Evening star., 1908-01-29
Mr.. Noyes Will See Johnson
and Gates.
PROBABLY SIGN BOTH
Going to Galveston On Return to See
Practice Work.
PREDICTS A BIG SEASON
Mcfarland Whips Loughrey-Good
Bowling by Bank Clerks-New
Orleans Races.

President Tom c. Noyes of the Wash
in2ton Base Ball Club boarded train
last night for trip to California. lie
will probably be gone the best part of six
weeks. and while he is taking the trip
for his health he will not overlook any
thing that may come his way in the base
ball line.i Before leaving for the railroad
station Mr. Noyes told a Star reporter
that he has simply transferred the head
quarters of the Washington club for the
time being. and that Manager Cantillon
would work through him from California
the same as had been done while in this
city.
"On my way out said Mr.. Noyes, Il
will stop over in Chicago for four days
and have several conferences with Man
ager Canullon. While out on the coast
l expect TO see Pitchers Gates and John
son. Dave -Altizer and perhaps Blanken-
ship
The latter will most likely remain in
California as he doubtless found the
American League too stiff a proposition
for him. ! don't think l will have any
trouble signing Walter johnson. as he
has great deal of good common sense
and is fully aware that the Washington
club will do everything possible in the
way of salary to make him contented.
Altizer has signed so that there is moth
ing more for me to do with the soldier
boy than to start him toward Galveston.
With Pitcher Gates it will be different
proposition. Some one has filed his head
with the idea that we paid a labulous
sum for his release and he wants part of
this money. When / show him the papers
in the transaction | don't think he will
nice salary we have offered him. Every
body from the coast says that Gates Is
hrst-class twirier, and we want him on
the team.
If l can so arrange my business l will
remain on the coast until the Nationals
reach Galveston and then go over there
10 witness the practice work of the boys.
have often wanted to see the team at
its early work, and this will be good op-
portunity.
'All the indications po.nt 10 a great
season in base ball this year, and look
for the Nationals to crowd the grounds
every day. | sincerely believe we have
better team than ever and that We will
go up the pennant ladder several rungs.
What a remarkable base ball career
John Thoney has had. Two years ago
Garry Hermann of the Cincinnati Reds
had Thoney on his reservation list. and
let him go for song.
Before that Thoney was with the Cleve-
land club. and; Lajoie turned him over to
Clark Griffith. Griffith sized him up as
misfit and turned him over to Washing
ton in 1905 He was only reckless 'hid'
then, and later drifted back to the minors.
Now be has more money paid for him
than for any other player in the history
of the game.
The Boston Americans paid $500 cash
for him. and in addition to'that sum gave
Toronto Schafy. whom Boston bought
from Washington for $500. and Myron
4Grimshaw. VINO Is worth at least $3.50
That makes the total outlay of $13. 800
and in addition to this Boston is to loan a
catcher 10 Toronto.
How is that for a player who was
kicked around the big league Few years
ago?
Have you ever noticed that the players
who showed up to advantage in the diff
ferent world series are just the fellows
OF whom little or nothing is expected? In
the series between the Athletics and New
York there wasn't a critic who considered
! for a minute that Billy Bilbert would
be factor in determining the winner No
one picked George Rohe the one best
bet in the White SoX hitting department.
In fact, very few fans or critics thought
minute that Robe would play. Claude
Rossman was regarded as the feeble sis
ter OF the Detroit aggregation. player
who would blow up under the strain and
il was generally lamented that the Tigers
didn't have classy first sacker. Gilbert
Rohe and Rossman We're looked on as
also rams. who were just a trife out of
their class. yet these three players took
most prominent parts in the showing
made by their teams.
The work of Gilbert and Rohe aided
l8rgely in the victories scored by New
York and the White SoS. Rossman play
cd the best game for Detroit by far but
h s superb work went for naught as the
Detroit team failed to win game Bill
iS Gilbert was regarded as a weaklinp
al the bat yet in the series with the Ath-
letics no player on McGraw's team did
more timely hitting than Gilbert His
average lor the season was poor one
but he made up for il in the big event
with a vengeance. Robe wasn't considl
cred in the Cub White Sox series yet It
was his threebase hit with the sacks
iilied that enabled the White Sox to win
one game. His batting also played a prom
lnent part in one OF the other victories
An injury TO George Davis made il neces-
Sary that Robe play. and. perhaps 1t was
good thing for the Sox that the veteran
was injured Rossnan was the life Of
the Detroit team in the series with the
cubs lie fielded the base in regular Hal
Chase style. and made such hitters as
Cobb and Crawford look like a pair Of
bush leaeuers. In fact he was the only
member OF the Tiger team, excepting per-
haPs Blll Donovan, VINO showed real
class His swat average was something
Ike 400 for the five games. Now Nick
Altrock Is a great pitcher. but no one
thought Tor a minute that Nick would be
used In the opening game against the
Cubs in the 1906 clash. The critics had it
figured that Walsh or White wonld work
in the opener. Fielder Jones knew Alt
rock better than any one else. and Nick
made good by beating the much-touted
Mordecai Brown = to in the opener. This
victory for the Sox just about decided the
series