Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-23
EASE BALL.


 port last evening, whence he had gone with Hugh Duffy to confer with James H. O'Rourke as to where he was at in the present base ball muddlc. Man ager O'Rourke informed Joe that he had sold him to Boston, but that if Boston did not want him he had in- formed Nick Young that he would be turned over to the tender mercies of New York. Joe Is not dead in love with the New York end of the affair, as he believes that New York has al- ready three catchers tLat will make good in that team. These men are Bowerman, Warner and Crisham. Joe thinks that he will be used by the New York management in the practice and early spring games and that then Ahe will be sent back 10 play with the Bridgeport team when the season opens ill the Connecticut league. This he is not satisfied with, and as lie has received two good offers to get into the American league he will undoubt- edly accept one of them. He has re- ceived no contract from New York, and he has signed with no National will be doing what is right to sign with one of the American league teams. Connie Mack wanted Joe for his Philadelphia team. but when he heard that Hugh Duffy was after the Waterbury player he kept his hands off. Duffy will manage the Milwaukee team of the American league, and the team Is heavily backed financially. Joe did not tell Duffy that he would sign with him, but at the present time it looks very much as though Joe would wear Milwaukee uniform: Duffy wants him badly and has offered him big salary and also has informed him that he can have any amount or advance money that he wants. It Is pretty certain that Joe will not go to New York, no matter what happens.
 Louis Weisbecker, the fast fielder of tie Waterbury team, is visiting friends in this city, and he looks good and strong and ready for the opening of the game in the spring. He is on Wa terbury's reserve list and he says that he will be on hand when the bell rings.
 It looks now as if there will be two Massachusetts cities in the Connecti- cut league next Season. Springfield and Holyoke are the two, and with good managers they should be made to | pay If Micky Welch, the old-time pitcher, would take the management of the Holyoke team. things should boom up that way ill base ball. Hart ford should come into this league next season. for she lost money, so it is said, last season, and .here is where | she can make a few dollars and see | some fast base ball.
 The Connecticut league should be made up as follows: Springfield, Hol- yoke, Hartford, New Haven, Bridge port. Waterbury, Meriden and Bristol i or Derby. In case Hartford would not l come in both Bristol and Derby would | be in the league. In the event of the | two Massachusetts cities not being available, the league might have to try and pull Norwich and New London into the game again. New London is all ready for the game, but it is doubt full about Norwich. Naugatuck would l be hot little town if she had en- closed grounds, and there is no doubt but that a team in that place would pay. The best league, however, is the ! first one mentioned in this article.
 Chicago, Jan 23. = In talking base ball yesterday, James A. Hart, presi- dent of the Chicago National league base ball club, just returned from the meeting in New York, said: ''To tell the truth, I do not know much about the doings of Ban Johnson's league since I have been away. Of course I have heard the league intends to for sake the National agreement entirely and go into our territory, and that the American people have secured advan- tngeous grounds in Boston; but there is not much to be disturbed about in - all of these reports. The American can get along very nicely, I should think. So can the National. and that is about all there is to the situation The National league Is no more foster ing the new American association than it is lending it's money to the further ance of the plan of Ban Johnson and his confreres. All the National board wants to be satisfied of is the fact the new association is in a position to meet its obligations and carry out the spir. it of the National agreement. You sec the action of the American league in cutting into new territory practically left much open territory. Louisville Washington and Baltimore were aban- doned by the National league, and were to be had for the asking by any organization that wanted to cut in there. The association people asked that the option on the Cleveland ter ritory be left open. That is the whole store in a few words. There are clubs enough in Chicago now, and I would not listen to any idea of the associa tion cutting in here, so that plan was abandoned. There is no fight on thai can See.A
 Louisville, Jan 23.-Harry Pullian yesterday turned over to J. J. San ders and J. J. McCloskey the Ameri can association franchise for clul in this city. It is understood tha1 Manager McCloskey has his team prac tically selected.
 Philadelphia, Jan 23.-Connie Mack representing the Philadelphia club ol the new American base ball league yesterday leased for q period of tel years the lot of ground situated be tween Twenty-ninth and Thirtietl streets and Columbia avenue and OK , ford street The site is within q few