Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-07
Manager Stahl Arrives and
Is Ready for Work.
THINKS WE'LL OF TEAM
HAS HEARTY SUPPORT OF PLAY
ERs IN CLUBS MANAGEMENT.
Amateur Boxing Champions - New
Orleans Races-Mix-Up in
Bowling Prizes.


ton Base Ball Club reached this city late
yesterday afternoon very unexpectedly to
.he club officials He was eXpected$ east
this week, but not before the latter part.
Stahl has wintered well and has had enough
practice already with the Illinois Universe
ty boys to go into a game tomorrow He
is located at the Riggs and was cornered
by a Star reporter this morning.
1.-The local fans are more interested i'll
yourself than in the team" said the Star
man. land are fearful the management
will hurt your playing. How did you come
by the position?''
"Whan President Johnson rendered me
the position of manager of the Washington
team l was the most surprised man in the
country. We had been dckering over
terms for my playing here this year when
/ received a letter from Johnson telling me
to come to Chicago. While in his office
talking over the general prospects he turned
to me and said:
How would you like to take charge of
the Washington club?
"'The question puzzled me, as I didn't
know what he was driving out, but seeing
that he was in earnest, fatty refused the
offer. He then argued the points with me
and made me such nice offer that L decd-
ed to take a chance and do the best | can
Since then l have not regretted the step.
as every one of the players on the roster
of the team has written me encouraging
letters. and l feel sure they will give me
their best efforts. l have had considerable
experience in looking after the manage
ment of college teams, and although that
experience may count for nothing in pro-
fessional ball. il is something. L have made
up my mind to do my best and l think
ball player would be foolish to throw over
a chance like the one given me"
The conversation then turned on the
players secured for next season, and Man
ager Stahl said he believed he had band
of willing workers and that he was
sure that each and every man on the
team would put forth his best efforts. Stahl
particularly sweet on Cassidy. the
youngster who played a couple of months
with Pittsburg last season, 1t appears that
Cassidy broke into the Pirates stronghold
at "A time when factions were tearing the
life out of the team. and he was up in
the air the entire period he was in Pitts
burg. Later he was farmed out to
Youngstown. Ohio. and Immediately got
back in his stride going away over the
300 mark in batting. This spring Cassidy
was overlooked through Manager Clarke
and President Dreyfuss getting their wires
crossed. it were. Each depended upon
the other signing Cassidy, with the result
that neither attended to it, and the first of
March went by without the player being
rendered a contract In base ball law
ball player has to be offered a contract of
some sort before the first of March, and If
il is not done ii is tantamount to an out
right release.
This situation confronted Cassidy, and
as he with Stahl in Illinois he told
the latter of his plight and remarked
that he supposed the Pittsburgs didn't
want him. In speaking of the matter
Stahl said:
Il had known Cassidy for several years,
when he played on the college team, later
on in the Three I League, and also last
year. All this time he had been playing
fine ball being a good left-handed hitter,
and although he has done his best bat
ting in the minors, that is where all the
frst-cIass players come from. l immedi-
ately told him l would be pleased to have
him with me, and he at once placed his
name to contract
Last Saturday Cassidy came to me
with a letter from Dreyfuss explaining
this situation and saying that everything
would be made satisfactory as to salary
and that they would be pleased to have
him rejoin the Pirates. Cassidy is per-
fectly willing TO play with Washington,
wouldn't hold. 1 told him differently, and
he will be here next Saturday
How about Jones? He appeared to be
holding out about coming mere
Jones is all right L have received d
letter from him and his signed contract,
and he will be here by next Sunday
Many of the local fans were glad you
held on to Huelsmann. as they seem TO
think he can hit the ball.
..Huelsmann was al his worst last season
on account of being continually shifted
from one club to the other, and ne VIII
play much better ball this season He was
decidedly the best batter in the minor
leagues last season, Stone not excepted
and if to get our good men from the
top lines in those organizations the big Eel
low should stand good a chance of max
ing good as anybody
In this way Manager Stahl went over
the entire list of players on the roster of
the Washington club, and for every one
he had different angles from which to hand
out a good word. He was particularly
pleased over the fact that Joe Cassidy had
signed a contract Saturday and remarked
the country.
the Boston American League Club, is now
In Washington circulating among his many
friends. and Will remain here until the
Champions gather for their trip south. Far
relPs present appearance is nothing If not
remarka BILE He is fully forty pounds under
his last seasons weight and looks as good
as he did ten years ago. He will certainly
fit in nicely behind the bat to help out Lou
Creiger and the chances are that he Will
play great ball. Charley is the man on
whom j. Earl Wagner made s14,500 during
his employment by the Washington club.
He was sold so often Ly Wagner that the
latter admitted one time that he had clear
ed up that on the different sales.
Farrell says that he believes the batting
this season will be lighter than ii was last.
MANY people don't believe in this spit
ball. bur l tell you it is wonder. How can
you expect batter to hit 1t when the
catchers behind the bat can't get their
hands on II. I'm speaking from experience.
Kittredge Creiger and Mcfarland are what
are considered clean catchers-that is men
who always get the ball in their hands
without any trouble. I have never figured
up in this class. being content to work the
batter and base runner much as possible
and catch what / could, and these men tell
me that it is impossible TO hold more than
one half of the balls delivered.
Here are players giving signals and know
ing where the ball should come, and miss
ing them. at that. Therefore. what chances
has player TO land on ball safely? Fig
ire out the percentage, and you will find
IL very small.
Farrell Is. undoubtedly, one of the best
catchers in the business today. and in years
gone by certainly ranked up with Ewing
and Bennett. conceded to be the stars.
President Noyes went over list of 700
names last night, and is classifying the
titles for the Washington club so that the
committee will have the work of making q
final selection very much simplifled. There
are still over a thousand names TO be gone
over. the entire list running into several
thousand.
SUBBED FOR LAJOIE.