Evening star., 1908-01-12
TWO MORE NATIONALS
SIGN THE|RCONTRACTS
Shortstop Mcbride and First
BaSeman Freeman Lat
est to Agree on
Terms.

of signing contracts for the coming sea-
son. Almost two weeks have gone by
since Manager Cantillon sent out the
legal papers for the boys to put their
signatures to, and up to date but four
have complied with the request FaiKen-
berg signed in Chicago. which is his nome
and Capt Ganley forwarded his contract
from Lowell, Mass.
Late last evening news was received
here that Shortstop George Mcbride had
placed his name to contract for l5oo'
and also First Baseman Jerry Freeman.
This makes four, and Manager Cantillon
expects a majority of the remaining con-
tracts to come in before the end of this
week.
With McBride's contract was short
letter, q portion of which reads as FOL
lows:
IT hope you haven't led the Washington
people to think that / am the greatest
shortstop in the business. l am VI .ns !,
ordinary sort. but have youth and strenglh
on my side and there will be no one play
ing the game next season who VIII De
trying harder to make good.
II have several friends on the Wasn-
ington team, so that won't feel strange
TO start off with, but we will all De
chums by the time we start north from
Galveston. My health has been eXceiient
since the season closed, but l have gained
fully fifteen pounds, all OF Whlch Will
have to come Off.
Ran across Jerry Freeman last week,
and he told me he was going to sign ms
contract, and l told him / would nave
mine in first Don't worry over your
first baseman. Worry over me. l know
the American League is very fast. out
Jerry is as good as the best. and l am
going to try and keep up with him.
From ths, tenor of this letter 1t can De
- IL -. ~ 1f
sort. but, instead. is extremely modest.
1t is Just such boys who come into fast
company. get a firm grip on their jobs
and hang on for many years. McBrlde
may be backward in praising his own
ability. but his host of friends around the
American Association. circuit say he is
destined 10 be star in the infield. Sew
srai newspaper men In Mllwaukee, Mln- MIN
neapoiis, Kansas City and Louisville
claim that Mcbride right now is the best
shortstop outside the American and Ma
tional leagues, and that he has several
therein beat in fielding and base running.
Tommy Andrews of Milwaukee says
that McBride'S style is very much on the
order of George Davis, and that he is of
the reliable variety, who take throws
from the catcher in covering second In
way that stamps him as being without
fear or nervousness. Andrews ADDS:
Mcbride may not hit over .250 on the
season with Washington, but that is
plenty strong enough, and he Will hit,
1 three times out of four, when MT Is
&neded to bring one or more runs over the
Plate"
Freeman had very little to say in his
letter that came with the contract. My
hand has healed up nicely, said Jerry,
''and am as anxious for the season TO
start as kid just breaking into the
game. OF course, I am glad Mcbride will
do most of the throwing to me. as he can
put thernSfnto my nit from any position.
s.YlS nf G.
tance.'
1t is more than likely that the Ma
tionals will have new trainer next sea-
son. Jerry Edinger. who was with tnem
last year. has decided to remain In Chi
cago next summer. Joe Quirk, who was
with the local outfit in 1896 is candi-
date for the job. but is also pointed for
tie training job with the Detroits or Bos-
ton Qurk is undoubtedly one OF the
best trainers in the country. and would
have been retained last season with the
Nationals but for the personal friend
ship between Edinger and Manager Can
tiilon. Joe handled Moran and Folger In
the six days bicycle race, recently held
in New York. and enjoys a big reputation
among the athletes of New York and
Boston. He has made his home in WASH
ington, and for this reason is particular
~ anxious to sign with the local club.
Connie Mack. the Athletics manager,
believes that the campaign in the Ameri-
can League next season will be even
harder fought than last year. when three
teams had a chance to capture the psi-
nant in the final two weeks of the season.
Since the teams quit the field last Oc-
tober there have been a number of changes
which have tended to more equalize the
strength of the different clubs" said
Mack. The trade between the Highland
ers and Browns was good move for
each team; it certainly was a master
nRa hn nrt - rLyd (.Ytf
In my judgment. New York will be a
decided factor in the race. The addition
of Stahl. Niles and Hemphill adds much
life and batting strength to the team.
while the acquisition of Glade gives Grif-
fifth something for which he has always
been on the 'outlook-a first-class pitcher.
New York's weakness always has been
in the pitchers box. and with Glade and
the promising youngsters Griffith has on
his staff the Highlanders may at last
have their pennant ambitions realized.
"fhe talk about Hal Chase leaving the
Highlanders in the lurch is all rot. l
happened to see the San Jose team. on
which Chase has been playing, AMI speak
by the card. San Jose couldn't afford to
pay Chase the money he receives from
the Highianders II all the others on the
team worked free.
While New York has strengthened, the
other clubs have by no means b .en in
active. The White Sox, with the addition
of hard-hitting Parent will be trouble
SohiC ~ tic anu 80 Will 1lSV 5IdUG
Il notice that a great many persons
have been undertaking Detroit. Take II
from me that the Tigers will be in .he
night again. with about as good chance
as any other in finishing at the top.
st. Louis played a great deal below
Its normal form last season and so did
Boston. They may get going at their
proper clip next season"
The st. Paul club is Offering Phil Geier
for sale and il would not be surpris:a9; 10
see the popular third sacker on the Mil
waukee diamond next year. Geiar PLAYED
there for short time In the early part OF
last year and he made quite \ hit with the
Milwaukee owner His batting and fielding
averages were fairly good Phil would
make "A good man to lead the Brewers
next year. He has the respect OF ali ehe
Players and is temperate in all his habits
Ii IS said that Havenor has his eye or
some Washington and Chicago PLAYERS
lie wants TO give the Milwaukee fans a
good team and will try to strengthen 1t
with several big leaguers.
Manager McAleer of the Browns says
'The report that Bobby Wallace pos
sibly will play third base for the Browns
is not founded on official information
My present plan Is to keep Wallace al
short and play either Ferris or Williams
at third. the latter preferably. because ol
let me say right here that l have never
seen evidence of Williams throwing arm
having found an early grave. I belive
he will be able to whip them across the
diamond with the best of them.
I'm Brown believe we have q EtrOne