The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-10
SPORTS.
RETORT COURTEOUS
Local Baseball Management Says
Havenor of Milwaukee Talks
Through His Chapeau.
Statement That Minneapolis Was in
Financial StEaits Last Year
Is Resented.

The local baseball management, is busily
grinding an ak with a view to using the
implement at the first convenient oppor-
tunity upon the person of President Have
ton club.
In an interview in a recent issue of
Sporting Life, Havenor is quoted as say
ing that the Minneapolis and Toledo clubs
were in sore financial straits during the
latter part of the season of 1902. To this
allegation President Johnston and Man.
ager Wilmot take decided exception.
I'VE may have been in financial diff
Guilty." said Johnston to-day, "but we paid
all the bills we owed, and We are not IN
debted to the association for a cent Tor
railroad fare. That is more than Mil
waukee can say, for know by the state
ment of Hickey himself that the associa-
ton holds q neat little bills against the
brewers So far as Toledo is concerned,
that club made more money last year than
Milwaukee did
Letters are pouring into the local base
ball office from the various players, who
appear to be anxious for the season to
open. The letters are a good deal alike,
for all the men express a desire to get
into the harness IS soon as possible Il
wish the season would open tomorrow,
is common expression in the epistles re-
ceived by Wilmot.
The miller manager is one of the men
who fought hard for the rule providing
that the pitchers box shall not be raised
more than fifteen inches above the lever
OF the diamond. The significance OF this
rule Is not appreciated by many or the
local fans, for the twirler's slab at Nlcol-
let park was only raised during one game
last season, and then only q few inches
During the rest of the season the pitcher
box was on a level with the rest OF the
diamond. In other cities, however, the
same rule did not apply.
:.:Why, In some towns around the cir
cult last year, said Wilmot, 1.-The pitcher
slab was as much as three or four feet
above the base lines 1t was just like
throwing them down a well to pitch or
those grounds lot of men kick or
the new rule, but when it is in operation
they will see that it Is a good thing.
President Pulliam Of the National league
has a plan to establish at the Natlona
Headquarters in the St James building
New York, a nall Of famo for the cham
pion players in the league. He has or
dered w. H. Locke, secretary of the Pitts
burg club to have a life-size picture MADE
Of Clarence Beaumont. the Plttsburs
fielder and champion batter Of last year
to be the first to adorn the hail. A large
picture Of the Pittsburgs will be take1
for the same purpose.
THE American Baseball league resumed
the sessions of the annual meeting II
New York yesterday. At the conclusion
of the meeting Johnson said:
I'VE have just closed the deal for ou
grounds here. We have adjourned tt
meet again tomorrow, when we shal
award the New York franchise, and thel
all the information relative to the .clu
will be given out. We shall then max
public all our plans.
Further than this President Johnson dc
clined to say anything.
The Portland Baseball club filed sui
against the Pacific Northwest league {
Spokane. WASH, to compel the recogn1
ton of the club by the league, enJoln IN
reference and secure an accounting. IN
complaint charges that the league en-
deavored to harrass the Portland clu
last season and throw the pennant It
Butte It also charges that William Cold
man, Portland's representative, was ex
Guided from the directors meeting Dee
20 and his club expelled without trial:
Dale Gear, manager of the Kansas Cit
American Association club, announce
that he has finally secured Billy Malone
to catch for the Blues. Maloney wa
with Cincinnati last season. Milwaukee
and Kansas City have been fighting owe
the man ever since he was released b
the Reds.
John O'Neill Of st. John, N. B., con
sidered one Of the best second baseme
and batters in Canadian baseball circles
has been signed to play with the Milwau
kee team during the coming season.