The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-16
SPORTING NEWS.
Tom Lotus, of Dubuque, VIII
Be Head Of New York.
Is President of the New Ameri-
can League Team.
NOT AT WASHINGTON.
Patsy Donovan Will Manage the
Senators for 1908.
OF AT WASHINGTON.
Arrangements Are Perfected
After Much Sparring.

New York, Dec. 16.-Citizen Tom LOT
tus, of Dubuque, Ia, will not manage
the Washington baseball team next sea
son, for the good and sufficient reason
that he is slated to be the president
and official head of the new club which
the American league has decided to
place in New York next season.
The vacancy in the Washington club
IS to be filed, providing the plans of the
American league magnates do not mis-
carry. by Patsy Donovan, the clever out
fielder who last year managed and cap
tanned the st. Louis National league
team. This scheme has been on the car
pet for the last six weeks, but it was not
until three or four days ago that b. B.
Johnson and Messrs. Sommers and Kill
fOyle saw their way clear to clinching it.
1t has been problem from the very
first who should be named as president
of the American league team at New
York. Clearly baseball man, as well
as financier and diplomat, was need
ed. 1t was necessary that he be not
only stable business man or a wealthy
man, but the project was such a diff
cult one that somebody thoroughly ac-
quainted with the game was needed.
Much Sparring and cropping around
has been INDUCED in, and when every
thing was summed up Tom Lotus was
decided upon. Lotus has not always
had winning baseball teams when
manager. but he has never been any
place which he left unpopular. He is
one of the most thoroughly liked base
ball men in the country. and when this
as well as his other qualities were taken
into considerable it was seen that he
was fitted better than anybody else at
hand for the position of president.
1t was practically decided that Clark
Griffith would manage the team some
time ago However, he will be the man.
ager merely and while Lotus will be
ready with his advice at all times the
pitcher manager of the White Stockings
last year will take care of the playing
end always.
In the American league be at the head
of the New York club and it is consid-
cred if this will not tend to create a
feeling of satisfaction among Gotham
ties nothing will
The news that Patsy Donovan will
jump to the American league, while not
unexpected, is bit surprising. 1t is not
the first time that the information has
been given out that he would not be
with the Robisons next year, but each
fresh assertion to this effect has invari-
ably met with a denial either from
Patsy himself or from somebody else
close to the st. Louis club.
Patsy. it was said last year, was busy
for some time flirting with the American
league, but just a the time when some
thing seemed to be doing between him
came deaf to everything that pertained
to the new league. and never left the
side of Frank De Haas Robson.
Although the men directly interested
in this scheme have made point to do
the work under cover and carefully
avoid publicity, it is a fact that the
American league people are now salts
fed that all of the many obstacles in
the way of communicating the deal have
been overcome.
Their plan in a nutshell is this Lotus
is to go into New York as the president
of the new club and the personal repre-
sentative of the syndicate which owns
the organization. He is to esta blish Of
the club, while Clark Griffith. the old
time leader of the Chicago White Sox,
is to be the player manager and have
entire charge of the team, both on and
off the field.
/ 1t is thought that this combination of
LOTUS and Griffith will prove more than
satisfactory. for the citizen from Dubuque
will, it is thought, be able to keep the
New York newspaper people in line he
IS well known and-popular with all the
Gotham baseball writer's on the metropol-
1 itan papers.
The Washington end of this rather in
teresting deal hinges upon the success Oh
failure of the American league to secure
Patsy Donovan. At the close of last sea
son, Donovan, who by the way, is a play
| er of high class and undisputed quality
notified the Robisons, who owned the st
| Louis National League club, that he III.
| tended to retire from professional base
ball and could not renew his contract a:
manager of the Cardinals
| Directly this statement was published
B. B. johnson went to st. Louis ant
made Donovan. who, by the way is :
player of determination. an offer to retir,
from the diamond and accept the man
agement of the Washington club Dono
van has had this offer under considera
ton for several weeks, and men who ar
in a position to know say that last weel
he decided to accept the proposition
But it is assured now that Patsy vii
be the regular manager of the Senator
next season and since he has establishe,
a reputation as a good manager he vii
doubtless be welcomed there although
Lotus, at the same time, will be greatl
missed.