Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-17
POINT ON FREEDMAN
No Actual Reduction of National
League.
CLUBS WERE PAID NOT TOPLAY BALL
Opposition of the New York Mag
nate of No Moment.
CURRENT SPORTING NOTES

The stand taken by Magnate Freedman
| of New York, in refusing to sign the agree
| ment reducing the National League circuit
| to eight cities. is the most prominent base
ball topic now. Mr.. Freedman strenuously
demanded the reduction of the circuit, and
! after it has been accomplished, once more
| he comes to the front with a kick over the
Slagle case. Many writer's labor under the
| impression that Mr.. Freedman's refusal to
| sign the agreement invalidates the reduc-
| ton, as 1t requires the unanimous consent
1 of twelve clubs, under the leagues consti-
| tuition, to bring about such a radical meas
| ure.
No Actual Reduction.
Just such a stand as taken by Freedman
was anticipated by the trainers of the
| agreement, and although The Star is not at
| liberty to give the exact wording of this
| important paper, 1t can be stated that a
| reduction has not been made in a legal
| sense, the four clubs-Baltimore. Washing
| ton. Louisville and Cleveland-being paid
| an amount Of money to not play ball the
next two seasons.
The legal talent connected with the Ma
tional League may not be the most bril-
| liant in the world, but it knows the base
ball business from all points Of the COM
pass, especially the fads and foibles of the
| magnates. and when the agreement. was
written the present stand taken by Freed
man was looked after The worst thing
Mr.. Freedman can now do Is to hurt the
other seven by refusing to strengthen his
club, thereby reducing the patronage. But
Mr.. Freedman will be confronted with
situation the coming season not before
realized by him. and that is that the other
seven clubs will be more evenly matched.
have more games together and a result
| made a great deal of money. With New
York strengthened and playing winning
ball the league magnates would simply pull
off q CARLOAD of money. but under the
present conditions they will secure big
sum, and so can view with almost COM
placency the assinne antics of the New
York magnate. Several papers have limited
at the fact that when Freedman once real
ICES that the National League will go on
its way without him, he will resort to a
legal injunction to prevent the circuit
duction and in tieng the organiZa ton up
| once more bring the magnates to their
knees.
The agreement will protect the league,
and Mr.. Freedman will more than likely
have to go through the "crawling' act he
has so much enjoyed seeing his fellow mag
mates do.
The Rusie Case.
Another little cloud is also looming up
in Mr. Freedmans pathway, which may
| cause considerable trouble. Amos Rusie
has been kept out of earning livelihood
for the past year because he values his ser
Freedman. but does not intend to take this
bitter medicine another year. He is worth
every bit Of $1,000 to any club in the
league, but Freedman says he must play
for $1,000 or nothing. 1t is more than prob
able that Rusie will take his case into
court. so as to get his release from the
New York club. and it will then be seen
whether the other clubs will refuse to sign
the great twirler in the face of the present
antics of Mr.. Freedman.
When it is comprehended the little effort
hat to <loI L 49,.
a winning hall club in New York and clear
at least 100000 on the season his present
antagonism is incomprehensible. The New
York infield, Doyle, Gleason Davis and
Mercer. is the equal of any in the league.
With Rusie back in the fold. Selbach in left
and Cooley in right. the Giants would in
deed be formidable. Selbach and Cooley
can both be secured. and all Ruse wants is
the limit. $500 the same money he has
been paid heretofore by the New York
manager.
McGraw and Robinson.
Manager Hanlon and Magnate Robson
arrived in New York yesterday, the former
giving out the Information that the Brook
| lyn club will leave for its southern train
| ing grounds Monday, taking along fully
! thirty players. Both gentlemen were en-
| phatc in the declaration that both McGraw
| and Robinson will go to St. Louis to play
/ ball next season, as all the demands made
| by the two players have been agreed to
| McGraw and Robinson will get princely
| salaries next season. and. in addition quite
| a large-sized portion Of the $4,000 paid for
their release. Both men have given out the
| statement that they do not want to leave
! Baltimore on account of the business in
| that city, but 1t is done for effect. and
neither ne dd man ans Is silly enough to drop from
| 5000 to 10000 through sentiment. With
| McGraw and Robinson in line the St. Louis
| magnate has come out with the challenge
that he is willing to wager 500 to $50 with
| his fellow magnates that they cannot name
| the club that will beat out the Tebeauties
| 1t is little early to predict the standing of
the eight clubs. but the fact cannot be gain
! sayed that the st. Louis club will be an
| exceptionally strong one the coming sea-
| son.
| When the Brookiyns leave for the south
Monday every club but New York will be
in spring training. 1t was expected that
| Manager Ewing would take the Giants
south next Wednesday. but now he init
mates that the club may not go south at ALL
| The Cincinnati papers are already ham,
| mering Magnate Brush the apparent
| weakness Of the Reds. Have the CtncIn-
natl writer's forgotten the fact that Mr.
| Brush has been about the most liberal man
in the business when buying players Is con-
| sidered. but he has been goldbricked all
down the line IN buying veterans and has
| now taken another tack? The Reds GER
| ta.nly look weak. but who can foreteil the
| development of the young blood under Man
| ager Allen. The Reds have had clusters of
stars in years past and quit miserably be-
fore the season was half over. 1t is but
right to give Manager Allen a chance with
promising students and hope for the best
The story Of McGuires tilt with the
BROOKLYN management over this years con-
tract has come into Washington by the
grapevine route. In years gone by Mcclure
always signed contract with the Wag-
ners for the limit and another one calling
for transportation for himself and wife be-
| tween this city and Albion, Mich. The
Brooklyn club sent Jim the limit contract
and said that was all he would be given.
As the circuit reduction was concluded and
MANY DlayerS were on the rnarket Tin,