Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-27


 National league. He is the last man in this world that I expected to jump" said Somers. "That is all I have to say.'
 Now it is John I. Rogers of the Phil adelphia National league base ball club that has gone after his players He will begin suit as soon as possible to restrain Napoleon Lajoie from play ing with Connie Mack's Philadelphia club of the American league. Lajoie played at second base with the Rogers team last year and he then signed a contract containing the option clause, the validity of which Colonel Rogers proposes to test thoroughly in a court of law. .,-.
 There is some mystery at the bot tom of the silence of several of the local players and it is rllmored that one or two of the other State league managers have been violating some of the rules of the league by dickering with those players. Manager Connor has waited now many weeks to hear from a few of his men and he does not propose to wait any longer. He will proceed at once to fill up the va cant places and he will have a lot or young and fast men in the local team this season.
 Captain Robertson of Yale has de- cided to make an experiment. during the Easter trip which will be watched with interest. He will try Sharpe in the box. Sharpe played first base last season. He has already shown himself to be the greatest all-round college ath- lete in America by being a member of Yale base ball, foot ball, basket ball, gymnaStic teams and crew, and if he succeeds in developing into an in- tercollegiate pitcher. he will be round- ing out phenomenal career.
 Up to date the National league has signed about 125 players, nearly the limit the clubs will be permitted to carry after May 15. The league will go right along attaching players. some of whom of necessity will be disposed of before the close season arrives This means that every man will do his ut most in the early season. not only to get into form. but to put LID his best game. so that he may be retained. It will be case of the survival of the fitteSt. The other players will be ex- changed, sold or set aside for further orders. -'
 The Boston National league club has succeeded in getting William Dineen back. Dineen agreed to play with the American league. so it was report- ed. but S:},2OO a year and a two years' contract offered to him by President Soden won him over. Yesterday he affixed his signature to the document. In explanation. Dineen says that on close examination he discovered that the option clause in the National league contract previously signed by him could not be waived. and he accepted an offer of S60O increase, which he could not well refuse
 John l.. McGrath left Hot Springs for Baltimore Monday with two Ma tional league stars under his wing whom he captured there They are Mike Donlin of the St Louis club and Jimmy Williams of Pittsburg Don- lin arrived at Hot Springs last Thurs day from California. where he had been managing the Los Angeles team. Ills Jump to the American league will come as great surprise, as De Haas Robison recently sent out the lineup Of his team. in which Donlin's name appeared. With these two players the Orioles have completed their roster.
 Regarding his plans for the future, shorty Slagle, left fielder of the Ma tional league Philadelphia club, who is in Pittsburg. said yesterday: I am going to Philadelphia and will sign the contract for the coming season with the Philadelphia National league club upon my arrival there. I will not sign under any conditions with the Wash ington American league club. The terms offered my by Manager Shetts- line are satisfactory The Philadel- phia team will be made up as follows: Donahue. Oeth. Conn. White. Town send, Dugglesby, Dunn. pitchers; Me- Farland. Douglas. Jacklitsch, catchers: Delehanty.. first base; Dolan, second base; Wolyerton, third base; Cross, shortstop: Slagle, left field: Thomas. center field; Flick, right field
 r. l.. Shea has taken hold of the problem of handling the New London base ball team in a way that promises we'll along certain lines. Mir Shea says that he does not propose to pay fancy prices to men who cannot play pail and every base ball crank is aware that this is an improvement on what has been done in the past. Mr Shea hasn't had time yet to do much in regard to getting team together because he has had other things to at tend to, but he has written to several of the members of last years team telling them what he will do for them in the way of salary. If they don't like his terms he will get somebody else to do the work and he does not propose to let sentiment have anything. 'o eto HitH tue uidtter lfllS year. In q conversation with the Days base ball man this morning Mr Shea said that his policy was to get together d team of young men. He doesn't propose to fill up with cripples of other leagues. but would like to get yonng blood and develop players that could be sold to advantage if necessary. He was asked IT Nyce of last years team would be played this year and replied in the negative. As regards Woodruff. MT Shea has made an offer which he thinks is ample but which is consid- erably less than the big fellows fig ures. + is possible that Woody will not play here this year. The first thing to do was to get lease of the field and MT Shea gave his attention. to thar matter yesterday. He had q conference with Mir Armstrong and nad no difficulty in making a satisfac- tory arrar cement on the basis of a rem tai Of $500. Mir Armstrong said that ne would not dispose of the field by sale III the middle of a season and in event of his Sa1linu tho r,rl- ,,,.,.,l