The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15

wish he had not been so foolish 90 .
,throW away his franchise in the America =.
Association Al 'He american
Mahager Watkins returned home yes
from the conference in Chicago with
To-, u a,i hickey, Of the American Associa-
SI-,,.,- anu HaVenor and Quinn, of the Mil
Ndukee club. lie said the men AT the Co..
- eil ISt did not take seriously the bluffs of
tHe eStern League and feared no iDfr,,
Sion The American Associatfor 49,. 80 u
sSPP - hdnd IN al the good cities. and even
~ OInaha there are men who are willing 70
III ~ -, sile franchise Omaha is left open for
- - RIeseht, the magnates desiring to await
49, 5lOPhlents- Two larger cities desire the
Ciudha franchise, but a change will not
Ne MADE unless II is deemed advisable.
VWn,ahaser Watkins says the report that the
-. WEesteIh League had secured a lease OF
eIle american League Park in Milwaukee
clsir, untrue, as killilea and Gross both
stIh mat no overtures have been made to
'4-eih from western League men.
XXX
manager Watkins viii not discuss the
men he has under contract for the coming
season Yesterday. when this subject was
preached, he pointed 10 the iron boy in
tue safe and said there was an envelope
OF many good players. He claimed that IL
ne had nrst-class catcher under contract
~ ms team would be complete. 1t looks as
II W atty hasn't been idling away his
llIne II his claims about his team are true.
Inc Association Of Minor Leagues has
received word from President Powers. of
the western Association, that ne will not
release claim TO Toledo and Columbus ter
that has come out in baseball during tbe
PdsI week or history making. Ii would be
f itt business for the Western Asso-
e cl.sii.1 TO Try and fight the American AS
sOciauOn IN those two cities
stage fright is the cause of the down.
fan of many youthful aspirants to the big
league" said W. II. Watkins, in. his Office
one day last week while taking a retro
spective glance at his baseball history and
AHO"ieuge- 1 remember when / was a
yOungSter / was quite a third baseman l
vs. pIcISed as a candidate for professional
hOnors in the big league and Joined the
cluo. / was on the bench some time before
i was given chance TO get into the game
Ihe occasion came when the regular third
Daseman was out and l was put in at that
Dag- Inc score vas a close one when
was given my first chance. There was a
runner on third and another on second and
two out when ball sent whizzing
along the ground toward me at terrific
speed IL was "A nasty ball to Judge but
4 went down after il and stopped it.
Every thing turned black before me, and
When / came up with the ball / was dazed.
1 could not see any Of the players or first
base. but L threw the ball, and il happened
10 land squarely into the first baseman's
hands. L heard great cheering. but did not
Know what II was for. The short stop
ran UP TO me and brought me to my senses
by slapping me soundly on the back. 1t
then al came to me that / had made
wonderful play, and L threw out my chest
and walked to the bench, while the crowd
cheered. After that one play L was all
right, and was not a bit afraid. / had
something like twelve OF fourteen chances
IN the game and accepted them ALL We
sOOH went to New York, where / was her
aided as the wonderful third baseman. /
had phenomenal luck and played the bag
each day, having more chances than goes
10 the third baseman nowadays. l went
TO Detroit and then came To indianapolis.
When L was manager of the team we car
rted but two pitchers, and while playing a
series in Minneapolis we had extra eX-
save the regular twirlers and pitched the
game. From that time until the present
day / have had sore arm. Even now,
when / see an inhelder tossing the ball to
q batter during practice, / stop him and
send him to his position so he will not
youngsters, / can enumerate scores of them
who have been tried and found wanting
because they We're troubled with stage
fright when placed in fast company. All
they need TO do is to play just well
they did when they were in minor league
company Baseball men buy young play
for that purpose and do not expect
1OO per cent. better than they did when they
were signed. All they need do is to keep
up their good work and they will i'm
prove in time
Milwaukee is assured of a position in
the American Association. President Hickey
yesterday leased park there