Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-04
Manager Griffith Talks of
Plans for Coming Season.
HAS A STRONG TEAM
TURF WAR IN THE WEST ALMOST
A CERTAINTY.
New Orleans Race Receipts Went to
Charity-Dashiel to Coach Navy
Base Ball Notes.

Base ball and the present weather hardly
go together, but two months froa now and
the different teams will be in the south and
playing ball in earnest. About the only
news in circulation at present is in regards
to Manager Clarke Griffith of the New York
Hlghlanders AS "Grif' and his compan-
ions are expected to win the American
League pennant the coming summer any
thing done or said in regard to the team or
players is regarded as news and read with
interest Manager Griffith arrived in New
York from the west last Saturday, but kept
under cover until yesterday when he was
run down by several of the sporting writ
ers of Gotham and submitted to the follow
ing interview: He said:
SO far Keller is the only man 1 have
signed. but 1 think l will have all my old
team back and number of new players
from the west, whom / will try out in the
preliminary season down south.
The new men will include McManus,
catcher from Montreal, who formerly play
ed with Jersey City; Chase, a first base
man, from Los Angeles, who is said to be
fast enough to play in a major league; Joe
Aeaeer. a third baseman, from Montreal,
who is good enough for any company, and
last. but not least, four new pitchers, in
Guiding Pearl HolycrosS of the Three
League, from DanvilIe, ILL.,. Starkell, from
Boise City, Idaho; Bill Hogg, from Spokane
and Whitley, from Vincennes Ind, pupil
of Amos Rusie. Hogg. after the season
closed in his state, played in California.
where he made great record, and L think
he will make good here.
To Work Putnam.
Il am going to give Putnam chance
this year 1 think he is great left handed
pitcher and a wonderful batsman. That's
what we need in the American League,
u arg LOT ba tS-
Walter Wilmot picked up most of my
new material for me. l have great faith in
his Judgment and L think at least two or
three of the new men will make good.
Il don't know anything about the story
that Jack Doyle wants to catch for US, but
l should be only too glad to get him if his
arm IS all right, as he would be just the
man to develop my young pitchers.
expect to leave here about the 9TH or
Sth OF March for Montgomery Ala and
VIII afterward take the team to New Or
leans, Atlanta, Savanna and Jacksonville.
About ten days before the regular team
leaves the north 1 will take my new pitch
ers south and work them out before the
rest Oh the men arrive.
Will Stand Pat on Team.
SO far as the many reported trades and
transfers are concerned, there is not a
word of truth in any of them. L will stand
pat on last years team. but naturally am
looking for good young players, and will
pick them up wherever l can strengthen
my team
You ask me about the prospects of a
conflicting schedule in case the National
League played 154 games to the 40 pre-
ferred by the American League. If / were
running the American League l would be-
gin the season at the same time as the
National. The season ought to end on
october l. One hundred and fifty-four games
Is too long, as there is interest in the
game after that time unless two teams are
hghtlng 1t out for first place as Boston
and New York were last year. but at that
the other six teams in the league made no
money to speak of after that date
Roasts National League.
IF the National League waned to give
the players chance they would have
agreed on shorter schedule but 1t seems
10 me they don't care for the players or
the public, and they proved that last fall.
when they refused to play a post-season
series with the winners of the American
League race. l am certain they did not
strengthen themselves with the fans
which viii be proved next season.
In Chicago. on my way here, 1 met more
than fifty National League players and
they are all opposed to the long schedule
as IL Will shut them out Of all chance of
any extra money. l doubt very much if
there VIII be any post-season games next
fail unless the National League shortens
the schedule.
There will be another close race in the
American League next season. but If all
goes well L think the Yankees will win the
pennant, and II We don't it won't be be-
cause we have not spent money enough to
secure the best team in the country"