances Several NOtches
-WHshingtOn Wants to Dictate
Terms.

New York, Dec ls.-The big baseball
deal between the Brooklyn and Baltimore
clubs was virtually closed tonight, al
though the persons directly interested did
not sign a written agreement.
F. A. Abel, OF the Brooklyn club. and
Edward Hanlon, of the Baltimore club,
We're in conference all this afternoon.
with the result that they reached an un-
derstanding as TO 4 basis upon which the
two clubs can be consolidated. Won der
Horst was confined to his bed all day, and
Ebbetts, who has been suffering from
severe cold, was compelled to so home
early. With these men absent, Hanlon
and Abel fixed up the details as well
as they could. but refrained from signing
q co-partncrship agreement until tomor-
row. when Won der Horst and Ebbetts
may be able to meet them.
When Abel and Hanlon ended their
long confab, which took place in the
Hoffman House, they both looked happy.
I'VE have practically agreed upon
terms said Hanlon, but will not make
the deal until Mr.. Won der Horst meets
us tomorrow"
They Will Probably Agree.
AS Hanlon has always done about as he
pleased because of the implicit confidence
reposed in him by Won der Horst IL is
almost safe to say that the latter will
agree to whatever details Hanlon and
Abel have arranged.
Everything is favorable,p y said Abel,
"and / see no reason why the deal should
not be made. HanIon and 1 have agreed
on every point and we are merely wait
ing for Mr.. Won der Horst to ratify what
We have done. No contract has been
signed and no papers have been drawn
up. but all that can be quickly done
later"
When the articles have been signed, the
arrangement by which the two clubs VII
consolidate will result in Brooklyn having
what on paper appears to be the greatest
team in the country. Hanlon will BE- the
manager with absolute control of the
team. According to the present plan, he
will bring the pick of the Baitimores to
Washington Park to be formed into
team with the best men OF last seasons
Brooklyns. Many states were, discussed
in the corridors of the Fifth Avenue
Hotel today by baseball men. but the one
said to be looked upon with particular
favor by Hanlon is:
The Teams on Paper.
Pitchers, McJames. Hughes, Corbett,
Maui, Kennedy and Dunn; oatchers,
Clarke, Smith and Ryan; first baseman,
Kelly; second baseman, DAILY; third base
man, DeMontrevllle; shortstop. Jennings;
outfielders, Jones, Griffin, Keeler and An
derson; extra infielder. Magoon.
With these men wearing the Brooklyn
uniform. the new Baltimore team may b.
made UP of the following:
Pitchers, Miller. Yeager, Nops, Kitson,
Howell, CASTOR and McKenna; catchers.
Robinson. Grim and Crisham; infielders.
McGunn, La Chance, Mailman. McGraw
and Bail; outfield. Holmes, Brodie and
Sheckard.
While Abel and Hanion did not give
out any figures on which to base the set.
tlement of the deal between the clubs. It
is generally believed that the two clubs
will agree to divide equally whatever
profits there may be after the receipts
and expenses Of both clubs have been
pooled. They are so confident of making
big money at Washington Park that they
want an even break and no favcrs.
The Two-Circuit Plan.
The consummatlon of the deal makes i.
much easier for the league men to estab-
lish the sixteen-club, two-cIrcuit scheme,
although there are still many obstacles
in the way. The magnates, who at first
were decidedly averse to admitting that
such a thing was contemplated, began to
openly discuss the chances of successfully
bringing the matter to n focus today. In
short, the secret wire-pulling of the mag
mates has brought the case down to this:
Every club in the league is willing to en-
ter scheme to establish Two circuits ex-
cept Louisville and Washington. The lat
ter are willing in a way. too. but they be-
lieve they have q chance to dictate terms
If they persist in holding up the deal
there is every indication that the mag
mates will conclude to go ahead with
them by establishing ten-club circuit. In
such an arrangement Louisville and
Washington would have little chance of
a business half as profitable
as If they were in another circuit of eight
clubs composed of cities in their own
class
AS an indication of how Louisville and
are trying to get in out of
the wet. several magnates pointed out
some circumstantial evidence tonight
They showed that the Louisville dele
gates, Pulliam, Dahlen and Dreyfus.
called on Freedman this morning and Of
fered to sell the Louisville players and
franchise to the New York Club for $50 900
cash.
Mr.. Nagner's Offer.
Wagner, of Washington, also showed
where he stood when he declared that, in
his estimation, two leagues might be
framed provided the first consisted of
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Wash
ingtor. Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburg and
Detroit, the other to include Providence,
Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Gin
cinnati Louisville. st. Louis and India
napoiis. When some of the magnates
heard of Wagner's plan they went out into
the street to get some fresh air. The
opinion was that the Washington man
was getting ready to make stand for
big money.
The league was In session nearly all to-
day and the delegates gave out that they
were considering the Philadelphia gate re-
ceipt question. John Rogers was ready
for the supposed opposition. and with a
raft of figures he proceeded to convince
the magnates that with 25-cent ball in his
town and a settlement with visiting clubs
on the basis of 12 1-2 cents for every tick
ct of admission sold Philadelphia had paid
over more money to the other clubs than
it had received in all of the cities on the
road.
In the corridors there was talk of sew
eral deals. Wagner, of Washington, said
he hoped to secure McGraw from Balti-