Evening star., 1909-02-28
JENNINGS TO TRY
OUT 'BUMPUS' JONES
Young Pitcher Given Another
Chance on Recommendation
of Hugh Duffy.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

DETROIT. Mioh, February 70, 1SVV.
| One tourist has been added to the list
of those who will be bounding over the
rails, chaperoned by H. Jennings. one
week from today. Elijah "Bumpus'
, Jones. leading citizen Of Oxford, Mich, Is
the person. He is not newcomer. haV-
! ing been south with the team once before.
Previously his fate has been to be sent
away for further seasoning. Last year
! he sojourned In Montreal, undergoing his
yearly siege Of the aging process.
! It had been expected that Jones would
miss his chance for try-out this spring.
But at Chicago last week President Navin
heard so much from Hugh Duffy and
| other Eastern League managers about
what the Oxford boy showed that he de-
| cided OF sign him up and send him south.
Jones came in yesterday. put ms name
| down and was notified to have his grip
packed March and to be on hand for the
| trip.
| Last year Jones was with losing
| team. but managed to pile up the COM
against a 461 record by his club. He
was worked pretty hard. figuring IN
| thirty-three games. 6 which he won nine
teen. AS far as percentages 60 his recoro
was far in advance Of that OF Lafitte, the
Jersey City twirler. who represents an IN
| vestment of 5000.
Cubs Making Most Deals.
| Barring the sale of Cy Young to the
| Cleveland club. there have been no re-
cen: deals of any great importance. In
the American League the only other
transaction that attracted any great at
| tention was the sale of Conroy to Wash
ington and the consequent disappointment
of the Cleveland club. The latter owner
ship is out for the flag this year. at any
cost, and would have met any bid mad
| not the player been disposed of while the
Cleveland people were considering the
matter Of raising their figure from what
they offered to what New York asked
| The Maps planned to use Conroy as q
utility infielder simply. wishing to have
| him to guard against any of the troubles
| that have proved so costly In the past
About the only club that seems to be
really busy in the way Of making deals
| is the one that now holds the world s
| championship, the Chicago Cubs. Ever
since he came east Chance has been in
| the field for trades. He hasn't pulled on
| a big deal but he has made several minor
| ones.
Good Player That Can't Land.
| One of these was the claiming of George
Browne, on whom waivers had been
asked and whom Chance plans to plant
| Ill center blOWuC I'D I" NSAS eOoA
ball player when he has his heart In the
| work. and a very listless one when he
| lacks interest With worlds series money
always a possibility. he is likely to be on
| his job this season. His purchase means
! that Hoffman, one of the best players In
! the business, is to be held as utility
player again. Chance positively refuses
| to let this player take a regular berth.
| He can't even get on the idfield, should
Evers really hold out. The deal with
Cincinnati, by which Pitcher Durbin and
| Shortstop Downey were turned over Tor
Kane. blasts Hofmans hopes of second
| sack should anything happen to Zimmer-
man. The latter is holding out Should
| he continue to do so or be injured Kane is
to play the bag until Evers gets in.
Chance has decided to send Jack Hay
den back to Indianapolis; He Is a star
| in the American Association. but held to
| be just bit shy in the major leagues.
Hayden will not be SO very sore about
| his transfer. He wasn't in on any OF the
worlds series cut, and it didnt make him
even though legally he had no claim on
coin. Joe Stanley, formerly with WASH
! ington. last year with Louisville, is to go
south with the Cubs. Chance Is still try
ing to land Pitcher Mcintyre from Brook
lyn, but the latter club asks too much.
Cleveland Worrying Still.
They are still worrying over in Cleve-
land. despite the fact that great Joy fol-
lowed the accession of Cy Young. With
| one of the swellest pitching STATS in
captivity, the followers of the Maps are
fearful that they will not have the men
| to catch these singers. The Bemis case
| looks serious, though his physicians now
say that the catcher will come through
ali right if his heart stands the strain.
Danger from pneumonia itself Is prac-
tically passed. In any event. he will
be late in starting, putting all OF the
work up to Mig Clarke.
The last named young man is generally
regarded as better than raw amateur
and doesn't need much assistance, other
| than a second catcher to give him an
| occa sional day Of rest. Any worry that
that his divorce from Criger will end
| his effectiveness may be dismissed.
| Young has pitched a few games in his
day and knows something about the bat
| ters and the game himself. With any
catcher that can throw he will be win
| ming twirler.
! To win the pennant 1t will be up to
the Tigers to do some trimming of the
Maps themselves this season. Cleveland
certainly looks strong. If Brad's legs do
not give out and rob the team of its
| third-sacker.
Lodge to Rescue Of Fans.
| Up at Lansing this past week the legis-
I IatOrS gave eVlQeQCe OF Ine strength or
| base ball sentiment in their action In
connection with legislation introduced by
Representative Baldwin of Lenawee coun-
| ty. The bill that he introduced some time
| ago and which was noticed on this page,
| to prohibit base ball and all other sports
| on Memorial day, came up for considera-
| tion and is now buried for all time.
To Representative John c. Lodge of
| this CITY mich of the credit for nrayenf.
| ing players and fans from being robbed
of base ball on the holiday may be given.
| Mr.. Lodge is not only an amateur ball
player and fan of many years devo-
| tion to the game. but he also has an
appreciation of what is due those brave
| men who fought for their country In the
| civil war. He introduced a substitute
| bill that guards the interests of both
base ball and the veterans, providing that
| no sporting events shall be allowed to
conflict with the Memorial day exercises
of the veterans. This was in the interest
Of preserving holiday base ball generally
| and of organized ball specifically. It
| was passed.
| Under this law there will be no prohibi-
ton Of any sports on regular base ball
| fields, or an any lots that are not so close
! to spots chosen by the veterans for their
| exercises that the games might be a
| nuisance to those gathered for memorial
! services.
! Indifferent Player
Tip O'Neil will be seen in a Mime
| apolis uniform again this season TT