Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-02-29
Baseball Notes.

Catcher George Yeager, late of Min
neapolis. will probably play with CO.
lumbus.
Kansas City has signed an Indian
outflelder named Archiquette. a gradu-
ate of Haskell.
The Cleveland American League club
has traded Pitcher Jesse Stovall to De-
troit for Outfielder Billy Lush.
x-Captain- Manager "Doggie" Miller
of Fort Wayne is going to try his for
tunes with the A. j. G. club in the New
York League.
Catcher Beville has accepted a cut of
$500 in his salary with the New York
Americans for this year. Last season
he drew $4,000 for catching fourteen
games.
When the Microbes leave for their
western training trip, the eyes and
thoughts of Chicago ball fans will be
with Jake Werner, Jim Hart's special
wonder. In a company of right hand
ers. Jake is the only southpaw in Hart S
outfit.
President Ban johnson of the Amer
lean Baseball League, arrived at the
Fifth Avenue hotel, at New York, Sun
day night. and Monday, will convene
the annual meeting of his organization
in his hotel. The annual schedule
meeting of the league will begin at the
Victoria hotel. n hours later and from
present indications there is very little
doubt but both organizations will
adopt non-conllicting schedules or play
ing dates for the coming season.
Christie Matthewson. the star pitcher
for the Giants. has varied his method of
delivery. Several batters caught on to
his little trick of suddenly dropping the
ball under the bat of the man at the
plate, and did some lining. In 1902. it
will be remembered Matthewson had
great success with his peculiar delivery.
and it was last year that he was found
out. Now he has changed his manner
of delivery and is practicing it. He
noticed several of the star pitchers had
changed their pace, and he set about
to do likewise. 1t was hard for him at
first, but he soon became used to it, and
now thinks his shoots will be as puz-
Zling as ever.
The addition of Jim" Mcclure to the
catching department of the New York
American League Club is really a step
in the right direction, for the New Yorks
are or were, decidedly weak behind the
bat. Beville is Il good natured, hard
working, persistent young man, but he
is Il long way from being Il first class
catcher. and it is doubtful if he ever
will graduate into the fastest of fast
company. He is not quick enough for
the position and not quite familiar
enough with the subject to treat il
properly. 50 far as that is concerned
Mcclure is-no Mercury. If there is any
man in either league who cannot beat
him running to first base he should
Quit playing ball. What Jim" lacks in
dash and 1icctnesS he makes up in his
knowledge of the batters. who walk to
the plate, and in his ability to play the
position so as to meet all the require
mcnti that come during the eXigencies
of close game. While Jack" O'Con-
nor is not Il back number by any means
he is not the catcher he once was, and
from the very beginning of the season
Of 1903 Griffith had to contend with Il
great deal behind the bat. Mcguire
should be able to help him out Il lot,
especially when the younger pitchers
are in the box. and it is with some of
the young pitchers that Griffith must
win the pennant this year if he ex-
poets to do so. Hughes may so all
right and he may go all wrong. 1t de-
bends entirely upon the kind of Il start
that he makes.