Evening star., 1901-08-12
WILLING TO DESERT
Philadelphia Players Would Leave
National League.
MANNING'S VISIT TO THAT CITY
He Says That the Men Are Dis
contented.
CURRENT SPORTING NEWS

where They Play Today
Baltimore at Washington.
Philadelphia at Boston.
Chicago at Cleveland.
milwaukee at Detroit.
The greatest base ball sensation OF the
year Is the reported raid Of the American
League on the National League club In
Philadelphia 1t is said that seven of the
Philadelphia players have signed or prom
ised to sign with the American League,
and that Delehanty and Wolverton have
certainly attached their names to Wash
irgton club contracts.
Manager Manning of the local team re-
fused to corroborate the report when seen
by an Evening Star reporter this morning,
but he admitted that he had several talks
with the National League players when he
was in Philadelphia last week. He lent
additional probability to the story by de-
ciaring that several of the Philadelphians
are discontented and would jump to the
American League without much induce
ment. He said:
THE whole story is lot Of hot air.
But I wish 1t was true. The writer has
evidently drawn upon his imagination, pas
ing everything on the fact that 1 spent
week In Philadelphia l witnessed several
of the Philadelphia games and had several
talks with the National League players,
but no contracts were signed. Stories like
this will be coming out almost daily for
the remainder of the season, and all the
statements should be taken with grain
of salt.
"All the crack players of the National
League are out for big money next season.
and as the American League has met all
its obligations this year they are ready to
sign with us should our offers go ahead of
the oider organization l know that sew
eral of the Philadelphia players are dis
contented with their present surroundings
and salaries. and it wouldn't take a great
deal to get them to come with u.s. l would
certainly like to have the men that this re-
port has assigned to me, but to get that
group under Senatorial cover would be al
most beyond my capabilities as jollier' Or
financial agent"
Alleged Desertion From PhilIies.
The story of the proposed wholesale de-
sertion of the Philadelphia club to the
American League is to the following effect:
Seven of the Philadelphia players are
known to have signed already or promised
to sign, with more to follow Delehanty
and Wolverton have attached their names
to Washington club contracts for Ger
tainty The other five to go with Dele
hanty and Wolverton to Manning'S club
are Flick. Mcfarland, Douglass, Duggleby
and Jackiitsch. Cross will also leave this
club, but it is uncertain where he will go.
Manning is also after Orth. with good pros
poets of landing him. Townsend. the
young pitcher, will probably sign with the
Athletics. if he has not already done so.
Roy Thomas has not been approached,
it is understood he has a twO-year con-
tract with the PhillieS.
Manning, it is understood, has first choice
on Davis of New York, and Long of Bos-
ton. In the assignment of players. Davis,
Van Haltren and CAMEL of the New York
club are claimed to have already signed
with the American. League. Ban johnson
has also captured Hartzel of the Chicago
remnants and he will play in the out
field for Connie Macks Athletics next year
Green will also probably go with the -ith-
letics.
What the Players Say.
The Philadelphia players do not deny the
report; in fact. two of them admitted that
1t was true not only far as they were
concerned. but also that the three New
York and the two Chicago players named
had already signed with the American
League, but they expressed regret that the
news had leaked out, saying Ii was in
tended to withhold it from the public until
the end of the present season. They fur
ther admitted that the Boston Nationals
would lose three of their present stars, Gin
cinnati three and Brooklyn three.
1t Is said that one reason why ths Quak-
ers are In such haste to go over to the
American is they fear that Philadelphia
will be dropped from the National League
circuit under the reorganization this fail.
There has been much talk of ousting Rog-
ers, and the players apparently take stock
in the stories. Hence the readiness with
which they fall into line for next season
under the American League banner.
A Crack Team for This City.
The Philadelphia North American pro-
fesses to have the fullest details in regard
,Dla Il -
Washington managers negotiations with
the Philadelphia players: a
THAT James dallied to some purpose Is
evident. when such men az Delehanty,
Wolverton. Flick. Cross Mcfarland Doug
lass and Jacklitsch are considering propo-
sitions. II all of them have snot already
signed. Deiehanty. the big slugger is to
play left field for Manning's 1892 team, and
Wolrerton, conceded to be the premier
third baseman of the country. will hold
down that corner. Bill Coughiin who
plays the sack at present, may be shifted
to short II he can make good in that posi-
ton. IL not, there are three National
League shortstops in the eastern belt one
OF whom might become available Either
Monte Cross, George Davis or Herman
Long might be induced to fill in a short
for Manning.
The esteemed Bnl Douglass of Wells
vile. Mo-. would like change, and his
eyes are said to be glued on Washington.
Bill can play first base. In fact he enjoys
that job. and Manning needs a first base
man. douglass will likely sign IL he has
not already affixed his John Hancock to
the document
should Flick go over to the insurgents
ne Will ton In right field, where the Sena-
tors have been using pictures with indif-
1erent success. He has been approached
along with a couple Of the New York out
heidefs and IL Manning's plans carry he
VIII have Delehanty in left field, Selbach
right ' 'i'
American League Next Year.
There have been rumors floating around
the country for the past month to the ef-
rect that Manager Manning would be
transferred to some other city next sea-
son TO take charge of a team picked up
through the contemplated expansion of he
american League. Mr.. Manning assured
The Evening Star reporter that he knew