Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-06
STREET DENIES SIGNING WITH
FLETCHER'S NEW LEAGUE
Player Admits He Had Correspondence With
Promoter, and Was rendered Contract
Why Magnates Feared Movement.

weak holes to make the team one of
the strongest in the league.
Incidentally the performance Of the
AH-Stars against the Athletics proved
that 1t Is not necessary to have a SEN
sational ball team If you have a strong
pitching staff. Three pitchers Of the
Johnson-Walsh type would go through
seasons campaign with even a medi-
OGRE team behind them without ever be-
ing in danger of losing the pennant. 1t
makes 1t pretty easy to win games when
you have pitchers who seldom allow
team more than a run or two.
Jerry Freeman was In town last
week and while here expressed the
other chance to hold down first base
for the Nationals Freeman, in fact,
called on President Eoyes and made
known hts desires for another chance
In fast company, but OF course was re-
ferred to Jim McAleer
Jerry, because he was in perfect con-
dition, played splendid ball last sea-
son, and he thinks that II he ever gets
another chance in fast company he
will be able to hold his own.
II have never been able to convince
myself that I got a fair chance here"
said Jerry. II did not play high-class
ball during the time was here, but 1t
seemed to me that I was improving
right along. ana II had been retained
I am sure L would have given salts
faction. I hope that Manager McAleer
can see his way clear to give me an
other chance. for I am satisfied that
he would have no trouble securing my
release"
Freeman, it is understood. has been
sold by Toledo to the Indianapolis
club. though he has not been officially
notified Of such a deal.
Though Kid Elberfeld has been in
harness many years. he never had a
more successful season than the last
one. and all because it was the first
time In his career that he went through
a season without being put out Of
game or idle because Of a suspension.
No player in the league attended moro
to his own affairs last season than Ell
berfeld. He did not get mixed up with
the umpires at any time, and played
brilliant ball in every game that he
appeared in.
The averages do not show Elberfeld's
value to q team. No record is kept Of
the kind Of work that <Elberfeld does
for his team. No other player takes
possible run as does Elberfeld. Time
and time again he took a chance OF
having himself badly injured by block
ing base runners going into third base.
The fact that runner was within
easy reach OF the bag and the ball
hardly in the outfielder's hands did not
assure anything with Elberfeld playing
third. His motionless position which led
to the belief that he was expecting any
thing but a play fooled many a wise
base runner. who, after Stacking up,
would attempt to walk into the bag,
only to find Elberfeld suddenly putting
the ball on him.
The curbing OF Elberfeld's temper,
which was responsible for all his trouble
while with other clubs. made h m most
valuable man, and it Is not stretching it a
bit to say that Jim McAleer deserves a
lot OF credit fnr tn chance that has come
over the erstwhile Tabasco Kid.
Bobby Wallace has been in major
league base ball for about sixteen years.
during every one Of which he hss been a
star player. No one knows whether he
has any managerial alb lily, but never
slated for Jack O'connor's Job at the
head Of the Browns. But tho Browns
next season WIN not give line
on WallAce's ability to manage. for there
is hardly a chance for him to pull that
team out of the eighth hole.
No team could have been much weaker
than were the Browns last season, and
there has not been tho slightest improve
ment made since the campaign closed.
Wallace will be q manager. without q
Of any such combination ever having sue
ceeded.
It only shows what q serious mistake It
Ia for a club owner to follow popular
clamOr with respect to his manager. Jim
McAleer became unpopular In st. Louis
when his team failed In Ne 1903 cam
paign. after being contender down to
the finish. He was blamed because the
team which should really never hsve been
close did not win the flag, and Owner
Hedges was shortsighte& enough to take
q stand with the fans and let McAleer
out. He will regret that move many al
time before he gets out OF base ball. for
McAleer could produce a team without
the expenditure Of much money. and In
this way Hedges has boom spoiled and
does not want to spend any money to i'm
prove his team.
The appointing Of Wallace 10 nothing
more than an effort to please the public, |
but when Wallace. like O'Connor, brings
up the rear OF the race he will be In the
same boat with his two predecessors.
Hedges will have to spend some Of the
money he made In st. onis before he |
can expect 90 have anything that rosorn.
bis q winning team. He Is not apt to
pick up q lot Of star hail players for Moth |
Ing and no seems intent On taking hle |
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