The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-08
WESTERN TALK A BLUFF
HICKEY AXE NO STOCK IN MAN
NING'S INVASION TALK.
Could Win I'm n Fight-WatkiDs
Signs WOOdrun-GOssip.

$1,000
that there need be no fear of the Western
League entering the American Association
territory. Hickey says that James Man
ming is back of the Western League and
that organization's policy to try and enter
cities selected by the American Associa-
ton. Manning is backed by a wealthy st.
Joseph MOI man, who wants to see the
Western League play in big cities in order
to further his interests in st. Joseph.
President Hickey says the American AS
ISOLATION will begin the season of 1902 with
the same cities forming the circuit that
were announced at the Chicago meeting
week before last. He does not believe that
Omaha will be out of the circuit. There
has been a great deal of talk of Omaha
withdrawing; or. rather. Rourke, who now
owns the American Association franchise,
pulling out of the organization, but Hickey
believes that Manning and his colleagues
have frightened Rourke. who, unfortunate
ly, is not gifted with an overabundance of
baseball political knowledge, and that he
does not know exactly what ne wants to
do. Manning has no doubt pictured to
Rourke that he could make more money in
a little minor Western League than he
could in the new American Association, and
Rourke has no doubt drunk In the words
of wisdom of Manning, and wants to get
out OF an organization that would be a
hundred per cent. better to him than the
one Manning wants him to ally with.
President Hickey says that III ROurke still
insists on leaving the American Association
there are men with a great deal of capital
in Omaha who are very willing to secure a
franchise in the new organization, and, if
necessary, place a team in Omaha and fight
any Western League team that Rourke
may deem to place in Omaha. Hickey says
that II 1t comes to a war between the West
ern and American Association that the lat
ter would drive the minor organization to
the wall before the season opens. Hickey
claims he helped the Western League to re-
organize for this season, but there are a
few men in the league, backed by Manning,
who seem to think it would be wise to fight
the American Association and go into some
of the cities chosen by the new organiza-
ton.
Regarding the Western League placing
clubs in St. Paul and Minneapolis and
even in Kansas City, Manning's old home,
Hickey says il is absurd, as the baseball
public of those cities were sickened on the
minor league article of ball last year and
want TO see their cities in a better organi-
cation, such as the new American Asso-
citation. 1t is easy enough to understand
why st. Paul, Minneapolis and Kansas
City should be tired OF poor baseball as
indianapolis had a sample of it last year
and a comparison of the Western League
and new American can be drawn the same
as between the Western Association of last
year and the new American. Patrons of
baseball In the Western cities will support
the new organization over the Western
League the same as Indianapolis patrons
would support Watkins and his club in
the American Association against a team
in the Western Association composed of
Marion, Dayton, Fort Wayne ct al. Wat
kins is in favor of keeping the American
Association, circuit intact and does not be
lieve that the Western League could injure
il in the least even If Manning and his
crowd are foolish enough TO try and wage
war against the new organization.
Manager Watkins, who is one of the most
conservative baseball men in the coun-
try, discusses freely the proposed invasion
of the Western League into American
Association territory. He does not take
much stock in Manning's proposed war
fare and believes that Manning and his
followers are only blufing In their threats
to place clubs in Omaha, Kansas City, st.
Paul and Minneapolis. He says, however,
that If the Western League insists upon
organization that the American Associa-
ton must hold its ground and force the
foolish fellows out. He is in favor of re-
tanning Omaha.
Manager Watkins said yesterday that he
has signed Orvil Woodruff, outfelder and
catcher. who played in the New York State
League last year. Woodruff lives in Gin
cinnati and several National and American
League teams have been after him. He is
a catcher and outfelder. Watkins says it
is a little too early to begin talking of the
personnel of the team for next year, as the
snow has not yet fallen. The public knows
of but three men who are now under con-
tract-Fox, Meyers and Woodruf-but still
Watkins promises a good team. Meyers
will play first. as Kelly will again be in st.
Paul, where he went after leaving Indian
apOlis. 1t is not at all unlikely that Hey
don, Bey, Flynn, HogrleVer, Sutthon and
other ex-Hoosiers will again wear Indian
apOlis uniforms next year. Bey went TO
Cincinnati, and, as Brush has seven out
fielders, il may be possible TO secure the
feet little center fielder for Indianapolis.
Hogriever is on his farm in Wisconsin. and.
providing he agrees to lessen his demands,
he NAV come TO indianapolis. HeydOn has
not been signed. and there has been a re-
port that he will go to the Southern League,
but this has not been confirmed. Ii would
not be surprising If Kellum. who jumped
to the American League last year; will be
back in Indianapolis again In 1902. There
will be several old faces as well as several
new ones in the indianapolis team in 1902.
As far as the outside world is concerned
the meeting of American League magnates
at Chicago last week was a most harmOni-
Gus affair. The reports say the men met,
and. while they did not wrap themselves
in each other embraces or SneQ tears at
parting, there was d general love feast.
This may and may not be so, but it is not
believed that Killilea and Gross, of Mil
waukee. went TO Chicago with any idea of
allowing the Johnsonians TO rub the Mex
lean salve on them so thick that they
would give up their American League fran
chise without a struggle. ST. Louis parties
desired 10 buy the Milwaukee franchise,
but the Brewers wanted $4,000 for 1t In
order TO make even on losses, which made
the ST. Louis prospective buyers return to
the tunnel. In order TO keep peace Matt
Killilea and Gross decided 10 move their
bag. baggage and entire outfit to st. Louis
to pitch camp early next spring.
BY invading st. Louis the American
League will be established next year In
four cities where National League clubs are
~located-Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and
st. Louisiana it is plainly seen that the
talk of a compromise that emanated In
Chicago last fall is more distant than ever.
The American League VIII also go after
holiday dates, and will schedule the best
OF them in cities where the National
League will play. The outcome OF the
whole business is a matter that cannot be
conjectured at this time.
The meeting Of the National League this
month will be interesting, and the baseball
world will soon learn just what steps the
major organization will take to retain what
little prestige it still holds. and what meth
DDS will be pursued. If any, 10 recover lost
ground. The war last season between the
two big Leagues was costly. and the Ma
tionaI League clubs had to bear the large