Evening star., 1899-01-30
SPORTS Of THE DAY
A Base Ball Writer'S Opinion Of This
Years Senators,
SELBACH SIGNS With CINCINNATI
Baltimore Whistes Tie for the A
w. L. Trophy.
THE SERIES OF CONTESTS

Washington patrons Of the national game
have enthused so often over the prospects
of their representative club in the spring of
the year and had their hopes blighted so
dismally and regularly that 1t Will take
something very substantial the coming
spring to place them in the enthusiastic
class The sale of Reitz and Sebach has
placed a wet blanket on the hopes OF many
of the local fans" These sales and trades
may or may not prove good for the Sena-
tors the coming season, but the situation
has such familiar spring look that it will
take surprising ball to wake up the patrons
of the Washington club. The only good
word that can be said for the Messrs. Wag-
ner and Manager Irwin is that the club last
year was such dismal failure that almost
any radical step would be better than pro-
ceeding on the same lines as in years gone
by Last years club was a good one on
paper. and 1t finished in the eleventh hole.
This years club looks weak on paper but
it may prove a surprising strong one on
the field. Harry Weldon. the sporting edi-
tor of the Cincinnati Enquirer, one of the
best posted and shrewdest base bail writers
in the country, has the following to say
about the Washington and Louisville clubs:
1T wouldn't surprise me a great deal to
see both the Louisville and Washington
clubs fighting up in the first division this
season. One cannot help having fancy
for the Colonies on last seasons form.
During the last six weeks of 1893 the
Louisville team played a stronger game of
ball than any one of the three leaders
Boston, Baltimore and Cincinnati. There
Is reason apparent why they should not
repeat 1t next season. True. Washington
swapped of two of its stars In Seibach and
Reitz, but can't see that the team Is much
weaker than it was last season. L have al
ways thought Dick Padden a great ball
player, and from all accounts little Slagel
must be a high-class player. In my opinion
the strongest addition to the senatorial
forces is Arthur Irwin. There is no aues-
ton about Arthur being a first-class base
ball man. He'll get the work out of the
Senators that they are capable of doing
IL the tweive-club league is in the field
there will be few teams take the dust of
the Colonels and Senators, or l am badly
off in my dope
ting OF the base ball muddle says the
Philadelphia Inquirer In fact IL anything
the developments of the past week have
com nplicated the situation The deaf5lock in
the Brooklyn directorate appears to be lust |
as complete as the little affair at Harris
burg. Unless AbelL by some legal trick. |
turns over his stock to HanIon and Won |
der Horst. ii looks as though Ebbstts and |
Byrne will be able to block the deal No |
matter what may be the outcome, 1t Is eyi-
dent that somebody Is being strung to the |
queens taste. but whether it Is Abel the |
Baltimore outfit or the newspaper push re-
mains to be developed. The rumored deal |
by which the Baltimore players were to be |
transferred to New York was received with
great deal Of cre1enee. 1t In measure |
explained the inaction of the New York |
people and corroborated the rumors that
we're flying around the corridors of the |
Fifth Avenue during the meeting that the |
scheme of the big fish was to freeze out or |
buy out Brooklyn and Baltimore In the |
east. Louisville in the west and then trans |
fer the Cleveland club to st. Louis thereby |
securing return to the eight club league.
A special from Boston saws that Manager |
Selee is getting ready the contracts for the |
Boston players, and that they will be sent |
out In a few Gays. No trouble is expected |
In securing the signatures. as a majority |
of the Beareaters already receive the limit |
or salaries close thereto. Eight men on the |
Boston team come under the head OF top
liners in the matter of salaries Tenney
Lowe. Long. Collins Bergen and Hamilton
receive the liuit-s2, 400; Capt. Duffy So $50,
and Nichols $1,000, to say nothing of a
pretty bonus for signing. Stahl expects the
limit the comirg season, but 1t is tntimated
that he may be disappointed. as Frisbee
Will be a likely contestant for his place in
the right garden. The same special also
says that Catcher Charley Farrell was Of
fered TO the Boston club for $500. but that
Manager Seiee answered back that he
wouldn't take him as a gift.
Three Of Cincinnatis stars have signed |
ccntracts-McPhee. Taylor and SeIbach
The knowledge that the latter had come in
out of the cold affords considerable salts
faction to the followers of the Reds, as it
was ref)ol ted that Sci" was after q few |
hundreds over the limit. The fact Of the
matter is that Selbach became a Red as
soon as he was purchased from the Wash
ington club, President Brush simply as
suming the contract that player had signed |
with the Messrs. Wagner. Instead of being |
dissatisfied over the transaction Ii IS re-
ported that Selbach is perfectly satisfied
with the terms for which he VIII play with
the Cincinnatis next season.
Twirier Billy Dineen is wintering at his
home In Syracuse. N. Y. Dineen's first sea-
son in the major league was beset by the |
toughest streak of luck that ever befell
ported, and his arm was sitter than a |
starch trust till the middle OF May. If |
Dineen can eradicate the rheumatism from |
his working apparatus early In the season |
he Will be one of the most valuable twirl- |
ers on Arthur lrWin's staff.
Il am surprised at the lack of energy dis !
played " the New York club" remarked |
Ashley Lloyd of the Cincinnati club to re- |
porter recently. Il don't see that any great |
effort is being made to strengthen the |
Giants. 1t seems to me that II New York |
ers were really in earnest they might have |
jumped in and secured Al. Setback" "Oh. |
no" was the quick rejoinder Of John 7. !
Brush, New York could not have landed |
Selbach. Earl Wagner had given his prom
ise to Cincinnati, and promise from MIN |
Is as good as his signature l want no bet
ter security than Earl Wagners word |
nrrD r,DU ,CuIU, nm nOntJv