The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-21
HITCH IN THE BALL DEAL.
The New York club VIII Net Get 81
Pick of the Orioles.

NEW YORK. Jan. 2O.-The intimation
In Baltimore dispatches yesterday that the
| franchise of the club had been practically
sold and that McGraw. together with the
cream Of the players. would be handed over
to the New York club for a
consideration, has created stir
at local baseball headquarters. An
official announcement was made
| by the management of the club, however,
that neither MeGraw nor any other Balti-
more player would be secured under any
circumstances. While Freedman did not
make a personal announcement of this
fact, one of his lieutenants did, with the
additional information that the New York
club desired to have no dealings with the
Brooklyn Baltimore syndicate.
Whether McGraw's terms reached the
New York club before this interesting piece
Of news was promulgated could not be
learned But the information that McGraw
wants salary of $4,000 from the club 10
which he is assigned may have had some
thing to do with 1t. AS 1t is. McGrAw will
go to the highest bidder, unless an ar
rangement is made for him to Join the
forces OF the Brooklyn club. He does not
want to play under HanlCn. for the reason
that he is anxious 10 shine as a star man
ager himself. Those who believe they
know which way the wind blows do not
fear to predict that McGraw will be the
manager Of either the Chicago or Cincin-
natl team when the final shake-up occurs.
1t is also possible that the Philadelphia
club may make bid
Refusal to take any players of the Bal
timore team further complexities the situa-
ton. for il was thought that an offer 10
fnanapa the New ks would
ficient to induce McGraw to turn his back
upon the American Association promoters,
who are doing their utmost to make him
jump the reserve rule.
When spoken to on the subject neither
Abel nor Ebbetts. the Brooklyn magnates.
professed to know anything of the reported
contamination of the Baltimore franchise
sale but when pinned down they declined
TO discuss the situation at all.
II the circuit committee has made no
definite proposition to the Baltimore club.
or il the proposition is being kept quiet
purposely. It is for one Of two reasons
Either the magnates want to tire the
Brooklyn Baltimore syndicate by the de-
lay, or they want TO put matters off so
long that the American association will
not have time TO arrange circuit for this
year. The magnates are laying wires TO
knock this association NOV ement out OK
a scheme in which, it is understood, p. T.
Powers. President of the Eastern League
and Ban Johnson. President OF the Ameri-
can League are interested. Powers has
refused TO say word about the situation,
except TO make the remark that in playing
strength the Eastern League is only ex-
celled by the National League and he was
sure that the Cleveland. Washington. and
New York teams. as they played last year.
would havr been outclassed in the East
ern circuit.
This is taken to mean that il Baltimore
and Washington go into the Eastern
League, patrons in those cities will not be
treated to an inferior article OF ball.
President Powers vouchsafed the infurma-
iion later that In his belief the big League
would start the coming season with ten I
clubs
President " f. Young. by the way. now |
declares with unusual emphasis. that he 4
has prepared TO schedules OF any kind and .
is awaiting orders. II is reported that the /
League will meet here in two weeks.