Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-19
WANTS ROBBIE
FOR ATHLETICS
Connie Mack Offers Veteran
Catcher a Job.

| BALTIMORE Nd December 10
| Connie Mack. the well known manager
| of the Philadelphia Athletics, is after
Wilbert Robinson. the veteran catcher of
| this city 10 play with the Philadelphia
team next season. Ever since the big
league meetings in New York Mack has
been making overtures 10 the Balt-
MORGAN. There seems to be scarcity
of catc1ers in the major leagues and be
| cause of the excellent showing Of Robbie
last season Mack still regards the star
backstop of the old winning ORR
oles as a great man behind the bat
Mack catching department for next sea
son. according to reports. has been the
source OF much worry To him. He has
but one Of his old catchers-Mike Powers
to depend on. he has disposed of
Silreck. who his mainStaE during the
past three or four seasons.
During the past season Robbie. ac-
cording 10 the official figures OF Pat
Powers was the leading backstop in the
E,as, ern League. This looked good To
Mack and it did not take him long 10
make up his mind that he would like To
land the old warhorse for his team. Be
| fore coming TO Baltimore Robinson made
his start in professional base ball as Il
member Of the old Athletics of the Quake.
city IL IS hard TO say where Robbie will
be found next sea Son. lie has been Scri-
ously considering the offer of Manager
johnny aIcGraw OF the New York Ma
tionals 10 go south with the Giants TO
take charge Of McGraw's young pitchers.
| While Robinson has not yet decided
whether he will accept McGraw's propo-
| sition il looks Ike he viii become one OF
| the Giants when they go south.
When McGraw was here attending the
| fail meeting of the Maryland Jockey
/ CIut, at Pinlico ne offered Robbie al
| tractiNe Inducements To Join his team at
J Marlin Springs next spring. Though
! Robbie did not do business with McGrtw.
/ he assured the leader of the Giants that
he would consider his offer. Robbie Will
! likely make 4 trip To New York next
month after lie returns from shooting
"trip down south with Jack Dunn. John
/ + Bartlett and Joseph Kinds,
+ A. Rugar Brcsrahan VIII not he with
! the Giants when they go into spring
! training McGraw is exceedingly anxious
! 10 have. Robinson try out his Young pitch
| ers as he realizes that Robbie is about
| the most valuable. man that he could Sc
.ure Robbie has always lived up to his
| rcput alton of being one OF the headieSt
| catcherS in the business, and what lie
| cannot teach d twircr about the game is
]
I in base ball has always been in getting
| good results from the pitchers.
J While Mctiraw gets the credit OF having
! brought out Roger BreSndhan, one OF the
/ greatest catchcFS in the National League
: II was really. through Robbie that Rr"s-
nalan started his fame as Il catcher. Dur
| ing Baltinorr'S first year in the American
/ League BresnGhan started out as pitch
! er He came here as IA pitcher but Inc
| did not look good in that department
| In the morning practice one day Bresna-
han CHANGED to take up the big glove
! He performed 30 well that Robbie re-
! marked that ne cut Out 10 be
catcher instead Of a pitcher. BTcSnahan
! then took up the JOB behind the bat. and
! his success in base ball IS well known to
| all followers of the game
| At the present time Robbie does not
| know his plans for next season The
| chances are that should he go south in
| the spring he will remain with the Giants
| during the entire next season. Owing to
! his business IN this city Robbie would
| prefer to remain here but lie viii con
| slider the propositions of McC;raw and
| Mack before he agrees To join the Orioles.
| With the Birds last season Robbie per
! formed in old-time form. and, though he
| did not play the season before, gave a
| remarkable account OF himself. "trip
| would put Robbie in the best of shape,
and ne would have but little trouble it
| is believed, making good with amy team.
| whether IN the big league or minor League
| Jack Dunn, manager OF the Orioles diir-
| inc the past Two seasons. dnd who WAS
| given ten days consider the terms 81
| the Baltimore club. said yesterday that
| nothing had developed in his case, and
he has not closed a deal with any other
! club.