The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-23
WHITRIDGE Is SLATED.



1t is reported that AL Whitridge, a pro-
fessionaI pitcher. who resides in Indianapo-
lis, is a contract jumper. 1t is claimed that
he signed a contract with the Kansas City
American Association Club and accepted
500 advance money, and then signed 10
pitch for the Denver Western League Club
it is hardly necessary 10 say that Whit
ridge cannot do such thing and not expect
to hear from it. He will learn more about
his action. If he is guilty. than he may de-
sire. as the Kansas City club will not let
the matter pass unnoticed, and II there Is
not a way of holding him TO his contract
to play with Kansas City. that club hopes
to find means to hold him TO a criminal
oreNse for accepting the advance money
under false pretenses.
The contract jumper is more at large this
season than ever before in the history of
baseball When asked II the American AS
ISOLATION has been endeavOring 10 secure
signed players from other leagues Manager
Watkins said.
THE American Association is not trying
to induce players TO jump contracts and II
II is found that any player with an Ameri-
can Association club has signed TO play
with club in another organization he will
not be allowed to play in our organization.
We will not recognize contract jumpers
encourage such business. We do not recog-
gard for a contract chat has been signed.
Regarding the statement that Pitcher Slim
mel is under two years contract with
the Cincinnati club and has signed TO play
with ST. Paul. I will say that St Paul will
not use him il il is shown positively that
Stimmel signed two years contract with
When the baseball settlement comes. and
1t seems a near future possibility, the con-
tract-jumper will receive all the attention
he deserves. and that will be plenty. He
will be subjected TO such a blacklist that
he will have 10 change his occupation and
do something else for a livelihood. The
club owner or manager who has been a
party 10 this nefarious business Will also
find that he is no longer desired in the
company of organized baseball interests
The National League has held alOOf from
dealing with contract jumpers and the only
organization that il undetermined enough
TO make a wholesale practice OF il is the
Western League. What will happen TO that
organization in view OF the sudden change
in the baseball horizon is not q matter of
conjecture entirely. for it is easy to predict
that il viii have harder life TO lead than
ever before and may have TO go down to
smaller circuit than ever dreamed Of. The
death knell of Whitheld's organization Will
doubt soon be sounded
Adrian c. Arson was in Cincinnati last
week and ne took occasion to say few
things about A. G. Spalding and also some
thing nice about the American Association.
1T looks as if they had my old friend. a.
c.. SpaIding, in a JAM said Arson. I'm
not at all surprised. When nearly every
body was singing his praises / predicted
that he couldn't deliver the goods. He has
been bottled up on every proposition he has
made. He did not tell the truth when he
said the Chicago club gave me the stock /
held in that club. and when / replied 10 him
he remained silent. He has closed up like a
clam so often when statements ne made
have been called that he has lost almost
the entire following he once had. Enthusi-
asts who expected 50 much from him, after
seeing 80 many OF his assertions disprOved.
DO not now believe he y on the level. i
know him better than some of those who
believed In him. ] had twenty-five years
experience with him, and look how he
treated me. He messed the League up pref
~ badly himself tried 10 put Ban Johnson
in a false light. and the finishing touches
10 his bOtch work were put at Buffalo
b. Jim Hart. That night on the
American Association, under Spaldings or
ders. Is unjust. The people behind those
clubs deserve encouragement rather than
abuse. They'll win out, too spent five
days in New York. but did not get TO see
Spalding. although ] was at the Fffth-ave-
nue. and he was at the Albemarle just
across the street j was given 10 under
stand that / could meet him IL Ia make a
statement TO his liking, but / wouldn't do
that / went TO New York for one purpose