The Washington times., 1902-07-04
BASEBALL AMATEUR AND Observation-Disclosures

sooner or later, and from present in
dications the American League Will not
have to make any concessions to get II.
The National League really seems to
be in a very bad way. The failure OF
John l. Rogers to corral Lajoie when he
had the chance, the subsequent roast
ing which President Reach, of the Phil
adelphia Club, gave him for his action
in the matter, and the fact that the
present New York team is the laughing
stock OF the baseball world, have been
hard blows to the National League.
These circumstances have affected the
attendance all along the line, and the
very men who. a few weeks ago, were
willing to talk nothing but war to
the death, it is believed would be only
too willing to attend peace confer
ence now-Cincinnati Commercial Tri-
bune.
The advisers CT Colonel Rogers be-
lieve they have learned OF the defense
in the Lajoie case that will be presented,
providing a court can be found in Ohio
which viii take the colonel seriously.
The facts are as fellows:
Lajoic and Bernhard have never
signed contracts with an American
League club since the injunction pro-
Cttu4ubS were DtSun against lHtlu III
this State. Neither player has received
either advance money nor salary for
services with the Cleveland club. BY
request Of the players themselves. they
were allowed to play with the Cleveland
club merely to keep in condition in their
chosen occupation. Enjoined from play
inS On the fields of their choice, and
know ing that active practice was. neces-
saTy to keep them in condition to main
tain their standing In their profession.
they sought other fields and found them.
This is the defense that will be made
against all of Colonel Rogers legal doe
uments and oratory-provided, of course,
the case ever comes up in court again.
The National League magnates have
been making themselves familiar with
Louisville Of late, and this fact has led
to rumors that Louisville is wanted in
this city twelve-league club will be
organized.
The fact that Hart. of Chicago; Pull
liam and Clarke, of Pittsburg, and An
drew Freedman, of New York, have all
heen in Louisville during the past few
,
the fact that they all seem to be looking
for players makes another explanation
also possible.
That the National wants Louisville, or
a twelve-club league, at the present
time is hardly probable. Especially is
this true, in view of the fact that George
Tebeau, who controls the Louisville
club in the American association says
he has not been consulted in the matter,
and is out with statement that he will
resist any attempt to place rival team
in that city.
II the National really wanted Louis
Vile 1t would undoubtedly buy out Te-
beau. or take him into the fold instead
of trying to buck his club.
With the exception Of New York. the
Eastern division Of the National League
is row playing 25 per cent stronger
than it was month ago. Philadelphia.
under Jennings. has improved wonder
fully, while Brooklyn is now playing
very fast ball. Boston had rounded TO
until those three teams are very evenly
matched, but all weak in stick work,
when compared to the National League
teams of those cities in the past.
The young players picked up by the
old league who look like s:ayers are
Carney and Greminger, OF Boston;
Smith. of New York; Flood and Ahearn,
of Brooklyn: Hulswitt, Brown and
Doom. OF Philadelphia: Tinker and
Jones. of Chicago. and Barclay. Smoot,
and the O'Neil brothers, of st. Louis.
and about half dozen pitchers. Per-
hsps a dozen more Will be developed
during the season, and the National
League would be in pretty fair shape
but for the Pitts5urg outfit. With Drey-
fuss handling a team of several new
men, as the other clubs are doing, the
championship race would not be a farce,
and most of the games simply exhibition
affairs.-Tim Murnane, in Chicago Rec
ord Herald.