The Washington times., 1907-05-10
Mezv First BaSeman
Had Stormy Career
In Minor League
Mike Kelly Still Before National Commits
sion for Making Discredited Charges
Against Umpire-Burns Did Right.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

Washington almost has new first
baseman and also another case before
the National Baseball Commission.
Here again some Of the baseball writer's
will have a chance to get in bad in dis
eussing the affairs Of the Washington
club.
The new initial sacker is Mike Kelly,
the expelled manager of the Minneapolis
team of the American Association. Kelly
started this season as manager Of the
, Des Moines club of the Western League.
Joe Cantillon is a part owner Of the
Minneapolis and Des Moines clubs and
manager of the Washington team.
Hence the expected arrival of Kelly in
our midst.
Charges Against imp Not Sustained.
Kellc was sold by, st. Paul to the St.
Louis American League club, but re-
fused 10 report Then he was given
Job as manager in Minneapolis in 1900
and there got into trouble. Kelly Is
described as a fighting manager and one
day he got Il into his head that the
umpire was throwing the game against
Minneapolis. He openly charged the
Jump with this heinous offense and his
bluff was called. The ump got busy
with the courts, the president of the
American Association, the National
Baseball Commission, and everybody
else who had anything TO say in the
affairs Of the league in which he was
working.
Kelly was forced TO the wall and had
20 produce witnesses TO back his asser-
tlons impugning the honesty Of a man
who made his living umpiring baseball,
D. the cleenest Of all professional sports.
The witnesses he dug up were away TO
the bad. one or two of them being pro-
fessionaI gamblers, and even they did
not stick to their story. Kelly failed 70
make good, the umpire was exonerated,
and the Minneapolis manager was put
under the ban OF the American Asso-
citation for his rash action.
Bounced by American Association.
There was a great hubbub over tho
case. Kelly lighting and lodging at
every turn, and his enemies following
him around with the persistency with
which Tommy Burns pursued Jack
O'Brien. Finally, Kelly gave up the
struggle in the American Association
and calmly moved over to Des Moines
IN the Western League, where, he
claimed, he was immune from any de-
cision of the American Association,
which promptly appealed to the Ma
tional commission, which was asked
whether a man who had beeh fired from
one league for grounds affecting his
character could become a pure. white
soul, basebalhcally speaking, by the
simple expedient Of going into another
circuit. That question is still unan-
swered. and until a decision is rendered
it is hard 10 see how Kelly will have {
chance to play in Washington.
Meantime. while all this was taking
place in Minneapolis. Kelly was the
property of the st. Louis club. accord
ing 20 a ruling of the commission. When
Cantillon arrived in St. Louis yesterday
he promptly laid the wires for remov-
ing that part OF Kelly's inability to
play here. Kelly is an obstinate per-
son, and had declared with emphasis
that he would never play with ST.
Louis, which was put somewhat in the
same position Washington occupied in re-
lation to Jake Stahl. He was a valu-
able asset only for selling or trading
purposes, 50 McAleer disposed of him
for the highest price he could wiring
out Of Cantillon. and figured that he
got just so much easy money in the
way Of something for nothing.
Is a Good Ball Player.
Kelly is rated as an excellent first
baseman, and Cantillon is absolutely
sure he will make good in the American
League, in the field, at the bat, and as
field captain. which position he Is also
to I'LL. II he is all his new manager
expects he will be a welcome addition
10 Washingtons summer population
for the team needs first sacker.
This was the last day for Washington
to receive offers from other clubs in
the American League for Jake StahI
who managed the local club last wear
and won sort of freedom by appealing
TO the national commission. President
Tom Noyes said this afternoon that
. none OF the offers so far received were
accepted, and IL was almost a sure thing
now that the commission would be al
lowed to go ahead and name a price for
the player. The local owners are taking
a deep sporting interest in seeing what
this price will be and are willing to risk
losing a few hundred dollars in order
to gratify their curiosity. After the
price is set IL is almost equally sure
that Stahl VIII be sold 10 COmisEey
who is expected &c use him in a round
about, three-cornered deal, unless Stahl
develops unusual ability as 4 player be-
fore Comiskey gets a chance 10 put his
trade through. in which case he NAV
md job with the Chicago Americans
Hasty young men with lots of space
to fill have jumped to the conclusion
that because the National Commission