Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-30
BASEBALL BREEZES.

TRANSFERABLE bIEELES.
 Some Whisperings Waited Around the
 State League Circuit.
 Tom Owens was in Waterbury yes terday in consultation with Roger Con- nor, and when they separated every thing was satisfactory and Tom will wear a Springfield uniform this sea- son. It does seem strange, the reports that are sent out about Roger Connor. that he will not pay players any sal aries and that half the time they are cheated out of what is promised them. Ask Tom Owens, who was told the same stories, if this is true. Roger Connar will pay good money for good ball players, and there is not one man in this or any other league who can say that he ever owed player one cent. He is the best pay in this league, and that goes.
 Pitcher Mercer is reported to have signed with the Detroit American league team. He is the sixth man on the team who has played either in Manhattan or across the bridge in late years. The others are Gleason, Holmes, Casey, Miller and Yeager.
 Harry Davis, who was with the All America team in the west, says: Bradley made a hit and was consid- cred by the western people as the greatest third baseman in the coun- try That is all right as far as it goes, but have the western people re- farrpd f0 aver cQnn C011fncS
 Mclean, last season with Bristol, has been dickered with by Hartford and Norwich. The latter city ought to know better or should know the rules better. Hartford being a new conner may not know the rules, but both of those places had better keep their hands off the players of other teams or they may lose their franchises.
 HI Ladd says he will play with New London or he will go into some other league. We'll, perhaps he will, but does any person for moment think that HI Ladd would stay in this league one minute if he could get as much or more money in one of f the bigger leagues as he is being paid here? You can wager all you wish that Ladd will be glad to play when the bell rings
 Portland will be greatly weakened in baseball way this season by the loss of Giant Conroy, the hard-hitting first baseman of last years Portland pen nant winners. Gonroy has been sold to the Kansas City team and is willing to sign the contract there. Charlie Nichols, the former Boston pitcher, is managing the Kansas City team this year, and he has heard Of Conroy through the New England men in and around Boston.
 Some well known managers of anna teur baseball clubs are now discussing the project of organizing an amateur State league, to take in Stamford, South Norwalk, Bridgeport, Branford Bristol and Wallingford The club to represent this city, provided an ann ateur league is organized, will be the Graphophones. Those who urge the formation of the league are convinced that it would be paying institution Bridgeport Telegram.
 Bristol says she will have a ball team next season in some league. That is a good thing and perhaps when the town grows little larger she may be welcomed inside the gates of the state league once more. She has a lot of good sports and while they no doubt still feel pretty sore, yet We are of the opinion that if they get right down to the business end of the transaction which forced Bristol out, they cannot help but acknowledge that it was the only thing te do just now.
 So thtT say that Roger Connor has some partners in his venture in Spring field. Well, 1t is good betting that the only partner he has is his brother Joe Roger had all he wanted of partners In Waterbury. There were so many that there had to be falling out, and when 1t came 1t almost disrupted the team. All claimed to be right and finally, to avert disaster. Roger bought out the other stockholders. No, Roger does not banker after partners. as he has plenty of money to back himself
 The jumping of Third Baseman Sam Strang from the New Yorks to the Chicago American league club is an- other blow for New York baseball enthusiasts. Strang follows George Davis, "Kip'' Selbach, Charley lick man and Jack Warner, all of whom have joined fortunes with President Ban Johnson's enterprisings circuit. For several weeks past the New York and Cincinnati clubs have been talking of exchanging Strang for Steinfeldt, but this deal is all off now. Charles Comiskey of the Chicago club, who has bagged both Davis and Strang, is chuckling over the affair with much glee.