Waterbury Democrat., 1901-02-04

Big Bilr' Lange, the old center
 fielder of the Chicago National league team, who declared his intention to
 never play ball again, or, at least, not with the Chicago nine has received an offer from Manager Harris of the san Francisco nine of $Z,5OO to play
 TOUT games week as captain and to
 hold down first base. Lange is popu-
 lar at San Francisco, which is his home, and his friends want to see him
 in the game. Big Bill' says he may put on q uniform again.
 Minor league base ball players cling
 firm in their allegiance to the Players
 Protective association. Two of the
 members of that body, Tommy Leahy
 and Billy Lush. live in this city, and are spending their vacation here They Were disturbed recently by press statement sent broadcast from Roches ter stating that Lush as well as
 dozen other players of that team have
 signed with Rochester for another sea-
 son. Lush said last evening in speak
 ing of the report: q have not signed
 with Rochester again, and do not in-
 tend to until the Players Protective
 association send me word to do SO No
 other player of that team has signed
 either. 1 am confident. I see that
 Frank Bonner denies signing. although
 he was on the list sent out from that
 city as having signed. All the mem-
 bers of the Rochester team except
 Campau and Dixon belonged to the
 Players Protective association when
 the season closed. Campau gave as
 an excuse for not signing the fact that
 he wishes to retire from the diamond
 Dixon has since joined the Protective
 association" Leahy made exactly
 the same statement relative to the
 Players Protective association and the Providence team. It is evident
 that the statements that either the Ma tional league or the minor leagues are
 signing players from the Protective as- sociation are baseless. It is said that the players are entirely in sympathy
 with the American league, and it is
 believed that the pick of the talent of the Eastern league will sign with the American league in short time.-New Haven Register. 4
 The new venture cannot be con- pared with that of 1890 and 1891 for several reasons. In the first place the expenses will not be nearly so great. The salaries will not compare with the high ones paid in those years. The American league does not cater to high priced stars, but to rising and fast young players. A big saving will be made in this department. In the next place the American league will not conflict in it's playing dates, if such a thing can be avoided. If the American association is in the field a conflict will be unavoidable ill certain cities, and naturally the patro mage will be divided to certain ex- tent Time will show how each will be affected. Neither in go nor '91 did the opposing leagues have such an official at it's head as President John son, who last year by his fine handling of the American league, made a name for himself all over the land. MT Johnson has associated with him prac- tical, clever, hustling base ball men who have always proved successful in the cities in which they have To- cated. Mir Somers, who is entrusted with the financiering of the Boston club, says he will not go one step to look for parties to interest themselves in the Boston club, as he is perfectly satisfied to take it all him. self, so pleased is he with the out look. Mir Somers is clever business man, and is the manager of the I. H. Somers Coal and Transportation com 1 pany He has made money very rap idly of late and there is not the lea.st l doubt that he is a young man of con-I wealth and ability. On Wed- l nesday last Manager Selee of the Bos- ton National league team was closeted | with MeSsrs Johnson and Somers, and | Mir Selee said he would not be at all 1 if the National league mag mates would give free admission to l their games if by so doing they could { throttle the American league move 1 ment. ''When they do that retorted ] MT Somers. we'll close our gates"