Evening star., 1899-02-02
Washington Players Getting in Line
for Next Season.
CRISIS In BROOKLYN-B N-BALTIMORE DEAL
Tom Brown to Manage the Spring
field Club.
MING OF PILLS B L RY


Wagner, arrived in the city last evening
and Immediately made known the fact
that seven of his players for the coming
season had signed contracts, and that he
hoped to receive favorable replies from the
remaining members of the team before many
days. Buck Freeman, the Wilkesbarre boy, is
reported to have been the first to sign, and
his readiness to get into line is attributed
to a considerable increase in salary. Free
mans work last fall was exceptionally bril-
liant and the additional remuneration was
no doubt added to his monthly check on
account of his performance at the bat and
in the field. Jimmy Casey. the catcher;
Frank killen, pitcher; Gus weighing, pitch
er: Harry Davis first baseman; Dunkle and
kirtley Baker, pitchers. are the other play
ers who are already within the senatorial
fold. There will be no trouble signing Nc
Guire, Farrell and Padden, but obstacles
may be encountered when it comes to chas-
ing Mercer, Dinneen, Slagle, Hulen AMI
O'Brien behind the hreastworks Winnie
will doubtless want TO pitch again the COM
ing season as to retain the $3,WD salary
received last year, but the chances are he
will have to work for s2,iaS and should
consider himself lucky if ne can sign
contract for that amount.
Billy Dinneen pitched good ball last
year and gave Indications of doing better
the coming season, and he will doubtless
demand and receive more money TINS year.
Slagle, Huieu and OBrien, being fresh
from the minor leagues. will make the usual
bluff for hig money, and it is probable that
a substantial increase over $500 received
last season will be allotted them. Players
from the minor leagues usually start OH
with demanding in the neighborhood of
5000 and become disgruntled if their de-
mands are not acceded to- instead of going
out on the diamond and demonstrating
through their good work that they are lit
for the big league and entitled to large
salaries.
Mr.. Wagner persists in mis- statement that
the twelve club league will continue until
the ten-year compact runs out and that q
renewal OF the same arrangement Will go
into effect in the summer of 1902. This
opinion. If based on information known only
to the magnateS will be received with con-
siderable satisfaction by the Washington
fans" base ball in its poorest form is
better than none at all. The owner OF the
Senators will remain in the city for several
days, and will doubtless enjoy himself
among his friends.
Notwithstanding runors to the contrary,
it is now given out as positive information
that ex-Manager and ex-Umpire Tom
Brown will go to Springfield. Mass. next
season and take charge of the team repre-
senting that city in the Eastern League.
The berth is a good one. and Toms host
of friends in Washington will wish him all
manner of good luck in his position
manager and that success, both artistically
and financially, may come his way. Brown
has had a varied experience as manager of
ball players, but it Is doubtful whether he
ever encountered such a streak of bad luck
as befell him while at the head of the
Washington club. Trades, purchases and
shifting of positions were made that every
body thought would add to the strength of
the Senator's but everything went wrong
from the start, and as a consequence
Toms head dropped into the basket. He
Is still in the prime of life, in perfect
health, and he will doubtless get into the
game and strengthen his team through his
base running, fielding and generalship on
the field Few players who have worked
for Brown speak i'll of him, while an over
whe>ming majority will vouch for his kind
ness and his cleverness in getting the best
efforts from his men at all times
President Edward Hanion and Treasurer
Harry Won der Horst of the Baltimore
Base Ball Club arrived in New York yes
terday, and another conference with Owner
Abel of the Brooklyn club was held No
papers We're signed but the magnates talk
ed long and earnestly, and on adjourning
announced that the deal was much nearer
consummation than it was two weeks ago.
This thing is getting extremely tire
some,' said Mr., Won der Horst to a report-
er for the New York World last evening.
"and something must be done this week, or
We are out altogether. | am going south
next week to select training grounds and
Will take the Baltimore team to them soon
after If the Orioles don't become the
Grooms in the meantime. / must say that
the atmosphere seems to be clearing and
that ] think everything Will come out all
right"
II am pleased with the progress that has
been made since 1 was here last" said
President Han!on. Il believe the deal will
go through"
Il have been working hard" said Mr..
Abel. and am satisfied that everything
will turn out as the gentlemen from Balti-
more and I wish 1t to-
1t was learned that Ebbitts is still the
stumbling block, but that he has decided
TO come to terms with the owners of the
majority of stock.
According TO the announcement of Presf-
dent Barrows of the Atlantic League
Wilkesbarre will be taken into his organ
iZation and the most compact circuit will
result thereby that has been formed in late
years. Hartford has been dropped. and the
eight clubs will be located in the following
cities: Lancaster, Allentown Reading
Scranton, Wilkesbarre. Newark, Paterson
and Richmond. Newark under the man
asement OF Jimmy Fields, the ex-Sena torial
first baseman, threatens to quit the At
lantic and join the Eastern League, but
wise counsel will no doubt prevent this
foolish move.
Chris Won der Ahe's attorneys yesterday
In ST. Louis filed an intervening petition in
the case of the Mississippi Valley Trust
Company agt. the Sportsman's Park and
Club. Won der Abe asks that So 900 ad-
vanced to the club in 1898 by him be de-
clared lien against the Sportsman's Park
and Club property, to be considered before
the claims of the Mississippi Valley Trust
Company.
PilIsbury Coming Here
Mr. PinsbuTy, the chess champion of the
United States. Is making a tour of the
country under the management of the
Awe ri