Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-24
BASE BALL TOPICS
American Association Secures Player
From American League.
MISUNDERSTANDING OF HOSTILITIES
President Ban johnson Sets Him
self Right on Mooted Question.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS

Yesterday furnished several incidents that
were of interest to the base ball world, a
sort of exchange of shots between the
skirmish lines of the three major bodies
Out in Milwaukee the first big gun of
the campaign is said to have been fired.
when the American Association club Of
that city signed Pitcher Hastings, a player
said to belong to the American League.
and under direct reservation to the Milwau-
kee club of that organization. Last fall
Hastings was claimed by the Pittsburg
club, and after playing several games was
returned to the Milwaukee club. Yester-
day Hastings met President Killelea OF
the Milwaukee club in that city, and after
a formal conference the former agreed to
terms for next season offered by the lat
ter After the conference Messrs. Quin
and Havener of the Milwaukee American
Association club, took Hastings in hand.
and after giving him an advance of $50
over the contract offered by Mr.. killelea
secured his name to contract to play
with their club next year. Hastings has
broken no contract in signing with Messrs.
Quin and Havener but he is an American
League player. and this is the first case
where one of Ban JohnsonS men mas Deen
signed by the opposition. There Is little
ner of indiscriminate signing of players by
the three big organizations.
Over in Baltimore. Manager McGraw is
steadily getting his players together, and
yesterday he secured Henry ReltZ nalhe
to a contract Reitz Is the second baseman
who played with Washington some years
back coming to this city In the celebrated
Doyle ReitZ- Demont-McGann trade NC
Graw has now ~nine players under con-
tract but says if the National League cuts
into the American Leagues ranks ne Will
secure at least six of the premier players
of the bigger organization.
President Johnson and Charles Somers OF
the American League who have been In
BOSTON for the past two days, left that city
last night for their homes IN the west.
Early yesterday they visited the ne" sue
of the American League CLUB IN tnat clty'
and gave certain instructions to the arcnl-
feet who was with them AS soon as the
plans of the stands and fields are complet-
ed the contract for the building VIII oe
given out 1t is expected that IT Will Cost
about $4,000 to put the grounds IN HIST
class shape.
Mr., JOhnsOn's Statement.
Ever since the recent meeting OF the Ma
tional League in New York many papers
have been charging President Ban Johnson
with having the 'swelled head, anu lhat
he went to Philadelphia. and there waited
for the magnates of the major organization
the face of these charges the following
special from Boston, giving a statement py
Mr. Johnson, sent out last night, Will prove
Interesting reading to close followers OF the
game. The special says:
find it SO difficult to account for our ACTON
in going on our own hook, and why tney
find anything inconsistent in It, notlce
that President Soden referred to the letter
| sent to President Young last September:
Did he tell you the contents OF that letter!
No? Then l will. 1t was to the erect that
we had planned a movement or expansion.
and as we found 1t Impossible 10 "orh IN
der the national agreement new one would
have to be framed and If the league exer-
cised fairness and common sense there
would be no friction between the two or
CARNATIONS. Now, the league knew exactiy
where we were at and where they were at
vet made no move to meet US half way,
or any old way, at all Why not? Because
their pride was in the way. Because they
thought they were superior TO eVeryp0oy.
and because they do not want any one their
equal Why, we were prepared to pay FOR
the league outfit in Baltimore and wash
ing4on, and help the game In every way
possible If there is going to be any trouble
it will be their own fault. sent verbal
message to the league at the recent meet
ing. saying on what terms l would take the
grounds in Baltimore and Washington.
was willing to pay reasonable price. 10 De
agreed upon between us. l suggested that
a new agreement should be framed, and
that they should respect our reserve rule
and we theirs. I told Mr. Hart II the
league was willing to treat with US on those
lines to communicate with us. The league
took no notice of the matter, and we con-
cluded to go ahead. Since then l have not
given them a thought. and If there are any
overtures to be made hereafter they must
be made by the National League for they
will never hear from US. We gave them all
the chance in the world; now the game Is
up to them. Do think they Will ever come
Iy-nyr hn
thought. 1 do not know. nor do care. We
shall go right ahead with our plans. We
have given a deal Of thought and time to
the selecting and securing of grounds. and
we have secured four of the best ball
grounds in the country in Boston, Philadel-
phia Baltimore and Washington. The sites
in these cities are the best it was possible
TO secure
What about the claim that you cannot
equip your teams with good players?" Mr..
J Johnson was then asked.
Never you mind that" was the answer.
Leave that to us. We shall hold our meet
ing on Monday next at noon at the Grand
Pacific Hotel in Chicago. We shall adopt
a constitution. receive the report Of the cir
cult committee and appoint committee on
playing rules, to report at the schedule
meeting. We have some good, practical,
bright base ball men in our organization,
and II they find something they consider
good thing for the game they will act upon
1t and submit it as an amendment to the
playing rules. 1 have been very much
pleased with my visit to this city. and. II
anything. 1 feel more satisfied with the out
look than I did when 1 arrived"
Yale Recognizes American League.
A special from New Haven, Conn.,, says:
Eastern college base ball mines have thrown
a defiant challenge into the National Base
Ball League. Despite the pleadings Of the
friends of the league they have decided to
arrange games with the leagues rival, the
American League. Yale's formal Intention
of playing American League teams was
today. Those Of Harvard and
Princeton are expected to follow as soon
as their games with the American League
are scheduled.
Yale has definitely arranged a match
with McGraw's team in Baltimore for Fri
day, April s. 1t is a peculiar coincidence
that Yale had previously arranged a game
with the Boston National League team for
April 4.
Whether the National League will cancel
the games which It's Boston and New York
mines have arranged with Yale because that
college has arranged American League
games cannot be learned here. Yale men
in general feel that the National League
will accept the inevitable and swallow the
pill
Easter Schedule.
Yales full list of games for its southern
trip during the Easter vacation was an
nounced last night by Manager Elbridge l..