The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-14

baseball men. Although Hickey was the
accredited representative Of the National
Association of Minor leagues, he was de-
cidedly not favored as a peace envoy by
President Lucas Of the Pacific Northwest
league, party of the second part in the
unpleasantness now pervading the Pacific
coast. -
Local interest in. Hickey's mission was
due to the fact that Schmeer, Anderson
and Slagle. three of the. men signed by,
Manager Wilmot. had jumped to the Pa
cific Coast league. The conclusion Of
peace might have resulted in the return
Of these three men to Minneapolis. 2st
The local management does not par
ticularly want Anderson, and it ca1r sur-
vive the possible loss Of slagle without
losing much sleep. Wilmot wanted
Schmeer, however, and wanted him the
worst way. He thinks he has a team on
which he can we'll afford to stand pat,
with the exception of shortstop. Schmeer,
who, by the way, is reported to be fairly
burning things up on the coast just now;,
would have filed Wilmots hand nicely. !,
The management is confident, however,
that 1t can secure a first-class short
fielder before the season opens, and the
first game probably will see we'll bal
| anced miller team on the diamond. Nego-,
tations for Russ Hall are still in progress;
| and Wilmot has hopes of getting the clever
iiISiO iiSASSA'
pion Pittsburg team, who played last year
| with Washington, Is also a possibility
Ely is on the local claim list, and would
| make a most valuable man. He was a
rather weak hitter his last year in the
| National but is one of the fastest fie1ders
in the business. With it's strong staff Of
| pitchers and with the batting ability Of
| most Of the other men. Minneapolis can
afford one or two mediocre .stickers 5',
r.
| Work upon the local baseball grounds
will be begun Monday. Some repairs to
the club house and grand stand make up
T most Of the work. The diamond and out
| field will require comparatively little at
| ton, but the management is beginning
early to insure the grounds being in shape
when the first game is called.
| Two weeks from tomorrow night the
local contingent Of the Minneapolis team
! will start for Leavenworth. Kan, where
| the preliminary practice will begin the
week Of March 80. Wilmot, Lally, Martin,
Sporer and Mcintyre will be in the party.
The other players will meet in Chicago
and will join the smaller party at Oel-
vein. Wis. Catcher Byers and Second
Basenlan Grant of last years team have
been ordered to report at Leavenworth
Unless Manager Cantillon of Milwaukee
is able to land another good outfelder
he may play "Jiggs". Donoaue at first
base, Unglaub at third and Billy phvJe
in center field. Cantillon has been trying
to secure a good man for center field, but
thus far has failed. He thought he haC
Tommy: Dowd but that player has de-
cided to 60 with the Baltimore team o.
the Eastern league.
UngIaub, the California league PLAYER
was originally third baseman, and he
is said to be a good man for the posi-
ton. .Donohue covered the initial bag fo
the brewers last season and did goof
work. Phyle. although a twirler, cal
cover the outfeld in a satisfactory man
ner and the shifting around of thes,
Frank Knee, who makes Sumner, Iowa
in the capacity of travelling salesman fol
a wholesale cigar house is organizing E
: fat mems baseball club. Mr.. Knee him
. self is an athlete, who tips the scales a.
nearly 400 pounds. He has succeeded IL
securing eleven men. like unto himself
the lightest of the bunch weighing 80
) pounds. The members are nearly al
q travelling men and they propose to tor
the country in a private car, after tn
manner Of the Boston Bloomer Girls club
AS many Of the members are Elks, it /
: hoped to have the games arranged unde
;. the auspices of this lodge.
President W. Fl. Lucas of the Pacifi
Northwest league has a prejudice agains
Thomas J. Hickey Of the American asso
! citation. due to the fact that Mr.. Hicke,
! was the leader Of an association tha
fought the National organization of base
a ball leagues a year ago.
l. At that time-one year ago-H1cke
was made chairman Of the National asso
). citation. He then formed the American
association. which defled the National as
D sociation, and was thrown off his com
t mittee. This incident led Mr.. Lucas t
. think that Hickey was not a proper MAJ
: to conduct negotiat tions for the bringing
: in to the association of an outnew lsague
s When Lucas was notified sof Hickey
: appointment. he telegra phed to Secretar
: j. H. Farrell not to allow the America
= magnate to make the western trip Th
= telegram was shown to Hickey. who a
: once left Chicago for the east. He did no
: wait for anyone to take him offsathe, com
;. mittee, or suggest that he resign. His tri
81 l