Evening star., 1901-03-05
National League Players Continue to
Sign With the American.
CONVENTION SLAGLE'S RECENT ACTION
Pitchers Garvin and DowIing Sign
With Milwaukee.
S ORTS IN & E N E e A L

Manager Manning had Pap Chadwick of
Brooklyn as his guest today and carried
him out to the new grounds of the WASH
ington club this morning. Mr. Chadwick
came to this city to see the inauguration
ceremonies, and will spend the remainder
Of the week renewing acquaintance With
old friends. The work on the grounds is
progressing satisfactorily. Mr.. Chadwick
was astonished at the magnitude Of the
work in hand and the amount already ac-
complished.
The news In last evenings Star that Man.
ager Manning had secured the two ex-
Senators, Slagle anu Gettman, was favor
ably commented upon by big majority Of
the local fans" last night. Both these men
played good ball for the Wagners, but as
good as it was in 80. they have still i'm
proved wonderfully. They easy men to
handle and are of the character that Mr..
Manning likes to have play hall for him.
The Philadelphia Press, commenting upon
the desertion Of Slagle from the Quaker
club, says:
From a Philadelphia standpoint the prin-
cipal developments yesterday in the base
ball miX-up were the official announcement
by Manager Manning Of the Washington
club of the American League that Outfelder
Jimmy Slagle of the Phillies had signed
with the Senator's, and that Pitcher Frank
Donahue, who Is among those reported to be
will again play under Manager Shettsline in
the National League.
Both these men were reported last week
as having lent a willing ear and an itching
palm to the eloquent magnates of the Amer
lean, and yesterdays announcements, there
fore offset each other. The Phillies, how
ever, could have spared Donahue better
than they could have Slagle, since they
nave a big stan of twirlers while outfielders
OF the all-around ability of Wee Jimmy are
hard to find. 1t will be necessary for
Manager Shettsline to put on his thinking
cap, for either man must be found to fill
the place In left field vacated by Sagle or
else Captain Delahanty must be moved back
to the outfied and first baseman secured
Ihis may only be the beginning Of Mr..
ShettSline'S troubles, for La joie Mcfarland
and Piatt are also reported to have either
signed with the American League or about
to do so.
Jimmy Slagle's desertion of the Phillies
may prove serious loss to the team Good
work was expected of him this year al
though he did not come to expecta tions
last season. Last spring Slagle's work was
simply brilliant, but he fell off badly dur
ing the latter part of the champions hip
race, his numerous miSjudges Of fly balls
and muffs being inexcusable, and his bat
ting taking slump. Poor physical condi-
ton was believed to have been the cause
of Slagle's slump, and this was doubtless
the case, for last spring and early in the
summer Jimmys fielding and batting were
OF such wonderful order that It appeared
certain that Arthur 1rwin's prediction, that
Slagle would prove to be the best out
fielder that ever played on the Philadel-
phia team. would prove true Unfortu-
nately, Slagle couldn't stand the pace and
his rating In the official guides and alma
macs for 1901 Is far below what the young
ster's playing during the first half of the
season should have warranted.
In signing with Washington, Slagle will
play under Jimmy Manning, with whom he
made such a reputation at Kansas City
that Arthur Irwin secured him for Wash
ington in the fall of '9S Slagle led the
Western (now the American League in
batting that year. his average being 1878
He played in 1873 games and made 1877 runs.
the largest total of hits-206 for 273 bases
and ranked third in stolen bases Slagle
fell off in 80 it being claimed that he suf-
| fered from malaria while with Washington
| that year
The Philadelphia club secured him after
| the National League reduced its circuit to
| eight clubs one year ago. In doing so
| Philadelphia incurred the wrath of Presi-
| dent Freedman of New York, although
| every National League magnate admitted
| that the latter didn't have a foot to stand
| on In his contention. As a result of the
| argument. Mr.. Freedman refused to pay
| the New York's share of the cost of reduc-
| ing the circuit.
| Last year Slagle stood No. rs among
| the National Leagues batsmen. his aver
| age being .2G5. AS an outfielder he was
| nearly al the foot of the list, with an aver
| age of .923, but ne led the league in sacri-
| flee hits and ranked high as a base run