The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-11-20

Willie NCSiCTs
me. l am in the game to stick as long
as they will have me-" Wee Willie
says it is all right to talk about quit
ting in the fall when players have
their pockets full of money and good
time in prospect, but as the snow
comes and goes the small change goes
with it. when the whistle blows in
the spring." he says, they all show
up with the old pen ready to slap it to
contract. why should young fell
low like me quit, anyway" asked the
youthful wizard of the stick. 81 don't
want to go to work any sooner than
have to. Besides that, there is fas-
cination about the game that is hard
to get away from. Ball players have
way of talking about the hardships
of the diamond, but they all love it,
just the same. The most mournful
specimen of humanity in the world is
the old-timer who sits in the grand
stand and watches the players fight it
out. He imagines that luck is against
him and that he is really as strong as
ever. He wants to get in the game
and play, and there is not one of them
who wouldn't take a chance If the op-,
portunity was offered" This is borne
out by the fact that Pop Arson the
other day applied to Frank Farrell for
the job Of manager of the Highland
ers. 1t was suggested to Keller that
he did not have to play ball as he is
reported to be loaded down with
money. well, you don't hear of those
financiers in Wall street quitting just
because they have gotten hold of a
bank roll, do your" asked Willie.
The season just closed has been a
great one for the young players in
both major leagues. In the National
league one of the big features of the
race was the showing of Pitcher Otis
Crandall of the Giants, while in the
American, young Bush of Detroit mo-
nopolized a lot of honors at short.
In Schweitzer, picked up from the
Newark club of the Ohio and Penn
sylvania league, Jimmy McAleer be-
heves he has the making of one of
the greatest outfielders in the bust
ness. Schweitzer was out of the game
a good portion of last year, but
showed he possessed the class in his
workouts. If Purtell, the youngster
picked up by the White Sox, could
only hit, he would surely hold down
the third base job for Comiskey.
Purtell has few superiors as fielder,
but is mighty feeble with the big
stick. Comiskey has hopes for the
youngster, and may start him regu-
larly next year. Connie Mack is de-
lighted over two of his pickups,
Strunk of Shamokin and Lapp of SYRIA
cuse. Strunk is only 10 years old,
but shows great promise. He is a
clever fielder, stands nicely at the
plate and can run the bases in regular
Cobb style. Lapp looks like conner
behind the bat, but lacks experience.
Moxie Manuel, who isn't youngster
by any means, but who made his
American league debut in 1908, start
ed like whirlwind in the box for the
White Sox, but failed to show form
after the early spring games. Walter
Blair, secured from the Williamsport
team, promises to be valuable man
for the Yankees behind the bat. A
year of experience has added much to
Blair's worth Gardner and Cree also
look mighty good. Speaker, the Bos-
ton outfielder in a few games this fall,
won his place as a regular.
Manager McGraw of the New York
Giants holds title to "A men from
whom he will pick team which he
hopes will land the National league
pennant next year. The men are:
Observation-Disclosures Wiltse, Ames,
Crandall, Beecher, McGinnity, Taylor.
Kievers, Paige, Weimer McKenney,
Marquard, Durham, Rapp Cor Capron),
Waller, Heller and Holmes. Catchers-
Bresnahan, Needham, Wilson. Snod-
grass, Curtis, Joe Meyers and Cocash;
infielders, Tenney, Doyle, Herzog,
Bridwell, Devlin, Fletcher, Simmons,
Evans, Pfyl, Farley and Schneider, and
,outfielders, Mccormick, Barry, Merkle,
Donlin, Seymour, Meyers, Devore and
O'Hara.
A deal involving about 100000
has been consummated at Pittsburg
by Barney Dreyfuss, president of the
Pittsburg baseball club, whereby the
club secures site of seven acres of
ground at the entrance to Schenley
Park, to be used as an athletic field.
1t is planned to have stands with a
seating capacity of $4,000, making it
the largest sheltered stand park in
the country. The stands will be wired
for electric lights so that the park
may be used at night for public meet
ings and other purposes. The park
will not be completed at the opening
If the baseball season next year, but
Mr. Dreyfuss expects to have the Ma
tional league games played there after
the middle Of June.