Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-02
A Fan Who Wants Delehanty.

Apropos of the desire Of a few writer's TO
push Delehanty out Of the Washington club.
the following views Of a local fan will be
found interesting He says:
For years the fans of Washington have
been compelled to witness losing base ball
team represent their city, and now when
the prospects for a winning team are
brighter than ever before there seems To he
a desire on the part of few that the team
remain in the same old place-near the bot
tom III the race at the end of the season
This desire is made manifest when the case
OF Delehanty Is taken into considera ton
for with Delehanty and the present lineup
the team looks good for the first division.
and without Del. a sure second division.
Whether Del. stays or not Is for the fans
to decide The management can procure
man to fill his place for half the money,
and it will surely let him go II it is en-
couraged to do so by this murmur against
retaining him.
When some good reason is demanded
why Delehanty should not play with Wash
fngton 1t cannot be given. Delehanty by
profession Is ball player. and he is going
he cannot afford to do otherwise his flu
ture income depending on how well he
plays the game; and he will play the best
ball he Is capable of in Washington. 1t is the
nature OF the man to do 1t, and he will do
1t. Delehanty did not sign to play with
New York because he did not like Wash
ington or because he would prefer playing
In New York He signed because of no
small monetary 1nducement, and 1t might
be well to ask ones self II one would not
| have done exactly the same thing under
| like circumstances. There is such a policy
| as cutting off ones nose to spite the face.
| and II the fans do not demand the retention
| Of Delehanty they will be following this
| very same policy.
IF Del. should go 1t would be impossible
| to fill his place. AS batter he has no
| equal. He Is so good that every other club
| Is trying to get him. Any club would be
| glad to get him. and If he looks SO good
| to other arrangements why should he not
| be as good to Washington? He was more
| than popular last year when he jumped here
| from Philadelphia, and he would have been
| as popular had he gone to New York Why
| shouldn't the fans Of Washington feel for
| tunate that this much-desired man should
| play In the local team? There is this GER
| tainty-that If Del. does not play here he
| Will play with some American League team
| and II this murmuring Is kept up and the
management sees enough in 1t for an ex-
cuse. 1t will profit financially by letting
Delehanty go and getting some cheaper
man to take his place. If such a thing
should happen, and Del. should play here
on visiting team, more than one who now
says let him go-he wanted to- will feel
| like kicking himself when Del. puts one
over the fence, or lines out a hot one with
the bases full. Keep Delehanty with Wash
| ington. give him sportsman's royal good
wish and Washington will have the best
team 1t ever had.
Hundreds Of fans with whom I have
talked-those who do not always have the
ready 90 cents. but those who occupy the
'bleachers' game after game, feel as 1 do
All heartily approve of the stand taken by
The Star In this matter, for they feel that
The Star Is working for winning base bali
team to represent Washington this coming
season"