Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-17
TRADE THAT WAS
NEVER SUGGESTED
Pitcher Patten Was Not Offer
ed to New York by Either
Owners or Manager of
Local Club.
Manager CantilIon Has but One
Deal to Make at the Coming
New York Meeting.

About the sillest twaddle that has drl1teo
INTO the newspapers since the close or last
season is the report that Pitcher Case Fat
ten was offered to the New York Amerl-
cans by the Washington club either In
sale or a trade. In the latter part Of last
year The Star went to the pains to deny
this report in detail, but once more 1t has
bobbed up the New York papers in par
tlcular charging that Manager Cantillon
"welched" on the owner of the Highlanders.
inasmuch as he refused to carry out an
agreement in which Patten was to be sold
or traded to the Gotham outfit.
President Noyes of the local club Is au-
thority for the statement that at no time
since he has been at the head of the Ma
tionals has Patten been the central figure
in a trade or sale, and since Manager Can
tillon has been given charge OF the team
such trade CT sale has not even been
thought Of.
In the early part of last season, when
Patten was performing so poorly. the sug-
EesliCn WAS under consideration to ask
waivers on the blonde-haired twirler, but
before il could be put into execution warm
weather came on and Case started in on
his wonderful winning streak that landed
him at the head of WashinCton's pitchers.
To say that there bad feeling between
C;ntillon and Patten and that reconcilia-
tiCn between the pair resulted IN the trade
being called off by the former Is the veriest
ro-. Manager Cantillion has never come in
contact with Patten, let alone having trou-
BILE with him. and like the wise manager he
is. has decided to the differen mt Wash
ington players work before he will even
think of trades or sales.
1T be truthfully said that the re-
latiOns between Manager Cautillon and
Messrs. Farrell and Griffith are the most
cordial, and when the foxy leader of the
Fl ghlanders refused to waive claim on
Pitcher Doc" IIiliebrand he was simply
taking steps which any other leader would
have done who possessed his Information
that in need of a hrst-class pitcher.
1t has been the general impression among
many managers and newspaper scribeS that
Hillebrand has been loafing on his ranch for
the past two years. and that when he once
more resumed his box work he would be
found wanting IN effectiveness. The truth
of the matter Is that Hillebrand has been
playing in the Vermont league every sum-
mer since he left Princeton, and right now
is as good, If not better, than ever. This
situation was known to the Washington
management, and also the fact that the
doctor has decided to play with Pitts
burg or not at all. For this reason Man
ager Cantillon tried TO effect several trades
with the Pirates for players whom he
thought would be valuable to the local ag
gresation. Every club in the American
League. with the exception of New York.
waived claim Hillebrand. and Manager
Grifth's refusal bloch d the deal.
In some way Griffith learned OF the true
Situation as regards Hillebrand's condition,
gIl. being in want OF another good twirler,
took the step he did. Money is held at a
very low oEtl-1 ton by Owner Farrell when
f. comes to adding a tilst-class man to his
Ciuh. and "Ggif' doubtless thought that he
Cnald wrln Hillebrand away from Pittsburg
with salary offer ;hIt would make John
J.. Rockefeller wink his eyes In astonish-
Mt During the past couple of months
CIR .hlu mas held conferences with Hille-
brand. hUt 50 far without result. Should
~ l-LrHlG finally decide to play with New
York il goes without saying that the WASH
H.sI. -.
s. ~" should It conclude to make the sale.
With ttHt much velvet" in the treasury
notwithstanding the dislike of selling play
ers. the Washington club would be in a fine
SITUATION 10 ''freeZc' on to a couple of minor
LEAGUE stars during the coming summer
w.thou; their actually costing it nickel.
IN the way Of news. regarding me Wash
in2t9n club, there has been very little crop
ping Cut within the past couple of weeks
tn next meeting of the American League
II called FOR the 18th Of this month in New
York. and Manager Cantiilon will prnba bly,
g u Gotham over the New York Central
road, leaving Chicago on the I'D oath
Tie local directors will leave here on the
nth. After tie meeting Manager CantiiOn
may come this way the return trip to
Chlcagc.-a0d be here a couple of days
Manager CantIlion has but one trade to
make at the New York meeting, and that is
lhe disposal of cX-mauager Garland StahI.
The leader OF the Nationals knows fully
WEI. that Stahl is a first class bail player.
u WINE lie NOuIu IKE 10 retain the bigr
first haseman. the latteTs wish to % TO an
other club will he acceded 10 if ANYTHING
Ike an equal trade is suggested Cleveland
s.. Louis and Boston stand willing 10 take
Stahl off Cantillon's hands but the ex-
champions have been most vigorous In push
ing forward propositions In Grin1sIau. and
C1glau6 the Bostons have two good men
WaOm Washington could use to advan+apn
out Manager tIntillon classes Stall about
10 per cent above either of those PLAYERS
ard this estimation is about right should Sir
Y-'Iiahd decide to come down off his high
h,iss ana sign with the Nationals With
siam persistenty obstreperous It looks as
though trade Of some sort will be con-
summated at the New York meeting
When the Washington club lines up for
spring practice at Galveston IL looks from
lhls point that Manager Cantillon's largest
Job viii he the selection of his outfield
Warner, Hayden and Blankenship will he
the regular catchers, and Cross Altizer and
Ierrine are assured of infield positions.
SIahI or new man will play first base.
n the outheld the selections win have to
DO made from Hickman Anderson. Gan
ley and Jones, with the chances running
toward the last named for the utflitv roles
But one man is assured of his Job and that
is big John Anderson. Should Charley
hickman be able to ginger up sufficiently
10 please Cantllon and also hit with the
regularity that he did toward the Gloss
OF last season, he Will have little trouhe
holding on to his job in right field In
center comes Ganley and Jones, and the
l'HihSF 10 gwen tnc preference on account
Of being left-handed batter and an ex-
cellent man TO lead off. He is Jones eoua
In speed, either in the field or on the bases
and it Is predicted by those In the know
that the ex-Plttsburger will have to try
bat very little 10 outstick the Denver lad
Without having the informant N from
FIST hands, good guess can be made that
George Mil has played his last game with
the Wash!ngtons and VIII be traded "a
some other American League club. Mana
ger Cantillon considers Harry Schlafiy a
better infelder than Mil and for this rea-
son Will assign the utility role to the Ohio
Sunday school teacher. To whatever cIuf
Mil may go, the prediction is herewith
made that he will fit into any position as
signed him and make good on his grit
alone. Mil is too good player, and yet
very young. to be kept out of frst-clas.
company, and the chances are that he will
be seen at the local park putting up his
well-known winning game for some visit
NSS aggregation to the plaudts of the
Washington fans" Mil numbered every
patron who attended National Park lag,