The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-16
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in the same set as polo.
The National League magnates
have talked themselves lame, tired and
disguised, and maybe in a few months
the winter pennant winners will be
willing to go way back.
The real reason for Kid Nichols
refusal to sign Boston National
League contract has developed. 1t is
claimed that Nichols signed a contract,
last season, calling for $24O0, and $500
extra at the close of the season, pro-
vided that he acquitted himself with
credit. The veteran won more games
than any other member of the Boston
staff and also played in the outfield
and made himself generally useful On
the plea that times were hard, the
triumvirate evaded payment, and now
Nick is wrathy. He has good reasons
for feeling that he has been buncoed
! if the reports concerning his treatment
are true.
There has been talk in Buffalo of
introducing 50-cent ball, next season.
| One newspaper in that city has taken
a decided stand against such an in
novation, and it is not likely to be at
! tempted. Twenty -flve-cent ball of
good quality will undoubtedly pay un-
der careful management in the Pan
! n llNell NAbNs
The Eastern League has been
! thoroughly secured for major league
talent. and the roster of President
| Powers league does not show a sur
| plus of capable players. 1t is up to
the Eastern League to draw upon the
smaller leagues instead of being salts
| fed with cast-off talent from the big
| leagues.
| Official averages of the New York
State League have been prepared Tom
| OBrien, Worcester boy, won the
pennant as manager of the Albany
team. In his team, there was but one
! 300 hitter. The previous season Albany
| had six 300 men but could finish no
better than fifth.
| The American League has taken
a firm stand against betting on the
grounds of any club in it's circuit, and
! it is provided that a better be elected
| from the grounds, but that his money
! be returned to him. The Sporting
! News suggests that if you are at an
| American League game next season
and the contest isn't pleasing, cheap
way to get satisfaction Is to offer to
| bet the policeman on duty at the
game a dollar that he isn't alive thus
gegtting admission fee returned and
chance to go home.
The Rochester club is trying to in
duce Charlie Fribie to return to the
game. Frisbie was under contract to
Rochester last season, but the old
Worcester favorite suffered injuries
the previous season that made it i'm
| possible for him to play at the speed
| expected of him. Frisbie is at his home
| in Iowa and efforts are being made to
have him come East in the spring.
The Rochester team will not look
like a championship winner next sea-
SON. 1t is proposed to play Catcher
Dixon in right field with Reddy Grey
in centre and Frisbie in left. Joe Bean
and Ike Francis will probably be at
short and third base. A first baseman
| and second sacker are sought 1t IS
planned to carry only McFarlan, Ma
! iarkev and McPartlin as pitchers.
Economy is the watchword in Roches-
| ter.
1t is said that Syracuse can never
have Eastern League baseball again
until the league pays railway com
pany in that city $3.50 for rent of Ath-
| letic Field. Syracuse will probably en-
| ter the State League next season al
| though there is objection on the part
of some of the fans in that city to
being associated with jay towns.
Up to the present time II Eastern
League players have arranged for ma
| jor league surroundings in 1902. The
men are II. George Smith, Greminger'
| Barclay. Lush, Rochester; Gettman,
| Carey, Buffalo, Rickert Smoot, Car
ney, Worcester; Joyce, Felix, Quinlan,
, Montreal; Mccain, Gardner Steelman'
Hartford; Brown, Bonner, Toronto.
Baseball players are playing a wait
| ing game. No Eastern Lacquer of any
reputation whatever is anxious to sign
| a contract until he sees that there is
no chance of being coaxed to mayor
| league at a fat salary. By waiting too
| long, some of the talent may get fore
| ed into the background and when the
| playing season opens, be willing to sign
at bargain sale figures.
| -Pugilism would be considerably ele-
waited if such men as Jim Corbett were
| prominent in the game. Corbett isn't
a saint. but he has intelligence and
does not look and act the brute in dai-
" life as many others of the 'profesh
| are known to.
! Worcester has one outfelder. Jack
Sharrott, on the list for 1902. Carney
has made good and Rickert may dc
the same with Boston National League
| team Homer Smoot is the jumper
but, unless he keeps himself awake, he
will be anxious to return to the East
] ern LedBu e-
The $1,000 fine that is plastered or
players who jump from a minor league
| to a major cannot be evaded as easily
as some people suppose. For example
if John Jones should jump from Wor-
cester to Chicago, a fine of $1,000 would
| be imposed. The club would receive
/ none of the fine money, that sum go
ing into the treasury of the associatio
of minor leagues. Some players and
| baseball writer's have been under tbs
| impression that the fine was to be col
lected by the club losing the player:
| services. There is no way of dOdging
the fine and sensible young men vii
be wary.
National League leader, doesn't believe
in toadying TO Andy Freedman, th'
New York shylock. For his courage
President Spalding deserves credit Il
is a fighter after the same pattern al
Ban Johnson and the battle between
those modern baseball warriors will b.
| interesting.
-Walthour and McEachern, winner:
of the six-day bicycle race in Madi
son Square Garden, divided $500 foi
their weary week of pedalling. Wal
thour was the life of the team and h
ground out miles like a piece of ma
chinery. 1t is doubtful whether Wal
thour can feel that he has been wei
paid for the severe tax upon his ply
steal and nervous force.
Roger Conner. the veteran frs
baseman, once with New York, recent