Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-21
BASE BALL BRIEFS.

BASE BALL BRIEFS.
Boston. with its young players, has
Washingtons sympathy. The fans here
had almost a ten-year dose of it under
the Wagners. There is nothing to the
crocus players after the month OF May.
The report that Conroy and Elberfeld
were at outs last year is silly one.
When the Kid was in bed at the Airing
ton, suffering from his spiked leg, vivid
was with him at every opportunity.
Joe Ward batted around 30 in the Tri-
State last year and why he is touted as a
sure thing" in the American League is
mystery. Umpire Tom Brown worked
behind Ward year before last and says
that he hits in a groove. 1t won't take
long for the star twirlers to get onto this
fact.
The Detroit Tigers won last years pen
nant by an eyelash, but from present ap-
pearances they should breeze in this sea-
son. Moriarity makes the Tigers infield
very strong and the pitchers will have to
fall down to lose out.
Harry Bemis, Cleveland's hard-hitting
catcher. will hardly be ready for work
before the first of June. II he pulls through
his present illness. The Maps hard-luck
story has an early beginning this year.
Jack Crooks. the well known Washing
ton player, goes back to Reading this sea-
son, and Is just about due to create some
talk all along the line He has been i'm
proving as a first baseman for the past
two years and is natural 800 sticker.
Manager Cantillon and his team will
have to do some tall hustling to get home
for the opening game with New York
April II. The team plays an exhibition
game in Louisville April II, and it must
be clear sailing on the railroads to reach
here in time for the opening.
The Pittsburg base ball club has made
a move intended to strengthen the infield
and is after Byrne. the third baseman
from ST. Louis. 1t Is known that Alan
Stork has been offered for Byrne, with
one or two other men who are not regulars
on the team 1t is intimated that Pitch
er Camnitz may also figure in the deal.
Cleveland was disappointed in one
trade during the meeting, and that was
losing vivid" Conroy. There was a chance
for the clever utility infielder of the
Yankees going to the Forest city. but
the Washington club outbid Somers with
$4,000 and he joins the Washington club
at once.
1t is not Mike Donlin himself but Mrs.
Mabel Hite Donlin, who is holding up
the New York club for more salary Mike
doesn't care much, but Mabel insists
upon her hubby getting all he possibly
as a diamond hero.
Walter Manning. another pitcher, and
Jack Knight have also signed contracts
with New York. Knight IS being freely
touted to make good at short. The
Yankees cut loose a large bunch of
iron men, for Knight and those who
saw him work with the Baltimore club
last season say that he will be the regu-
lar shortstop for the Yankees. It looks
a II the team will be we'll supplied with
shortstops.
Cy Young commenced his major league
career in Cleveland and it is fitting that
service in that city. There is little use
Of talking about the end Of Young's
career. however. He has come back
year after year with the same old speed
the same old control and the same old
cunning, and there is no reason to be-
lieve that he will diminish as a base
ball star during the next half dozen
years.
Tom Daily. the Brooklyn scout. had "a
few things to say about Joe Ward the
other day. Il think he will make a
great cleanup man for the Yankees.
He is a hard hitter and will be break
ing. the fences. He is also a pretty
Frank Farrell has no objection to any
Of his players breaking the fences with
safe hits.
In Boston there Is a rumor that Jack
Chesbro has decided to retire from the
ball field, as his lumber business is bet
ter than ever This Is only a rumor
CHESHIRE loves the game. and takes 1t as
play most of the time, and, as Willie
Keller says. they will have to tear the
uniform from Jack before he will leave
the game 1t may be that Chesbro means
business, but his friends seem to think
that he will be there with the rest of
the boys when the bell tinkles in April
The most important matter brought
up by the American League was the
fact that all teams waived on Jimmy"
Callahan. The latter has been the bone
Of contention for organized base ball in
Chicago. AS manager and owner of the
Logan Squares as well as being on
Comiskey's reserve list, he was causing
many outlaws. Comiskey was willing
clubs would not waive. But they did
so at the session Wednesday afternoon
without discussion. and he was immedi-
ately given his release by Comiskey
Sockalexis to return? Forget It, The
Indian was a good man when he was
good. but that was long ago. Big Chief
Bender Of the Athletics is about the
only aborigine who knows how to keep
away from the firewater. He is always
on deck. ready for business. When
Sockalexis burst upon the athletic world
he was at Holy Cross. a fine base ball
player and a sturdy halfback on the
eleven. He was snapped up by Cleve-
land. but he failed to stand the pace
He fell way back. and several times 1t
has been said that he was dying in his
Maine home 1t Is almost pathetic to
hear OF his trying to enter professional
base ball again.