Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-25
BASE BALL BRIEFS.
Bob Allen, manager of the Indianap-
oils team, is in the city.

Jake Stencil will captain the St.
Louis team this season no matter where
it goes.
The ST. Louis Cub will pay Bill Hill
more salary than did the Cincinnati
club last season.
1t is claimed that Minneapolis paid
Pitcher Phillip but $500 last season.
He demands $4,000 from Louisville.
Roy Thomas, the college player sign
ed by Philadelphia, may be tried at
first base, He is only slightly taller
than Pat Tebeau.
Milwaukee still is waiting for large
draft, the value of Second Baseman
Tom Daily. The Brooklyn club has not
yet made good.
The matter Of adopting a livelier ball
will be advocated to the league meeting
1t is the best answer to the demand
for more batting.
The Western League will meet in
Milwaukee next week. There is now
no doubt that Buffalo will be the only
new city in the circuit next season.
Louisville has not cut the rope which
ties Nick Altrock, the local pitcher, to
the Colonies. He will play with the
Louisville team or be farmed out.
The Reds left field fence is 364 feet
from the home plate and the right field
fence 376 feet. Cincinnati, therefore,
need not worry about that new 285 foot
rule.
John B. Day will allow his field cap
tain to direct the movements of the
New York players on the field. At last
a real use has been discovered for a
captain.
1t remains to be seen whether or not
the fining system will be. a success. 1t
was not when umpires failed to take
advantage of it or when club owners
paid the fines.
Connie Mack, manager of the Mil
Waukee base ball team, was in Chicago
yesterday afternoon on his way to Mil
waukee from the East, where he has
been all winter. Mack recently recov-
cred from a severe attack of typhoid
fever and is now looking as well as
ever. He expresses the hope the Cream
City team will be q first division team
under the captaincy OF Billy Mailman.
He expects great things of Swain and
already has signed nine men The
others he wants are willing to sign at
once, SO he has no managerial worries.
Mack thinks the outlook for a good
season in the Western league was new
er better.
Some persons are talking of Mike
Griffin as captain of the new Brooklyn
team under Hanlon's management.
While Hanlon has not made an official
announcement yet, it is more than prob
able that instead of turning the teams
leadership over TO Griffin he will in
stall Joe Kelley in the place. Kelley,
who will play first base for the Brook
lyns, has had plenty of experience as
acting captain Of the Baltimores and is
thought TO be even better fitted for
the duties of the position than Griffin
or even Robinson, should the latter be
induced to play in Brooklyn. The cap
tain of a team, according to Hanlon and
other managers, should fill an infield
position so as to be able to better direct
the affairs of the diamond. Griffin has
been captain of the Brooklyns for years,
but he has never shown any marked
ability in getting winning work out OF
his men. Under Hanlon he will prob
ably be compelled to get some of his
superfuous weight off and play the
game for all there is in it. Hanlon
will play no favorites, he says, which
means that the players will have to do
| their best or walk the gangplank.
Breitenstein said that he would not
sign the contract the Cincinnati's club
management had sent him. His refu-
sal to sign is because of his objection
to the famous temperance clause, and
also to the fact that the management
wants him to play for less money.
Brett. has always been fond Of his beer,
but never allowed it to Interfere with
his ball playing. Not only will he
continue to drink the amber fluid when
SO inclined. but positively declines be-