Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-24

AS sort of Christmas g1c to the Wash
ington fans" the officials =, the Washing
ton Base Ball club have completed ar
engagements whereby Third Baseman Lave
Cross of the Champion Athletics of Phila-
delphia Will be a member of the Nationals
next season. The signing of a Washington
contract 10y this sterling player marks one
of the most important deals since the
American League came east. 1t is a more
important deal than the sale of Coughlin
10 Detroit. as Cross acquisition will bene-
1T the Nationals more than the disposal
% the former hurt them When Manager
Stahl visited Washington recently he learn
ed that Philadelphia was willing to release
Cross lie lost little time in going TO the
players home in Delaware and getting his
promise to play here next season. Man
ager Stahl spent part of last Saturday
and Sunday with Cross at his little farm,
and when he returned reported that the
veteran had said tuat he would play In
Washington. but nowhere else. The fact
Of the matter is that Cross had decided to
quit playing ball last winter and consented
Il play last summer only upon the promise
Of Manager Mack that he would be given
Ills unconditional release at the end of the
season Cross always disliked the idea of
being bought or sold, and the promise that
he could do as he pleased at the end of the
play lS year Inhut tiIn con the Alnlttlc
Uniform once more. How successfully he
captaiued the Quaker team last season is
already history.
a Star reporter asked Stahl If he wasn't
a little bit dubious over signing as player
a man who had been the captain of
championship team owing to the possibility
OF friction. Stahl replied.
mot with Cross. He IS one Of the incest
boys In the business, and lac is not of the
sort to encourage chickering's of any kind.
II | had my pick of the third baseman of
the American League | don't know of any
one | would select quicker than Lave. He
VIII be great help to me In running the
team 10 say nothing Of his fine ability a
fielder and hitter"
Club Officials Elated.
The officers of the club are as much elated
as Manager Stahl over the signing of Cross
and Messrs. Noyes. Rapley and Minor had
nothing but the greatest praise for the vet
eran. In speaking Of the deal, President
Noyes said.
When the Washington club approached
the Philadelphia club in an effort to get
Cross We We're told by Connie Mack that
hs would not release Cross to any club un-
less Cross was thoroughly satisfied 10 go
there ana satisfied with the contract Of
fered He further said that in view OF
the conditions in Philadelphia. if it was
entirely satisfactory 10 Cross lie would let
us have him. TheTeupOn. StaM went 10
Delaware and spent several DAYS with
Cross, talking the matter over. Cross final
~ expressed his willingness to come to
Washington. saying that this was the only
place he would play IN. Upon this the
arrange neUt between the Philadelphia and
W Washington clubs was concluded
Treasurer Raploy said that the signing
az Cross by Washington would make the
Nationals fully "a per cent stronger than
last season and that he looked for some
mighty fire ball next season.
Secretary Minor was no. a bit backward