Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-31
WINTER BASE BALL GOSSIP.

WINTER BASE BALL GOSSIP.
A Toledo (Ohio) dispatch says: The air
is full of rumors here to the effect that
John McGraw, manager of the New York
Giants. will make another. attempt to put
through a deal with the Cincinnati club.
The gossipers had their conjectures con-
siderably strengthened to day when Roger
Bresnahan. the crack backstop of the
Giants, received telegram from McGraw
stating that McGraw would soon be in
Toledo to hold conference with Bres-
nahan.--
Roger would express no reason for the
visit of the Giants manager, but it Is
thought that McGraw desires to find out
what Bresnahan thinks Of a deal with
Cincinnati, in which he would be one of
the men traded. It is generally known
that owing to several quarrels he had
with McGraw last season Roger would
that. he-would welcome chance to be-
come the manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
But nothing could be obtained from
Roger.
All followers of base ball know there
isn't much love lost between the New.
York and Pittsburg teams In fact, the
Giants rank the Pirates as their bitterest
enemies. So the following Item, written
by a Smoky city scribe, should prove OF
interest to fans: --.......
Johnny McGraw seems to be on the
job again. For some reason this shrewd
leader did not take so much interest In
the Giants last season as he did in pre-
vious years. but about two months ago,
figuratively speaking, he took off his
coat again. He and Fred Knowles made
an extensive tour on base ball business,
and at the recent meeting of the league
McGraw WIS much in evidence. Whether
the big. deal he made with Joe Kelley, the
new manager of Boston, was good one
from a New York standpoint or not re-
mains to be demonstrated, but the fact
remains that 1t was a daring swap. No
one but McGraw would have dared to
part with so. many experienced players
at one time, for no matter what opinion
McGraw may have held about the play
ers, the public rated them first class. II
McGraw intends to devote all of his time
to the New York team from now on 1t
will be dangerous factor in the 1908
race"
William Bernhard. formerly pitcher
of the Cleveland American League team.
has signed contract to manage the
Nashville Southern League club next sea-
son.
The Giants will come considerably closer
to landing the pennant in 1903 than they
did in 1907. Last year the usual fast
work on the bases was lacking and many
a hit went for naught. There should be
a different story the coming season. Ten
ney will help lot. for he certainly has it
on McGann in all departments of the
game. Every one knows how Donlin can
play when he feels like 1t. These two
men alone should make the Giants an al
together different team from the 1907 ag-
gregation. Both Merkle and Doyle showed
that they were corners last season Nc
Graws chief worry will be over his
pitchers.
Fred Clarke, the manager of the Pi-
rates, will have just about the same team
in 1908 which represented Pittsburg last
season. First base, catcher and right
field are the only uncertain places on his
team. Two of his new pitchers in 1907
Camnitz and Maddox-should prove val
liable.
Opposing pitchers should have their
troubles when they face the leading bat
tiers on the New York team next season.
The first four men are 'left-handers.
Spike" Shannon will lead off, and he
generally works the pitcher for his base
Then Tenney can lay down one of his
troublesome bunts. With a man on first
and second the opposing slab artist will
have to tighten up when those two slug
gers, Donhn and Seymour, take their
places at bat. This should prove pretty
strong quartet.
Elberfeld's salary at New York will De
about S2,700 next season, with the pro-
vision that if he does satisfactory work
all season he will receive $1,OOS bonus
in the fall. Elberfeld agreed to these
terms willingly, which means that sthe
little shortstop will probably play better
ball for New York than ever before.
Efforts are being made at West Point
to secure the services of Christy Mat
thewson to assist next spring in coaching
the pitching staff of the Military Acad-
envy base ball team. Mountford has been
elected captain of the. team. Groninger
was elected captain, but he Is senior,
and the graduation of the first class in
February compelled the election of some