Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-26
SPORT GOSSIP FROM
OLD NEW YORK TOWN
Johnny Ward Branches Out as
an American League
Kn0Cker.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 20.-John NJ.
Ward is authority for the statement that
Ban Johnson, president of the American
League, and Garry Hermann, owner Of
the Cincinnati National League Club.
have been figuring on the formation OF
u twelve-club circuit for several years
and that they are still favorable to the
plan which has been discussed privately
many occasions.
Ward says he heard some time ago
why Johnson and Owner Coniskey of
the White Sox had disa agreement which
stirred up the American League club
owners in 1907. He says Johnson Of
fered 200 in cash to Comiskey il the
latter would sell his franchise in Chicago
and that Comiskey promptly declared war
on johnson which ragged until other
American League men patched up the
trouble
President Farrell OF the Highlanders
said today that there was no basis for
Wards story and that it was absolutely
untrue that Johnson had ever made a
proposition to Comiskey to buy him out.
1t has been generally overlooked that
Thomas J. Lynch, the new president OF
the National League, was appointed su-
pervisor of umpires by N. e. Young In
1900. In that capacity Lynch did some
excellent work. He uInpired his last ma
ior lea que game August %. 1899. at the
Polo Grounds.
In ST. Louis they say that John Nc
Graw offered TO trade Merkle even up
for Eonetchy, and that when Roger Bres-
nahan declined the Giants manager pro-
posed a cash bonus and several young
players to boot Again Bresnahan re-
fused to consider an offer for the Car
dinars star first baseman.
McGraw is said to have several deals
for other players of ability under adj
visement, although rival clubs are in
ciined TO name impossible terms. 1t ts
the opinion that the Giants need cou-
pie of new infielders. pitcher and a
catcher, and that unless Tenney comes
back the team will be weak at first base.
With Doyle, Bridwel. Deviin, Murray.
Seymour Mathewson. Wiltse and other
favorites in line. however, it is believed
that McGraw will be able to provide
many interesting games at the Polo
Grounds in 1910.
New York fight fans will know to-
morrow whether Bob Fitzsimmons' case is
hopeless or not. F1tz will fight twenty
rounds with Bill Lang at Sydney, Aus.
tralia, today, and II he loses his ring
career will be at an end. The old fell
low needs money. and is taking a des-
perate chance with a hard-hitting Sec
ond-rater.
If the Cornishn1an wins he will be
i'll clover, for Australians. who have al
ways been proud Of him. will clamOl
for a match with Burns. Fitz will weigh
about 1855 pounds. 1t is said, while Lang
will tip the beam at $50 Robert Is
forty-eight years old, and his opponent
is about twenty-seven.
Ketchell. who IS in Grand Rapids fol
the holidays, may sail for Australia
shortly. as he has received an ofYer Of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. guarantee te
meet Lang, FItzsimmons and SQuires. In
the order named. II Ketchell makes
the trip and beats these three men he
can get big purse for a fight with
Burns. But nobody seems able to keer
tabs on Stanley for more than a weet
ut time.
IL Is clear TO many that he needs q
manager TO make arrangements for him
Just now Harry Gilmore OF Chicago ap.
pears TO have him In hand.