The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08
TIE BASEBALL OUTLOOK
Hugh Jennings on the Reduction of
The League Circuit.
Action of the MaInatcs Not in Hnr-
cipic>-Tbc Crack Player Talks oil
His Probable Transfer to PhiirdeI-
phia and Matters of Interest.

In an interview with a Times reporter
| with reference 10 the present baseball out
look, Hugh Jennings said that the situa-
ton is a peculiar one from the stancp int
of an outsider unacquainted with League
methods or motives. that seemed to in
! spire the magnates in their recent action
| in reducing the League membership. 1t
seed to him, said Jennings, that the az
ton taken was not in harmony with sound
| business principles or actuated by wise
and prudent consideration of the conii-
| tions confronting them.
While the reduction of the League men,
bership might and likely would, result in
more satisfactory financial results for the
| time being yet in the end he thinks it
will inevitably result in financial disaster,
| if not the magnates' overthrow as national
mentors of the game. The people of the
country, in Jennings opinion, are becom-
| Ing tired of trusts and bosses wherever
| these evils prevail, and the man or COM
i biuation of men who seek to establish
monopoly of the business of the national
! sport and assume 10 say who shall o. who
shah not have an opportunity to witness
/
| they are up against public sentiment that
will drive them out of the business.
When asked with reference to the rumor
that he would probably play with the Phil
| adelphia Club, Jennings said:
Il think I could go TO Philadelphia under
very favorable auspices but Hanlon deems
my services OF such value that he has
turned deaf ear to all overtures or pro-
positions made him by that club and this
is what makes me sore. | have always
been a friend to Ed Hanlon and We are
friends today. / have given him and the
club he represents my best work during
the best years of my life, which / am
sure he has appreciated, as is evidenced
by the prohibitive price he puts upon my
services. Yet / think l have earned a
promotion and if Hanlon is not in condition
to offer it TO me he ought not TO stand in
the way of my ambition, which all will
admit is a laudable one.
''It is not altogether a matter of dollars
and cents with me-there is a sentiment
that all professional ball players feel who
have made a reputation in the business
that is common in all avocatione of life-to
advance and reach the limit of their posi-
bilities. Just what l shall do | have not
yet decided fully l will not, however,
be out of the game. My present employ
ment with the Cornell Club is not only
pleasant, but satisfactorily remunerative
and | can remain where / am for the full
season. An additional inducement for me
to remain with them is, that / would have
the advantage of collegiate instruction in
the way of lectures and otherwise that will
be of great advantage to me-
When asked his opinion as to the status
of Robinson and McGraw with reference TO
the st. Louis Club, he said:
Il have not talked TO the boys for a long
time and The only thing ! know or can
think about it. is what l see in the news
papers, which you know are not always
reliable. Robbie and McGraw are men OF
good judgment, with business instincts of !
high order, and in my opinion do not
believe they will turn down the very fat
tering offer that has been made them, |
which will add $500 to McGraw's ex.
chequer, and about 5000 to that of Rob-
bic. know l would not, nor do believe |
they will. Yet they are very determined /
when they make up their minds
In speaking of the new playing rules, |
Jennings believes that the adjustment Of
the double umpire system will prove a |
serious mistake, particularly in the new /
eight-club organization. where the teams |
are more evenly matched in playing |
strength and the games will be more hotly /
ana StuDDornly contested one umpire I
cannot properly judge a close play on any
of the bases from his position behind the I
bat or pitcher and contentious and dis /
order upon the ball field which it has I
been contendei were serious detriment 10
the pleasure OF the sport, will increase /
fourfold.
In speaking of the reserve rule" he |
said that was necessary, and was the sal /
walton of the game. and no intelligent ball |
player will object to it. There is one !
clause, however, that he thinks is unjust |
and unfair and ought to be amended. That |
is the sale or transfer OF player. In Jen- |
nings' opinion the player should be con- |
suited and his consent obtained and he |
should not be forced to go with a club !
that, for some personal. private reason, |
was obnoxious TO him. Besides. said Jen-
nings, the system is wrong in principle /
and establishes a serfdom that IS repug-
nant to American citizenship.
Hughey thinks the pennant this year
will be between the Boston and Brooklyn /
clubs. with ST. Louis a close third, pro-
yided McGraw and Robinson should play |!
with that team. Brooklyn, he said was |
not as strong as were the old Orioles, but |
he believed 1t would be stronger than last |
season. The statements made that Hanlon |
had made some extravagant offers for some /
of the Philadelphia stars is all in the /
game says Hughey, and intended for adj /
vertising purposes.
In my opinion said Hughey las the
clubs now stand, Chicago and Cincinnati
will contend for tail-end honors as New |
York is getting together strong team
that will be in the winning"