Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-27
BASE BALL NOTES.

nays LIN Nuuf Hducv the Boston base Dali
expert: In the National League Pittsburg
looks stronger than last season, and will be
the club to give the Clans battle for first
stopped this season. Pittsburg has fight
ing chance, and will slip in should anything
happen to Matthewson."
Jack O'Connor has a theory that good
catchers will be Scarcer than ever I'm 1906
1T Is peculiar thing" says O'Connor
but catchers are beginning to take the
place formerly occupied by pitchers-hard
to get Men of negative quantity are easy
to get-that Is, receivers who are able to
field, but when it comes to obtaining q
man who can bat field, throw and run
bases results show that they are non est"
Manager Sebring of the Williamsport
base ball team has received from Manager
Murphy of the Chicagos another bluff in the
shape of a letter threatening that if Sebring
does not report at Chicago Murphy Will
bring suit against the owners of the Will
Transport club for depriving the Chicago
club of one of its most valuable assets and
also blacklist Sebring Having accepted the
local management, Sebring says no such
threat can induce him to withdraw, and is
for the blacklisting 1t would be void for
the reason that he was reserved by Cln-
cinnat.
know Demon Sudhoff wouldn't leave him
alone. He stated in the Star-Chronicle Of
fice that he didn't know any one on the
Pee-Dee, still it interviews him, having him
say that he's suffered with rheumatism
ever since he began to bowl cooked hat.
Bowling has done my arm good, IL any
thing" said Wilyam the Wee in the st.
Louis Star-ChronicIe office Me have
rheumatism? It's absurd to think it. Those
kind of stories won't do me any good with
the Washington fans. and / wish the Star
Chronicle would state the fact that I've
never had rheumatism in any manner
shape or form in my lie, and that my
whip was never as strong as 1t is now.
and I've been bowling regularly all winter"
Edward Hanion, a member of the Ma
tional Leagues committee on rules, has
placed himself on record an advocate
of increased batting. Hanlon has a radical
suggestion to make, which involves moving
the pitcher back to the center of the dia-
mond. Hanlon believes that a move of this
kind would benefit the batsmen, and would
also provide spectators with Iivelier con-
tests, because of increasing base running
and scoring. But as the Cincinnati man
ager practically stands alone, it Is safe to
say that his plan will not become rule.
Jimmy Burke and Isvell were having a
good day on our grounds about three years
ago, says Jim Callahan. l had pitched the
day before and was sitting in the stand
Burke was playing short and had come up
with some difficult ones. Isbell, who was
on first had finished the plays In grand
style with his long reach and a couple of
pick-ups. An Irishman who had gotten
tired of hearing his friend praise Isbell cut
1t with this remark: Fer the love av
heaven, man, haven't you two eyes in yer
head? Can't you see 1t amt Isbell at all,
but Jimmy Burke over there at short that's
putting them In his hands, prompt and
Quick?
Archie J. Mccarthy member of the pitch
ing staff of the New York American base
ball team, is now in St Mary's Hospital,
New York, to undergo an operation on his
Gov, sic he m,
the jaw with a batted ball and injured one
of the cords of his face. Ever since that
time he has been troubled with huge blood
blisters. which followed. one after the other.
as fast as they were lanced. By an opera
ton. the surgeons say, Mccarthy will be
rid of his trouble. Mccarthy played with
the Detroit team In 1902 and was then sold
to Montreal. where he played In 1903 and
1864 Last fall he was sold to the New
York Americans.
''Hackensehnidt' Spencer of the Browns.
the best young catcher that has entered
balloon In recent years. Is wind-padist
solely by accident. When he turned pro-
fessional two years ago he was pitcher.
Waco. Texas. was his stand and the only
reason he didn't continue his specially with
that outfit was because none of the boys
with the big mitt could handle his hot-shot.
Spencer's speed was too much for them. So
good was he on the slab that Waco's entire
corps of catchers went on strike, telling the
management that not for double the money
each and every man was receiving would
they stand I'D and allow the fat boy from
Scranton to batter their hands to pieces
with his swift shoots Spencer told the
management that in his kid days he did
some catching So the suggestion was
made that he return to hts old position. In
quick fashion he was out-catchfng every
thing In the Lone Star state. 1t was then
that Joe Gardner manager OF the Dallas
team. got peep at Spencer. He IL Bob
Hedges Texas agent. and ten minutes after
the game was over Gardner had sent q wire
to the ct. Louis maSnate that second
Buck Ewing had bohbod up In the Texas
League and to buy him before some other
manager beat him to the phsnom. Clark
Grfnlth. boss Of the New York Yankees, had
discovered Spencer drst. He had an option
on the youngsters services that expired
July T. When that date came ana passed
and Grif4 contented himself with borrowing
Mike Powers. tho eminent physician, from
the Athletics. and not taking mp hfs option