Evening star., 1899-03-08
SLAGLE HAS SIGNED
H<e
The Little Left Fielder Agrees to MIR.
Wagner's Terms.
o. ID
THREE MAGNAgES.. WANT INQUIRE
kitson, Mccain aid Heydon May
Come to Washington.
OTHER SPORTING GOSSIP


| news today. When he called at President
Youngs Office this, morning he was handed
an envelope containing the contract of Out
fielder Slagle, which Mr.. Young had just
received from that sprightly outfelder, now
at his Pennsylvania home This new re-
cruit to the ranks of the major league came
to the conclusion that he could do better
at ball playing than at banking notwith-
standing the fact that he was very en-
phatic in his refusal to sign with the Wash
ington team at a fair advance over the
salary he received last year. In talking to
a Star reporter later in the day, Mr.. Wag-
ner said
II have now the contracts of all my men
and l am well pleased with the outlook
although 1 am not saying anything as to
where we will finish next season. l can say
this much, however, that the team that
Mr. Irwin will have at his command con-
sists of very fast lot of ball players. If
he can make them play ball together they
will do well; if he can't, then they will fail
down. There are no ciques in the club,
however, and 1 do not see any obstacle in
Manager Irwin's way"
How about Jim McGuire?" asked The
Star reporter.
"W4ll," said Mr.. Wagner, 'ff 1 can dis
pose of Mcguire to advantage, 1 will do So
Several clubs want him. Cincinnati would
Ike to have him behind the bat; Hanlon
needs his services in Brooklyn, and Kerr of
Pittsburg has already made overtures for
him. In dsposing of him l want to make
the trade that would be of the most value
to Washington would be willing to trade
Mcguire to Hanlon for McGann HAYDEN
and Kitson, and l may be able to make
that dicker. ] know Hayden to be q good
catcher. Kitson would not have been car
ried by Hanlon for a year at fair salary
unless that astute manager saw aarmarks
JnT,
all know, is a good first baseman and a good
hitter. With him for the initial bag.
would not lose any sleep over Worrying
about Harry Davis leg. Harry Davis is a
good first baseman, but he was incapacf-
lated last season by an injury to his leg
1t may be that he is as sound as aver he
was this year. but there is chance ef his
+ falling by the waysfde With HAYDEN to
help out Farrell behind the hat + could
put Jimmy Casey on third base, and right
here l want to predict that at the end of
Hssev Hsxe season ;s 4s you viii acknowledge that
position that there is'," '''"'
,,N VIII you not try Mercer at third:" asked
os No was the sreRlyd 1--WE had an idea
him, but we have givefh it up. % He bssrt bas 81
1 am afraid, the physique to stand 15i
sames Manes In a that difficult position. Besides.
WITH a, Is i,aa!a q !pitcaeT' & and good pitcher.
ton or Baltimore had, Mercer in the box
ought to win seven out of every ten eames
p.tcnea. PIT farrell, who was talking about il
ti .He other DAY, said eight games would be to
MS credit but L put it at seven. Now This
year We nope to have good infield. and we
VII, VIII pitch Mercer. and I am sure he win do
We'll About my eutfeld. l haven't tho
slightest anxiety We have four as faSt
HeIaers as there are in the country-SIaeel
" bren, Freeman and iGettman It's hard
10 PICK the best three. We will let their
". How about az Cincinnati deal?" Mr.
wagner Was asked. .. -. 4
might pull off a trade with Mr.. Brush
LOT Jim Mcclure" answered Mr. Wagner
but would want a good intielder in ex
change: stand fair show of getting one
exen N 1 II l trade Mcguire elsewhere. for if
Mr.. Brush secures Lave Cross as th;nI
he will, l will have the first show 70 "nn s,nt
irwin or Steinfeldt. He will not need tbsee
tird basemen." 'ieeu 'iifee
You would be willing to buy or trade for
irwin, would you?' asked The Star NAV
Yes, was the reply Il know Arthur
IRWIN isn very much taken with him. but
ne, ne Is a good fielder; the best we could OBJ
q, ,'it ~ ana m even II he does not do very well
at the bat We could afford to carry him on
account OF his fielding ability In that "a sa
we Wouio have the services of JfmInv
casey behind the bat JIMMY
Il am not afraid said Mr. wa.no, ue
my my outheid or of my backstops; even If do
-; :. .aue @ one OF the latter off. The only doubt
N N my lnlnd Is the infeld, and | am going
10 strengthen that if 1 possibly can,
me conclusion reached by Messrs. Wag
ier ana irwin that Mercer cannot nlav
tinn h., udse VIII be received with satisfac-
toN tioN by large majority of the local en-
.auslasts, who have all along insisted that
=" lnnie' had not the makeup of a third
oaseman. oas man, 1t is curious point anent Mer-
Ger piaylhg third base that of more than a
dozen professional ball players who have
oeeL interviewed on the subject by the
M Miiter that all of them agreed that the
.Sis rtass Liverpool boy would not do for the
DO Iii
ayers and magnates clipped" him off as
peiIs a conner in that position. A veteran
pan player and ex-manager recently re-
riiarhed riadh TO the writer that Mercer is a
pltcher ana nothing more. He is a good
batter ana faSt on his feet, but he will
never field up to National League stand
aFds. Mercer placed In the box not more
than twice a week will prove good man
for several seasons yet"
Manager McGraw of the Baltimore club
ton with Mr.. Wagner of the Senators. His
trip proved fruitless McGraw was after
catcher Mcclure Farrell, but our local
nagnate demanded McGann and Heydon
ana the Baltimore manager could not see
his way clear to make the trade, for which
the w ash1ngton fans" are thankful. Upon
McGraW's return to Baltimore, says the
Baltimore Sun more Observation-Disclosures were
awaiting MIN. Teiegrams were awaiting
him from Jimmy Manning. manager of the
Kansas CITY club, and one from Bob" AL
len, manager of the Indianapolis. The for
mer said that Shortstop Connaughton could
not be purchased at any price, and the lat
ter refused to entertain any proposition for
fltcher FOREMAN. Connaughton deserted
the Kansas City club last season at time
when he was needed badly, and his deser-
tion almost lost the pennant for the Man
nlng cruz The Kansas City manager has
declared that Connaushtor shall pay for
MS piece of treachery.Ian and that no amount
OF money can heal the breach between
player and magnate. aEx-Senators O'Brien
and keister are now spoken Of for Balti-
mores second base. Manager McGraw is
young players. 4. s. Rabbit of Rockville,
Md, who was given q trial by the Wash
ingtcn club last year, is after McGraw,
and wants to be, tried at second base 1t
| might be said in Rabbits favor that his
work in his first game with Washington
was frst-class. but ia his two subsequent
trials he apparently went all to pieces. While
with the Columbus. Ga. team in 81 Rabbit
played against the Orioles with Nops. Pond,