Evening star., 1899-02-01
Winter Gossip About Ball Clubs and
Players.
HANLON has AN ULTlMAHUM
Secret Meeting Of the Big Three
in St. Louis.
HANDICAP WEIGHTS GIVEN

Robert Young, secretary to the president
of the National League, has given out the
Information that the base bail season Of
1879 will open Saturday, April 10. and that
the same number of games scheduled for
last year-154-wiil be played No further
details were given. but it is a foregone con-
clusion that the four-tr!p idea will again be
carried out. Manager Hanlon of the Bal
timores, who was unlucky enough to get
the poor end Of assignments. was the only
club leader that objected to the four-trip
arrangement, and as he will probably get
several OF the plums this year he will ap-
preciate the cleyerness Of Uncle Nick in
mixing up the clubs to the bes. possible
financial advantage. The magnates are to
be conSra tulated in advance In auhering to
their belief that the scEeouie was not to
blame for last years poor business and in
giving it another trial next season. The
war knocked the attendance at the games
almost to pieces in several localities; N 9TH
ers bad weather and poor cubs were the
cause, while in Washington II goes without
contradiction that bnghted expectations
Killed the game. SO much was expected of
the Senators and SO little materialized that
the enthusiasts simply quit the game in
disgust With the rour-trip schedule I'm
force the weaker clubs will have a chance
TO stay up with the procession longer, as
they Will be al home more frequently and in
this way the interest should continue for
the greater part of the season. Taking
rything into consideration the coming
season for base ball looks bright. Wash
ington may not have a winner, but the
chances of base ball are hard to guess
mat the average enthusiast will not rest
content unit. he has looked over the seua-
torlat outfit several times.
Manager Hanlon of base ball fame will
go to New York today says the Baltimore
American, armed with an ultimatum which
he expects will either result in the compile
ton of the Baltimore Brooklyn base ball
deal or in it's being declared off. Mr. Han
ION says he is tired of trifling. and that
spring is now SO near that 1t is necessary
for next seasons arrangements to be com
pleted at once. Mr. Hanlon says there Is
no truth in the report that he has been
negotiating with the New York club He
indicated, however. that certain other of
the big cities would be glad to secure
the Baltimore playing talent on the same
terms now agreed to by Abel of Brooklyn.
Should Abel fail to bring his own stock
holders to terms, 1t would not be seven
days wonder to have another ''amalgama-
ton with some other city on the other
end of the line
The Big Three of the National League
Brush Robson and Hart-are to hold a
secret meeting In st. Louis this week ac-
cording to a special telegram from that
city. Plans for getting Tebeau'S team into
St Louis will probably be perfected at this
conference. The magnates are now causing
themselves to be quoted being in favor
OF keeping Cleveland, Louisville, Washing
ton and baltimore in the big league until
1901, regardless of what is done with the
Indians. The reason is apparent. 1t is
hoped in this way to smother the talk now
growing somewhat vehement about form
ing a rival base ball organization, and one,
too that Will cater to the public instead of
eternally quarreling with it. Opposition,
however, must be killed off at any cost
The two things of which the magnates
stand In. most dread are rivalry and courts
of justice.
Trouble rests lightly upon Bill Joyce's
shoulders. He was told Of Manager Days
decision not to take him south with the
New York club, and his only reply was
that he supposed What Day says goes"
Joyce was playing billiards when this news
was told him., and he continued playing
after making the remark as If nothing had
happened to disturb his usual placid tenn
perature. Billy captained and managed the
New York team two years ago, and, given
his own way, he landed 1t well up in the
league race. Last season. handicapped by
Freedman. the team made a very poor
showing, and Joyce was blamed for 1t all.
Nearly every dollar that has come Joyces
| way Is said to have gone out of circulation
at once, and today "Scrappy' is able to
smile at misfortune.
The Dahlen-DeMontreville trade is still
being discussed IN Chicago, and a writer
on one of the papers in that city who is
evidently personally acquainted with the
Washington boy, has the following to say
about his personal qualifications:
DeMonts habits are good, and he is
steady little fellow and saves his coin. He
is quick-tempered little fellow and has
as many moods as young COW, some days
playing great ball and others letting every
thing slide. He always had some fight on
with Jennings, and the two didn't pull we'll
together, somehow.
A Philadelphia paper says Tom Brown
will manage the Springfield Eastern League
club the coming season, and then in a fol-
lowing paragraph says Brown is an appli-
cant for q position on President Young's
staff of umpires. 1t is hard to couple up
these two pieces of news and make them
fit smoothly. The fact is Tom is slated for
a position of umpire, his selection being
one of the first made by President Young.