The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-13
FANS HUNGRY
FOR SOME NEWS
ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE
ARRIVAL OF WATKINS.
Spike Shannon Says Race in American
Association This Year Is Between
ST. Paul, Minneapolis and Louisville
-Rumor That Boston National
Owners Will Sell Out Sounds


"Pipey."
The announcement by President
Watkins this week that he had signed
twelve players for the season of l. O4
afforded little satisfaction to the fans,
who are growing hungry for definite
news of the makeup of the millers, in.
asmuch as the names of the men were
withheld. Some of the number are
undoubtedly members of last year s
team whom Watkins has decided to
retain. Maloney, Oyler, Sullivan,
Lally and Thomas, are probably
among the number, as the work of
these men last year with losing team
justif1es the assumption that they will
play top notch ball with a winner.
President Watkins is expected in the
city next Thursday, when the fans will
be given a good big budget of news.
Till that time they can only resign
themselves to wait. ,-
the st. Paul team. who has been
drafted by st. Louis (NationaD says
that the fight this year will be be-
tween St. Paul, Minneapolis and
Louisville. He bases this statement
upon the proven ability of the nanag-
ers of these three teams. Watkins and
Tebeau have had years of experience
turned out losers. Kelley has had less
experience, but in the two years he
has directed the St. Paul team he has
finished in third place once, and won
one pennant. Shannon thinks the
managerial ability of these three men
will be too much for the other club
leaders.
Joe Cantillon claims that he has a
better team than he had a year ago,
when the season, opened. This state
ment may be questioned, but even if
true, it does not mean that the team
will finish better than the 1908 or
ganization. Last year Cantillon had
bunch which, on paper, should have
beaten out anything in the league,
with the possible exception of st.
Paul. That it did not do so was due
to Cantillons inability to preserve
good discipline among his men. To
be sure, it was a pretty hard bunch
to keep straight, with Willie McGill,
Willie Phyle and two or three others,
who might be named, but a winning
men who have a reputation for look
ing on the beer when it is foaming,
| or the booze when diluted with ice
and seltzer. Cantillon may have a
better bunch on paper than Watkins,
Tebeau or Kelly, but it is pretty
safe bet that he won't get any better
work out of his men than the other
| three named.
! President Watkins is we'll pleased
with the agreement between the Pa
ciflc Coast league and the representa-
tives of the other organizations.
The agreement means that there
will be universal peace in baseball, -
says Watkins, "and the National AS
! co iof nf r
doubt ratify the agreement.
THE. principal object of the Pacific
league being induced to come under
the national agreement was to have ii
observe contracts and reservations OF
i other leagues. The coast magnates
objected to coming into the fold unless
the league was granted the same
can leagues. sThe minor leagues will
not object to this. The Pacific league
Is not as strong as the American as.
ISOLATION, but we do not care if i
ranks little higher. The fact tina
there will be one more so-called ma
jor league will not affect the Ameri
can association. Under the nationa
drafted from any one Glass A club
and it makes little difference to u
whether those two players are drafted
by the National, American or Pacifi,
league.
THE Pacific league has been in ;
position in the past to offer induce
ments to ball players because of tn,
fact that the players are given al
eight months contract in that organ
lzation. The monthly salary is no
larger than the players would re
ceive in this part Of the country, blu
they are employed for a longer time
} With the Pacific league in the folt
club owners all over the country cal
J come to better terms with their play
ers, who have been holding out TO
larger salaries, with a threat tina
they would jump to the Pacific coas
unless their demands were granted
With the Pacific league observing con
tracts and reservations baseball mag
mates will be able to do business so1
reasonable terms with the players"
! The rumor that Messrs. Soden, Co
. !. nant and Billings are anxious to SCI
their Boston National league franchis
. has been one of the sensations Of tn
, month. At present it looks as if tn
, story was without real foundation, al
, tho it would not be strange if the HUI
owners wanted to pull out. The Bos
7 ton American team has drawn a lot c
E patronage from the Nationals, and
9 is stated upon good authority that tn
SiuO 1Aeto AooC y 4VV,VUO Ill Tie 1dSC LQre
/ seasons. This year prospects ar
l dark for winning team. The bean
L eaters will be lucky to get sixth place
with such strong clubs as Pittsburs
l Cincinnati, New York and Chicago
Z the van, and the Phillies apparent
l.. better than the other three team
9 Even if the Nationals turn out a. wiz
G ner, they will have hard time gettin
2 the fans back into the habit of goin
to their grounds, on account of tn
$ greater accessibility and beauty of TIL
e American league park.
Conant, Soden and Billings, how
> ever, are men of wealth, who can al
. ford to lose money on their ventur,
and perhaps would prefer to sink a Iii
tie more cash and wait for a more ia
vorable time to sell. Their expense
;; will be lighter this year, with tn
- wholesale reduction of salaries, an
= their receipts probably as good as las
- season.
This from Tom LOTUS:
= "Give me a game where hit after h
a is made, but grand fielding chops o
a the runners; a game where five or 81
!, men are stopped on lightning doubl
q plays; where the outflelders are ge
fiv,O o&