Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-25
LATE SPORTING NEWS
Result of the Failure of the Brooklyn
Baltimore Deal.
GRAND CIRCUIT TROTTING DATES
Mysterious Billy Smith Defeats
Edwards.
FIERCE ROUNDS

1t is now reported that the deal between
the Baltimore and Brooklyn clubs has been
called off, owing to the persstency with
which the minority stockholders hold out
against the consolidation, and that the
New York and Baltimore clubs are the
latest asprants for combination honors
This latest report has all the fringe and
earmarks of a. sensational winter fake,
but in addition 1t also possesses many
points from which facts can be crystallized.
1t is a known fact that fully one-half of
the National League magnates are opposed
to a club in Brooklyn, should the circuit
be reduced to eight clubs, among the num-
Der being Soden of Boston, Brush of Gin
cinnati Robson of Cleveland, Hart of
Chicago, and of a necessity, the Messrs.
Wagner. \ majority of these masnates
own stock in the New York club and If
an opposition club is removed their finan-
ciai holdings will certainly be increased
in value.
Right on the heels of the late league
meeting. when the eight club circuit report
was the uppermost subject in the base
ball world. the report was current that the
clubs to be dropped would be the Louis
vile and Cleveland, in the west, and the
Baltimore and Brooklyn, in the east This
report found little credence at the time, on
account of BrOoklyn's population but one
or more of the magnateS must have been
responsible for the report, and in the face
of the latest rumors about consolidating
the New York and Baltimore clubs it
looks more probable today than ever be-
fore.
The Messrs Wagner may want to get
out of base ball, If pushed into a minor
league but to be the owners of club
in an eight-club circuit would be about the
height of their ambition. J. Earl Wagner
has so expressed himself to the writer at
different times. This city is the capital OF
the United States, the president of the
league resides here and in addition 1t is
first-class ball town. These three condi-
tons carry considerable weight with the
brainy set among the National League
magnates. Another factor that carries
great weight is the deal that will have to
be made with either MIR. Abel or the
MeSsrs. Wagner when the time comes to
freeze out one of these clubs. Which
party would the league moguls prefer to
deal with? 1t is a "cinch' bet that 1t is
not the Washington club representatives
By consolidating the New York and Bal
umore clubs a prospective pennant winner
would be forthcoming, and under this con-
dition the profits would be around the
100000 mark each season. Messrs. Brush,
Soden. Robson and other magnates have
been camped in New York for the past
month. and that something extremely sem
satiOnal in the base ball line will be crop
ping out very soon is a foregone conclu-
sion.
A report from San Francisco says that
Pitcher Joe Corbett has given it out en-
phatically that he is done with base ball
forever and that he will in the future de-
vote himself to business pursuits in that
city. Pitcher Corbett evidently is very
much aggrieved al Manager Haulou over
his treatment last season, and it is very
probable will never play with the Oriole
aggregation again, but that he Is done
with the national game forever carries
with it fishy favor. If Manager Burns
should be able to land Corbett inside the
chicago earthWOrkS wit uhi oh
the celebrated pitcher would journey to-
ward the city by the lake would appear
ludicrous under the circumstances. Man
ager Hanlon understands Brother joe
quite clearly, and If the pitcher does not
do any twirlng next season it will be on
account of the Baltimore manager not de-
string il.
The meeting of the stockholders of the
Brooklyn Base Ball Club which was to
have taken place in Jersey City yester-
day afternoon was postponed until Fri
day, February 8.
II was expected that decision would
be reached in the matter of the p,opos-
ed baltimore Brooklyn deal. The meeting
however, before anything was done was
put off on the advice of Mr.. F. A. Abel,
who holds nearly three-fourths of the
Brooklyn club stock.
Mr. Abel, it is believed will give Mr..
Byrne chance to sell out. If he refuses
it is understood that action will be taken
that will force him out.
Every time that st. Louis or Washing
ton has player for sale they are almost
sure to send out stories to the effect that
the Boston club is after the player" says
the Boston Globe. THE latest from Wash
ington is TO the effect that Boston was
after Charley Farrell. They were offered
Catcher Mcclure last season for So, 900 and
although thinking we'll of the man. they
refused to consider the parting with so
much good coin.
THE Boston club is not giving up any
$1,000 for players these days. The best
of the minor league men can be secured
for $1,000 or less, and Seiee has strength
ened his team for several years from this
source in preference to going after the
Washington or St Louis stock.
when you think of Collins, Willis Ber-
gen, Tenney, Stahl and Lewis costing the
Boston club less than $500 you can see
what fool play 1t would be to pay big
money for the men other clubs would like
to turn into coin. Charley Farrell is
first-class man, out then Boston is not
swelling up that Wagner bank account
this year
William A. Kennerk, attorney for Chris
Won Der Abe the st. Louis base ball mag
nate. yesterday applied to Judge Spencer
of the circuit court for hearing of a mo-
ton to remove b. S. Muckenfuss from the
recefvership of Sport5man's Park and Club
Judge Spencer announced that he would
hear evidence and argument TuaSday