The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-27

Sensational stories in regard to the
change in the mana cement and control
of two of the most important clubs in
the National league were circulated
during last week. According to one,
James J. Cogan, the owner of the
Polo grounds and Manhattan field, had
arranged to buy AndeW Freedman's in
terest in the New York club. This was
promptly denied by the reputed pur-
chaser. who declared that there was
no truth whatever in the report. Some
time ago Mr.. Cogan approached Mr.
Freedman on the subject, but when
the latter placed the price at s350000
he dropped negotiations and they have
never been reopened. 1t is said that
Mr.. Cogan's offer was $3.50, 900. The i'm
portant part played by James A. Hart
in the organization of the bicycle trust
in which A. G. Spalding & Bros. are
largely interested, led to the report
that he would resign the presidency of
the Chicago club to accept position
with the trust. Mr.. Hart explains that
while this was considered short while
ago, he had decided to remain in base
ball as the head of the Chicago club
1t was stated in this connection that
President johnson of the Western
league was slated to succeed Mr.. Hart
and that T. j. Lotus, the owner of the
Grand Rapids club, would relieve Tom
Burns as manager of the Chicago team.
Surprises may be in store for the base
ball world and several changes may be
made in the officers of the National
league clubs before the BEGINNING of
the next season, but so far as the pub
lie knows, none have been agreed up
on yet. The retirement of Freedman
would be most productive of good to
the game. -.
The value of veteran players has de-
clined so much that there is no market
for them. Many seasoned players who
have, in the opinion of club-owners.
passed their athletic prime, have been
released outright and their places filled
by younger men, majority of whom
are without experience or reputation.
Clements. Mexican. Stencil, Stivetts
and Carsey, who were cast adrift by
the syndicate controlling the st. Louis
and Cleveland clubs. were high-salaried
men, and with the exception of Carsey,
not one of them has an engagement.
The success of the younger and cheaper
players accounts for this. The check
a player draws bi-monthly does not
represent his worth to his club. The
limit men are not doing as good work
in many instances as recent minor
league graduates who work in or be-
low the $1,500-a-year class. Every Ma
tional league manager is after young
players. Options have been secured on
many of the minor league stars. This
means the retirement of more seasoned
players.
On Saturday, Aug. ~, Amos Rusie,
one of the greatest pitchers and best
drawing cards in his profession, pitched
a game for the Lynn Ind. team against
against the Spartenburg, Ind. team
in the former town. On that day, the
New York club, to which he belongs
nd ~ hos nIa1 lpxx ctnn tln
National league race. Both the player
and the club are the victims of Freed
maniSm. The reserve rule is neces-
sary for the welfare of professional
baseball. but such injustice as Rusie
has been made to suffer should not be
permitted. The interests of every club
in the league demand the presence of
SO great a player in the game, and yet
Freedman is permitted to Danish him
to obscurity for whole season merely
to vent his spite on him.
Pitcher Charles Knepper is a big fell
low, standing six feet two inches, and
weighing 202 pounds. yet he handles
himself well and has a graceful de-
livery. He has all the earmarks of a
conner, and with club up in the race
would doubtless prove very useful
man. Knepper is 26 years of age and
comes from Peru. Ind. His first pro-
fessional engagement was with Indian
apolis in 1897, but he failed to get a
place on the team and pitched in indie
pendent teams and was very success
full. Youngstown secured him and he
made a great showing in 1898, winning
q out of 35 games with tall-end team,
He won two games in one afternoon
from the hard-hitting Grand Rapids
team by scores of 3 to 2 and to /. In
each of two games he held his oppo-
nents down to two hits, in two, three
hits were made off him. and in two,
four hits We're made. This is his first
season in the National League, and he
is constantly improving and has re-
ceived much commentator for his
work.
Pitcher Howell leads in percentage of
games won, not only all the Oriole
pitchers. but all pitchers in the big
league who have pitched as many S
10 games. Except for a momentary
hesitation in fielding an easy grounder
he would have had a clear record of 10
games. AS it is, his only defeat was
in a 12-inning game in Louisville by a
score of to q At the same time, with
out detracting any from his work. 1t
must be admitted that he has had n
good deal of luck. Twice he was batted
GU. of the box, when, if the Orioles had
lost, the losses would have been charg