The Washington times., 1903-03-15
WIN His NelO Yo5k National
League Team He Spent
Part Of Yesterday at Riggs
House, En- Route South.
SaHs DelehanfY WI MOI
Play Ball This Season, Far
PrefeSrmg 10 Live on His
$4,000 Advance Money.

Thicker than flies around SUGAR
bowl were the baseball fans that
mounted guard about To Riggs House
yesterday All day long these good and
faithful rooters hung about anxious TO
catch every word which fell from the
mouths Of the stars of the diamond
there assembled.
quite gathering OF the baseball clans
occurred yesterday: the Boston and New
York National teams were here. and the
Boston American League club tar
ried long enough TO pass greetings on
their way South
The Boston Nationals left at 1851 yes
terday morning for the South. as did
the New Yorks at 6:31 in the evening.
McGraw Spic and Span.
The most conspicuous figure about
the Riggs House yesterday was John J.
McGraw. manager of the New York club.
In appearance. the little manager never
looked better in his life. and no traces
OF his many recent illnesses are Wis
ible. his visit to Hot Springs having
eradicsted all traces OF indisposition.
Referring to the various questions OF
the Delehanty tangle. McGraw said to
a Times man: Del will not play this
year; take this from me and rest as
sured ! know what 1 am talking about.
He is already $500 TO the good. and
whether he has blown all this in on
the races or not. he won't play ball. He
doesn't want to play in Washington. and
the chances are he can't play in New
York, and there you are"
Continuing. Mac said concerning the
Fielder Jones tangle. in which he is ac-
oused OF disregarding the reserve
clause
Jones will play in New York or not
al all. 1 signed him when he was free
to make a contract. and all talk 10 the
contrary is rot: and when it comes to a
showdown I'll win out. Just watch
me"
Baseball at Fever Heat.
McGraw said baseball is at fever heat
in New York; never was more interest
manifest than at the present time, and
that the advent of Ban Johnson but
stimulated the sport. He anticipates
no serious opposition. he says. from
that source. and claims that the Ma
tiOnal League pennant belongs TO New
York beyond peradventure.
The New York team is no doubt a
strong one i'm many respects. Its pitch
ing corps is beyond doubt one OF the
best ever brought together. As heIders.
the infeld is impregnable. though weak
at the bat. and the outfeld yet remains
10 be proven. All these points McGraw
acknowledged, but said the eight weeks
he n in 2 a
remedy all shortcomings and when they
fit northward it will be an entirely diff
ferent aggregation from that which left
last night.
McGraw as He Is.
McGraw's generaIship is well known
His hustling tactics gained by years of
close contact with Ned HanIon. the ac-
knowledged peer OF them all. has ably
htted him for his managerial position.
ard there is little doubt but that he will
make good. The greater part OF the day
yesterday McGraw spent in Baltimore.
but, strange 20 say, he did not see his old
playing and business partner. Wilbert
Robinson. when asked IL he looked
Robbie UP and how he liked his relega-
tion 10 the minor league. Mac said:
II didn't see Robbie I was too busy"
This leaves room for much conjecture
upon the part of the knowing ones. and
many viii doubtless recall the recent
transfer OF the American League
franchise from Baltimore TO New York
and the prominent part Mae took in this
deal
Has Many Enemies.
Johnnie McGraw has a host OF friends
who are proud al the eminence TO which
he has arisen In baseball and he has
Just as many enemies. or the latter. far
more spleen and rivalry actuate these
sentiments than any slight offered BY
Johnnie. He is a natural born ball
player and plays 20 win from start to
finish lie is an enthusiast and often
allows his temper 10 get the better OF
him. but with IL all ne is a shrewd and
alert manager and viii shine as a star
long after his traducers have ceased 10
exist
Crane False Prophet
with the New York Club is sam
Crane, the baseball prophet Of a Gotham
paper. Crane has been diyulging Ban
Johuson's secrets ever since the car
decided TO enter Gotham with ball
club
In tipping of just what the American
League president had decided to do.
this remarkable baseball sage has not
left untouched an inch Of untenanted
ground on Manhattan Island on which
johnson could place his New York Club
Crane has made many guesses. but II any
writer has been as far Wide OF the mara
as this Metropolitan scribe. few OF those
who chronicle diamond events are &C
quainted with the fact.