Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-23
IN THE BASE BALL WORLD.
Interesting Gossip About the Differ
ent Clubs and Players.


Interesting Gossip About the Differ
ent Clubs and Players.
One OF the new players secured by Man
ager Irwin for next season of whom little
is known in Washington is Outfielder
Johnny O'Brien, one of the three men that
figured in the Pttsburg deal In the East
ern League this player was known as
John ]. OBrien H." the other player of
that name being the one who played with
Washington in 81, and who was obtained
from Louisville in the trade. for Jimmy
Rogers and Crooks The new Washington
player is younger by five years than the
ex-senator. and although both played in
the same organization, the younger man
created far and away the greatest comment
on account of his good work The Wilkes
barre correspondent of the ST. Louis Sport
ing News, one of the best-known writer's
on base ball in the country, has the follow
ing to say about OBrien in last Saturday S
paper:
1T is rather natural that J. Earle Wag-
ner should be criticised by discouraged
Washington patrons over the sale of Sell
bach to Cincinnati, for unquestionably he
is a star player. Personally / know moth
ing of Selbach's ability, never having seen
him in harness but as l have it from a
friend who volunteered a tip evidently the
player was more than anxious to get away
from Washington. With me that sort of
an idea dominating player would let him
out as promptly as an equitable deal could
be engineered, for the finest two players on
any tea:l are Harmony and Content
But the Washington fans do not know
what they are getting in John j. OBrien II,
the outfielder that is transferred to Irwin
from Syracuse by the Pittsburg route.
O'Bricn is simply in a class by himself and
if he fails to be just the round, symmetri-
C1l n q 9
bach's disaI pearance from the senatorial
ranks. l shall be more than disappointed
discOnCertedn'
Manager Hanlon of the Baltimores re-
turned to the oyster city from Brooklyn
Saturday night. almost disheartened by the
situation in the city of churches over the
consolidation of the clubs representing
those two cities. Mr.. Hanlon had been in
Brooklyn all week, but admitted that the
consolidation was as far away as ever
when he left Brooklyn Saturday. 1t has
been almost definitely decided that Messrs.
Ebbets and Byrne the minority stockhold-
ers. are blocking the DEAL but it is under
stood that Mr.. Hanlon will return to Brook
Ign today, and endeavor to bring about a
happy conclusion to the long pending nego-
tiations.
A sensational piece of news that Mr..
Hanlon gave the Baltimore reporters was
that he had offered to trade DemOntreville
for Dahlen and that there is a strong prob
ability that the deal will so through. The
Baltimore manager said in regard to the
trade that he had a good second baseman
in Tom DAILY and needed d first-class third
baseman, a position that Dahlen filled be-
fore he was shifted to short. The Chicago
club is IN the same position, as regards it's
infield. and for this season trade will
probably follow in the near future.
Ted Sullivan has returned to Tampa, Fla.
from two weeks trip to Cuba, as the
representative of the Plant system of
steamships and railways. He reports that
the conditions in Havana are such that
trip of bali players to that isle now would
result in failure and he will not under
take it.
The secret salary limit adopted by the
Eastern League savors of idiocy- How
will it be known If the limit is exceeded, if
the press, players and public do not know
the amount fixed? The magnates have no
regard for an agreement to fix salaries.
Some National League players receive
more than 81. 400 year and majority of
the clubs in every minor league violate the
salary limit each season. The Indianapolis
club refuses to recognize the salary limit
of the Western League and some of its
farm hands are paid $3.50 each month. The
Eastern Leagues farcical course gives the
salary question a humorous phase.
Does base ball pay? Freedman and Han
lon draw salaries of $4,000 each. Watkins
has a three-ytar contract which calls for
A,JoO season. score of players are paid
in excess of 81, 400 for six months services,
President Young's income is $1,000 year
Ban Johnson's stipend is $500, and so on
and so on, not to mention the annual prof
its of the Boston, Cincinnati and other
clubs.
Frank killen has received his contract
from Washington. and will sign it without
delay He says he was treated well last
Il