Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-25
BASE BALL NENS.
Magnates Afraid Pittsburg Will
 Jump to American League.

Barney Dreyfuss Holds the Key to the
 National League Muddle at Present
 Meeting of the State League Being
 Held in New Haven To-day-Water-
 bury Grounds are Being Repaired
 Gossip of the Players.
 New York, March 25.-When 1t comes to dictating terms of peace President Dreyfuss of the Pittsburg club expects to play an active part ID the National league meeting next week From the inception of A. C. Spalding's fight against Freedman and Brush, the little Pittsburg magnate has remained true blue. Dreyfuss originally declared himself for Spald- ing and is still loyal Dreyfuss says that he will accept no compromise at the. coming meeting and that he is per- fectly Independent.
 T have not applied for an American league franchise as yet" he is reported as saying, 'but I can have one the mo- ment I ask for it.''
 That Dreyfuss has evidently sue ceeded in worrying the other National 
 fact that he is in receipt of numerous telegrams from them begging him to attend the meeting and imploring him to have nothing to do with the Amer ican league.
 The American league men have been secretly working on Dreyfuss to take the Cleveland franchise for several weeks. They have pointed out to him the iIhdisputable fact that the Pitts burgs will have such an easy time winning the National league pennant again that interest i'll the Smoky City is sure to-dwindle to nothing. also that the attendance ill the other National league cities will fall off the moment Dreyfuss' team forges ahead. The American leaguers also have tried to show Dreyfuss that their clubs have the cream of the playing talent and that with the admission rates in creased to 50 cent tariff Pittsburg would be greatly benefited by the change.
 The American league men have inn pressed Dreyfuss with the additional fact that they intend to invade New York next year and that when this has been done the National league will go up in smoke.
 The Freedman four did not meet yesterday according to schedule, be- cause of the illness of Brush of Cin- cinnati and the inability of Robson of St Louis to get here in time. E. B. Talcott, former owner of the New York club, was in town yesterday. It will be remembered that Spalding an- nounced some time ago that Talcott would purchase Freedmans interest in the New York club, provided the lat ter would sell. Now comes the story that when the election of president of the league comes up next week the Freedman-Brush clique will nominate Talcott with the idea of forcing the Spalding clubs to accept his candidacy and shelve their leader. If such is the plan, it is a pretty safe bet that Talcott will not allow his name to be footballed around for a moment.
 
 1T Harry Wilson signs with Water bury, or rather if Manager Harrington decides to sign him, the contract will De an ironclad one and will not allow him to handle the whole of his salary. part of which will be in the hands of gentleman who is interested in him in Baltimore.
 Eddie Quick, who is being figured on as one of the pitching staff is a resi-. dent of Baltimore. One of inc leading members of the Baltimore team has recommended him and has guaranteed that he will do fast work. He has pitched against the Baltimore team and would have been added to the staff of that team had he little more ex- perience.
 The signed contract of Bob Drew has been received by Manager Har- flngton, but just what will be done with the lanky first baseman 1t is hard to tell. Ned Slater is the better man of the two and he is certain of q posi-. ton, and it looks very much as. though Bob will have to go elsewhere.
 Waterbury will be without the ser vices this season of Matthews. the pugnacious catcher; Murphy. the CT. ratic shortstop, and George Courtney center fielder. Of the three Courtney played the best game last season. The others will not be missed in Water. bury nor in the state.
 Ned Slater, who has been signed tc play first base. is rated as the fastest sprinter in any of the minor leagues When Manager Harrington was dick ering with him Slater wrote that he did not think Waterbury would pay the salary he wanted. He found out that he was mistaken. for Manager Harrington sent him on contract with the figures he asked for and he affixed his signature to the paper. Slater is a little different from the majority oi players; he said he wanted no advance money and lie would let his record tel whether he was getting too much sal ary or not.
 Lexington. Va, March 25.-Wash- ington and Lee university easily shut out Fishburne Military academy yes terday without a run or hit. The score was IT to 0.
 Springfield wants the name of the league to be changed to the "Connecti cut Valley league" If the name must be changed, why not call it the Con necticut league? That leaves out the word state and Connecticut applies to Springfield as well as Hartford be cause the Connecticut river runs through it.-lkeriden Journal.
 There is lot of talk going the rounds about Mann, Bristol pitcher who will not sign with Manager Con. nor" Who is fMann" anyway. Nc