Evening star., 1899-02-04
Billy Hart's High Praise Of Our New
Man Slagle.
DEAL FOR ORIOLES HANGING FIRE
Al. Johnson's Mysterious Appear
ance at Cleveland.
WORK OF THE BOWLERS

Billy Hart, the well known pitcher who
was with Pittsburg part of last season, is
wintering in Cincinnati and is in close touch
| with the newspaper men of that city. Yes
| terday's Cincinnati Enquirer had the fol-
| lowing interview with Hart, which will
prove interesting reading to the fans of
| Washington:
| Billy Hart who was down town yester-
| day. is at loss to know why Pittsburg re-
| leased Outfielder Slagle to the Washing
| tons. Last season Waite sent to In
| dianapols and kept me there two weeks to
watch the Western League teams and pick
out players that l thought were good
| enough for fast company. 1 picked out
! Slagle, Williams and Gear. l thought Slagle
| one of the greatest players l had ever seen.
Waite himself went out to see him, and he
| came back filled with enthusiasm about the
| little fellow. If there was one man sure of
| his job on the Pittsburg team l thought he
| was Slage."
Which is the better player, Slagle or
Frisbee?' was asked
''Slagle. by all means,'' was Hart's en-
thusiastic Endorsement Il can't see for
the life of me where Waite made anything
out of that trade. Slagle is not only a great
player, but Dick Padden is a great man for
| a team. III bet he will have more put-outs
than, or at least as many as, any second
baseman in the league next season. He is
the pest man on a NY pail i ever saw. lie
can go back further in the outtield and get
them than any man l know.
The Baltimore-Brookly deal is still
hanging fire, but it is now given out that
the final details may be arranged today.
The chief obstacle to the deal has been
definitely located in Charles Byrne, son of
the late Brooklyn base ball magnate of that
name. He has about one-eighth of the
stock of the club and wants $4,000 for it,
Mr Byrne is quoted saying:
MY price is $4,000 in cash, and it has
peen held at that all along. Finally MIR.
Abel answered through Mr.. Ebbets that he
would pay $500 for my holdings-part in
cash and the remainder in notes. l refused
on Ihursday, after an interview between
Mr.. Abel and Mr.. Ebbets, was offered the
amount l asked but not wholly in cash |
! shall not deviate from my terms"
Another meeting will be held today. and
there Is a possibility that a compromise
| may be reached and the matter settIn5
| definitely. Charley Ebbets who was
! charged with being one of the obstacles in
| the way of consolidation. has come out with
positive denial of that fact. and it is now
believed that he is putting forward his best
| efforts to bring about satisfactory combi
| nation of the two clubs
Another story in circulation in New York
Yesterday was to the effect that the prin-
| clpal owner of the Giants Richard Croker
| was back Of Charles Byrne and was irving
! in every way to block the deal as a club In
brooklyn with the strength the combine
"ouid give II WOuiG make the New York
| club a worthless property. This situation
mas bee1l hlnted at before, but other stock
| foiders interested in league clubs were said
to be back Of this underhand move
| A special from Cleveland. Ohio, saws that
| Al Johnson, who has recently sold his large
street railway interests in BROOKLYN was
| IN that CITY yesterday, and it is significant
lhat ne held a conference with base ball
! enthusiasts who were interested with him
| IN the brotherhood Another man who was
| interested has been telegraphed for and
| further conference will be held tomorrow
johnson, who has money to burn when
| asked If he intended to start a club here
made the significant reply that he might
| but didn't like to say
| The final arrangements have been COM
| pleted. and Tom Brown goes to Springfield
| Mass, as manager. There is also a report
IN circulation that the Springfield club will
| be Washinston's farm next season but this
| IS hardly probable. with the Toronto and
| Richmond clubs in close touch with the
| local club owners and manager.
| Hillary SWAIN the ex-senator. has finally
! closed his negotiations with Manager Mack.
| and the elongated twirler will be with the
| Milwaukee club next year Dad Clarke
| another twirler with national reputation,
| is also negotiating with the Milwaukee
manager.
| The contracts recently mailed to the Gin
| cinnati players contain temperance clause
! that should be beneficial to that club A
| glass OF beer Is penalZed. as it is realized
that the ebony fluid and the national game
| ca mot be mixed with the best results Sey-
| eral of the players have written the club
| management indOrsing the clause and all
| agree that 1t will save several of the club
members considerable money during the
summer.
| The local enthusiasts who have been dis
gruntled over the release Of Reitz should
| await developments before reaching a nos
| tive decision. The writer has been una BILE
| to f1nd an unfavorable criticism of Dick
Padden, and q majority of critics advise
| WSshlngtonians to await the opening of the
| season and then witness the difference be-
| tween players who play for their club or
| play for themselves.
| Rowling.
! The Saengerbund and Columbia Athletic