Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-19
Baltimore Manager Expresses His
Opinion of the Base Ball Situation.
LEAGUE WILL DROP TEE ORIOLES
Mugsy' and Robbie Likely to
Head a Team IN Association.
CURRENT SPORTING NOTES

IF l am not playing base BAH in this city
next season it will be the fault of the
people of Baltimore said Manager John
McCiTaw Of the Baltimore team to a Bal
tinore American reporter last night Il
am willing to do business on a most rea-
sonablc basis with local people, a, if I
get away from them it will be their fault
Il believe that talk of Baltimore going
into the Eastern League is all tommy-rot
and it is my present belief that this city
will be repl esented in the American Asso-
citation next year. l know that the Ameri-
can Association movement is immensely
popular in Baltimore. and that a team in It
would bring excellent artistic and financial
results from the take-off.
Statements that it has all been arranged
and that the Baltimores are to play in the
Eastern League are nothing but mere
guess, and. l think very bad guess at
that. If it should develop that this city
would be cast with minor league you can
count me out. for don't believe the people
of this great city would stand for minor
league base ball.
What DO the people think now about
the National League being reduced to eight
clubs? You all think the eight-club trick
is sure go now, and don't you remember
hat | said Immediately after the last
meeting of the major league magnates? I
said there would be eight clubs in the
league. and that Baltimore would be switch
ed. There a lot of talk about ten
clubs then but | believed it would be a
clumsy arrangement and that the eighth
club combination was bound to happen.
And. now, L see that almost everybody
else says the same thing.
Il don't know much about the plans
Of the American Association as people
credit me with You see. it's this way: can
not tell the association people all my plans.
il ! have any, and | cannot commit my
t4,.lF a ~ Il
me all they know until they are convinced
where l stand. | am assured the associa-
ton is ready to go ahead without Balti-
more. hut ! guess they wont pass Us by
if they find we are to do business.
The statement that Baltimore capital
lists are TO incorporate a company within
few days to operate base ball is a bit
premature. but in the main true. | have
been approached by number of men who
have shown me that they can supply plen-
ty of money to operate a team in The
American Association. These men are ready
TO meet at any time, and the incorpora-
ton of the team is the least of the troubles
The only difficulty Is to get Baltimore
il suitable circuit. for, as I said before
minor league would never do.
IF the American Association is organized
and l think it will be--there might and
might not be war The great danger Of
hoStillties would come from one organiza-
ton tempting tie players Of another. Thus
il we were to organize Il team in the Amer
lean Association manager of a ma jor
league organization might offer better in
ducements 10 men like Sheckard and Nc
Ginnty, and they might 4accept. when
would put Us in the humnr for retaliation
The men of the Baltimore team Of last
season would personally Ike: to play here
Indeed. the men of The old pennant winning
team would prefer to play here. Men like
Kelley and Jennings would rather play in
Baltimore than any other city. but they
must consult their financial interests. [
am sure that the men, pf last years Baiti-
more team would play here if given the
same terms as elsewhere. and | don't doubt
but that our patronage would permit to
b. sufficiently liberal.
If the American Association should h.
Organized. and Baltimore come into its cir
cult. with myself manager, we should
study the artistic end of the game always
before any other. The men who would be
the owners Of the club would well know
the need of caring for the financial end
but. | believe. if the sporting end is care
fully foStered, the money end will take
of itself
Il won't venture this prediction with the
same assurance that l felt in calling the
turn on the eght-club arrangement. but
it is my belief that the American Associa-
ton means business, and / should not be
surprised if Baltimore should be in lis
circuit. with Robbie and myself heading
the team