The Washington times., 1903-03-16
POSTAL AND LOTUS
EXPECTED HERE TODAY
Sale of Washington Club to
Be Then Determined
DELEHANTY is OBDURATE
Doesn't Want to Play Here and Will
Remain Idle Rather Than Do So.
Prefers to Play Horses.


the New York American League grounds
completes the last of the three big deals
which were worrying the fans at the
beginning of the year. Peace has been
arranged between the warning leagues,
the Philadelphia club has been sold and
the American League has strengthened
it's circuit by substituting New York
for Baltimore.
Now all eyes of the baseball world
are ceRtered upon Washington and
await the arrival of Postal and LOTUS,
when the sale OF the local club will be
taken up. Both are expected to arrive
today. but had not reached the city up
to noon.
The Delehanty tangle also is an in
teresting point to occupy the attention
of the local fans, and it remains 10
be seen just what will be done. Del
is anxious TO play in New York He
has already drawn 81 900 from John Nc
Graw OF the National. and $500 from
the Golfers of the Washington club.
Prefers the Race Track.
~ remain iule seems 20 nave no ter
rors for the big contract jumper. and it
is only pity that a black list is not
in vogue TO deal strenuously with those
OF his ilk- He is no acquisition to any
club under such conditions and had bet
ter remain on the race track. where he
has been all winter. 1t is probable.
however. that Ban Johnson may Jump
into the breach and arrange some deal
by which Delehanty would play with
the New York American League team
and recompense Washington in the form
OF one or more players. preferably
pitchers, in which it is deplorably weak
Johnson's Close Shave.
Ban Johnson had a close shave in the
metropolis. a number of deals that Re
had under way were thwarted. and until
the very moment that the lease was
signed for the Blind Asylum property
I there was doubt whether he would sue
ceed in getting in. Had he failed the
+ blow would have been serious one for
the younger league. and Johnson himself
would have suffered a serious loss IA
prestige. At the present time the presI-
dent OF the American League wields an
arbitrary power over the affairs OF his
organization. His associates have found
in his success a full justification for
this. But there surely would have been
grumbling and perhaps open insurrec-
tion had he been compelled to go be-
/ fore them at the last moment and adj
nit that he had no ground for his hign-
priced club TO play upon.
Il is hardly likely that the American
! League viii reap the fruits OF his en-
| terprise this season. The Fort Wash
/ tngtOn site is not nearly as accessible
as the Polo Grounds. It can only be
reached by surface roads. and takes con-
siderably longer This is a factor that
must be reckoned with. for New Workers
are proverbially 10th TO make lengthy
/ trips for their pleasure. Besides. the
/ salary list OF the club is so heavy that
: il will be hard 10 figure profit after il
is met. But next year, after the sub
/ way has brought the new grounds closer
/ 10 the city, and the salaries have been
/ brought nearer TO peace basis. the re-
/ turns should be big. for New York is a
! good baseball town. and the unpopu-
/ larity OF Freedman. Brush. and McGraw
/ viii be valuable help to the new club.
Meanwhile Johnson and Dreyfuss can
rest on their laurels. They have proved
themselves the master promoters and
manipulators Of the baseball world. And
/ the best OF fl is that in few days the
season viii be on. and the pleasures OF
the game VIII be "a welcome relief after
a season Of baseball politics.
Phillies Go South.
Half Of the men on whom the new
owners OF The Phillies rely 20 restore
the clubs lost prestige VIII leave PhiIa-
delphia today for Richmond. They will
go from Bread Street Station at I:I3. and
at the training ground will be joined by
the remaining members OF the team.
with one or two exceptions
The players who viii leave Philadel-
phia are Manager thinner. Catcher Roth
Pitchers Dugeleby, Mitchell. McLaugh-
lin, Wolf. and Birehall, Third Baseman
Wolverton. and Outnelders Barry and
Kiester.
Pitcher Fraser is now at Hot Springs
and it is not at all certain that he will
20 to Richmond Doom and Hulswitt
are due in Richmond this morning. and
will probably be on hand to meet the
train that brings in the other members
OF the team
The Southern stay Will be somewhat
limited. The team will start North on
March 30. Two games VIII be played
here with the American League club of
this city. Baltimore will be met once
and on April the Phillies will open up
on their home grounds. with the Ath-
letics for guests.