Evening star., 1898-12-10
@--S
Minor Leaguers VIII Not Do for the
focal Nine.
FIRST CLASS lNEIELDERS ARE NEEDED
Base Ball Patrons Tired Of Expert
mental Teams.
CRISIS FOR THE SENATORS

The signing Of Shortstop Hulen of the
Western League during the past week by
the Washington club was received with a
cold chill by the local base ball enthusiasts.
!! Washington has been treated to expert
ments for the past six years, ever since
the Messrs. Wagners have had control of
the local club. and it was expected that
with the re-entry of Arthur Irwin as a
manager of the Senator's new line of or
ganization for the coming season would be
adopted. Year after year the Washington
public has gone to National Park with the
abiding faith of base ball enthusiasts that 4
each season would be an improvement upon
the one that had passed, and year after
year disappointment and chagrin have been
their lot. To say that the Washington pub
hc will stand this sort of treatment for
ever is building upon the false Information
that falls to the lot of people who are not
citizens of the national capital. In seasons
gone by. it will be recalled, crowds were
drawn in the spring which dwndled to the
usual average number of spectators, 500 Of
the faithful, who are tied up in the summer
and pine for amusement The last two sea-
sens have been eye-openers to the Wash
ington management in the matter of at
tendance at the opening games, and it has
about reached a point where the local pa
irons of the game will remain away from
National Park until the club representing
this city gives evidence of winning ball and
winning steadily. AS a matter Of economy
the club ndulged in spring practice at
home for several seasons past and as re-
suit thousands of dollars were lost. The
coming spring the Senators will be taken
south, but from the outlook it will be this
practice alone that will be relied upon to
land them in the first division.
The Washington club as now constituted
is in dire need of a lirst-class shortstop and
third baseman. The other positions will
average up fairly well, not counting Reitz
r,t,l Sa1I, oh If. .haln fret nla
There is no club in the National League to-
day that has been able to play winning ball
with a weak infeld. Other positions
may be weak. but a stone-wall infieli
will always be found with the best
clubs Baltimore, Cincinnati and Boston
have carried along weak outfielders, but
when it came to the rupture of their infeds
through injury or sickness little time was
lost in replacing the star infelder with a
player almost his equal.
1t was just as hard for these three clubs
to corral these good players 1T would be
for the Washingt ton club; yet they secured
the men desireas and it would appear the
local management could obtain the right
players if it went about it in the right way
and with sincere Mtention. Pittsburg had
more than QasSing fair player at third
base last season; but it was quickly seen
that he would notrdo and likely player
is booked for his place the coming season.
1t cost lots OF money to get Williams, but
Manager WatHEas1 1wanted him, and a
result he Is today on the Pirates pay roll.
The same circumstances cover the case of
Steinfeldt with Cincinnati. This player was
''touted' as the best in the Western
League President Brush of that club did
not wait until the end of the season, SO as
to get him for $Joo-the drafting price-but
surrendered soHetAtag like $1,000 to De
trOit for the coSe;ed player.
Everybody who attended games al Ma
tonal Park last season recognized the fact
that Washington needed a shortstop and
third basemar;" but the usual statement
was forthcoming that the players desired
could not be secured.
Some Opportunities.
The situation is materially changed to-
day. President Hart of the Chicago Club
has given it out that Dahlen and Lange
and others of his club are on the market.
st. Louis is always ready for a trade. and
President Brush has emphatically stated
that Lave Cross does not belong to the
Cincinnati club. This would make another
available man. Buck" Ewing is cnam
ored of AL. Sebach, and either Charley Ir
win Steinfedt could be obtained for him
on an even trade. Selbach is a great play
er, but Outteders are easier developed and
secured than nfelders. There are other
1irst-class infielders in the Dig league that
can be obtained for cash and players in
trade, any one of whom would strengthen
the Senators intield.
AS to the availability of trading mate
rial the Washington club, 1t can be stated,
is amply equipped Although the local pub
lie would not like to see Mcclure leave
Washington, Manager Irwin has intimated
that the old Reliable" IS on the market.
Take McGuire, Mercer, Seibach and Gett-
man, with q good-sized roll of cash, to the
leagues trading market in New York next
week, and who will say that material that
would place the Senators in the front rank
next season cannot be obtained?
With Dahlen at short and Lave Cross on
third in senatorial uniforms what a re-
vival of base ball interest in Washington
would follow! Selbach and Gettrnan can be
l in ha N
Mcclure behind the bat but as at present
constituted the Senators are lamentably
weak at third and short and the only men
who will satisfy the Washington public for
those positions are Dahlen and Cross. Those
coveted players are high salaried, but the
local enthusiasts will guarantee big return
for the money or players invested. Lave
Cross has given it out that he would like
to play in Washington, and Dahlen will