Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-25
BLUFF BIDS FOR
STAR BALL PLAYERS
Magnate Ebbetts Now in the
LimeIight With Offer for
Catcher King.

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NEW YORK July 2i.-Did Yea hear
about the changes that are - be made
IN the National League man: The Brook.
Ign team isn't going TO be the burr on the
COWS tail any more. President Ebbets
announces that he's going 10 buy a whole
lot of regular ball players. and pay coolies
of real money for them. and next season
the Trolley Dodgers will be the niftiest
little bunch of athletes that ever wiggled
into uniforms. They can't help being. II
President Ebbets carries out the pro-
gram he has I'm mind.
II have offered $4,000 for Catcher
king. lie said the other day.
Why, certainly. That listens like good
old Pete Browning. in the days when he
was the champion batsman of the league.
I've just contracted to pay 5000 for
n bat with which | can hit over 800, .
said Pete.
Some doubling Thomas. knowing Mr..
Browning's little ways. nudged i'll with a
query.
Where will you ever get $1,000. Peter
he asked.
I'm get the coin just as soon as any
one produces the bat | can lam out 100
WITH said Pete. with wink.
King Worth $4,000.
And there's Charlie Murphy. who is
an ostensible string on Killing. encourag-
ing Mr.. Ebbets in this dream.
Sure says Mr.. Murphy Sure BY
all means. king is worth $oo00o''
Murphy doesn't say that he would take
$4,000 for Killing. He knows that If lie
did he would he cructfied just north of the
dollar gate al the Chicago park. Also, he
knows that if lie took SD. 600 for King
he would he liable for Indictment for get
ting money under false pretenses. King
has intimated that Murphy possesses the
same relative value in his eyes that one
deuce covered and open has in a
game of stud poker i'll which every one
else about the table is sporting large,
lovely tripletS of poster cards.
y ann a German says King land
that Irish wop has got to show me. lie
won't pay me my price SO all l have
10 do Is 10 teach the young idea of Kan
Sas city how TO shoot pool over my very
excellent tables
The which ne is doing and getting rich
50 fast that he is thinking of going round
some day and buying Murphy cigar.
just to prove that he can. If things go
on as they have. King will offer to buy
Murphy. OF course. Ebbets has grand
chance To horn in there with Il PROPOSE
ton TO purchase. Makes one think Of
that old yarn about the two hoboes who
We're playing cards in box car.
Bet we million, said one bum.
Raise We a septlion,' said the other
yegE.
Il see the raise and bet vuh a decil-
lion.' said the first. The second threw
down his cards
Dang these educated yan,blars.'' he
said, bitterly.
Or Christy Mathewson.
Why don't Mr. Ebbets. if he is really
IN earnest about improving the condition
of the BROOKLYN team and fears prosecu-
ton If he ties brick to its neck and
gives il the cast iron elbow off the dock,
20 after something he can reach? He
can't get kIing-not while the lights over
the pool table hold out to burn. But
there's Christy Mathewson now. lie
mashed a finger nail the other day. That
Why doesn't Ebbets come boldly out and
gather his infant class of reporters about
him and make this sort of a spiel?
TN give S330,GO0 for Christy Mathew
son."
Now. that would be a good. brave.
husky sort of play. And il really isn't
very much harder to say three hundred
and fifty than 1t is to say twenty
thousand Only syllable or two more.
and shucks. when II comes TO buying ball
players what's syllable? Or if he wants
a manager why doesn't he ring up John
II. Brush on the phone-1o cents from
Brooklyn.
This you. Jawn? No, do not want to
talk to DIR. Creamer. This is Ebbets,
Brush. No, not buckets. Ebbets, Eb-
bets of the Brooklyn team. Why. sure.
know that. Jawn? Well, anyhow, there's
park over here and lot Of uniforms,
and have men in EN-. But / want to
talk business to you: Jawn. I'll give you
$40 for Jawnnie McGraw. Cash"
There's some wisdom to a play of that
sort. The only chance Ebbets has to lose
is his telephone. and maybe he can hang
up before Brush gets his breath and save
it Or. If 1t is only matter of making
offers. why don't he make stab at
Garry Hermann. Hermann would be a
fine-looking person in Brooklyn uni
form. OF course. Hermann don't play
ball. but what's the odds? No use cater
ing TO the unhealthy appetites of Brook
lyn bugs. anyhow.
"I'H give 100000 for Hermann to
carry bats"
Other Good Ones.
Who was that speaking, anyhow? Or
was IL just an echo? And did any one
mention buying Harry Pulliam for gate
keeper? No. No one was mentioning
buying Harry Pulliam for a gatekeeper.
That settles that right off the reel And
no one has Offered $4,000 for Hal Chase,
either. Or $4,000 for Three Fingered
Johnny Brown. But what's the matter
with Little Johnny Evers: He'd be a
bargain at bucketful 81 money and his
cigars. Might just as well make the
offer II %ou have amy thought of doing so,
Mt:, Ebbets. We've ali got our ears lop-
ped for IL. While you're about it, tell il
L. .Bs good. Never mind an odd cipher
or Two
Bnt that gets MS back TO the fact that
the Brooklyn team is going to be the
real class next year. Salaries? Why
say. Bail players over there will be
afraid to take their pay in dimes and
nickels any more They will insist on
certified check being sent them by regis
tered mail. Mr.. Ebbets says So And
Mr.. Murphy was there. awaiting at the
box office. and never cracked a smile.
Il know that Ebbets is going to pay
tree-mendous salaries next year." says
Murphy.
tIh. huh. That's right. but it all depends
on what YOU think is tremendous. Chance
sn9 fixing and Evsrs and Murphy don't
sesrl To think along the same lines on
thai salary question. There are people.
bigger than harvest moon. and ref
erence is intended To Nj. Murphy. The
siInile don't apply. A silver dollar under
certain conditions looks bigger to him
than Lake Michigan. If Ebbets shuts his
eyes and let's his back hair down, and
cuts loose along Murphy's lines, the
Brooklyn pay roll will keep one bank
clerk busy-fgurng il out in decimals
Atsthat. it looks though Ebbets has
the. Murphy system beaten eight ways
from the ace.
Chance May Do.
'.rn pay $4,000 for Frank Chance"
No. He hasn't said it, Blu; he might
as we'll say IL. There is absolutely no