The Washington herald., 1910-02-28
By WILLIAM PEET.

"
Speed" Kelley is going to be canned.
In plain English. the bali player will be
disposed Of 20 one of the minor league
clubs. and has not been ordered TO re-
port 70 Norfolk next week.
Most OF the District fans remember
! Kelley. He was purchased from the
South Bend club Of the Central League
last August upon recommendation of
Scout Mike Kahoe. and played in num-
| Der OF games on the Florida avenue ball
yard
Kelley attracted more attention on ac-
count of his name than his playing. The
| appellation Speed was accumulated
while at college. and il stuck TO him like
long lost brother through the Central
League to his short life in the American.
one OF the honored baseball writer's
took shot at Kelley the day after he
was signed. saying speed" Kelley will
have to hit or make a hasty exit from
the American League ranks.
In spite OF the big handicap OF such a
nickname as Speed" Kelley played good
ball in spots, and TO many gave promise
Of future greatness, but Manager Nc
Aleer has decided that Kelley viii have TO
go TO some minor league club, and that
settles it, McAleer was hired to decide
Just such questions. and far be It from US
10 criticise his judgment thus early in
the game In spite OF this. we always
liked young Kelley and wanted TO see him
get along.
As the writer finished the foregoing
lines along comes the following dispatch,
which is self-explanatory:
Special 20 The Washington Herald.
Chicago. Feb. 27.-sianager Jack
Hendricks. of the Denver club, of
the western League, announced to
day that he had purchased from the
Washington American League club
for 81 600 the release Of Shortstop
r.. b. (speed) Kelley, who halls from
Goshen, Ind, formerly was captain
of the Purdue University nine, and
hit at "a $50 clip with the South
Bend Club, of the Central League,
last season, giving him that place
among the league batters. Hen
bricks says he has wanted Kelley
for two years, and seized his first
chance to land the former cOIlegiHn,
who was regarded as "A ten-second
Sprinter when in college.
The writer had pleasant little chat with
Manage. MeAleer last night. and it is to
be regretted that the opportunity is not
afforded every fan in the District to
shake hands with the new boss.
If mans heart was ever in his work.
McAleer is that man. He has been in
st. Louis for eight years. He never had
a chance TO get a good start. The news
paper men roasted him to a whisper, but
his ability soon commanded respect. He
worked hard to keep the Browns up in
the race and managed to make small
fortune for the club owners.
McAleer starts ia here this season with
everything to gain and nothing to lose.
| The Nationals have finished at the bot
tom of the heap so often that the fans
rather expect each season to be the
same old story. and if such proves true
this year very little blame Will be at
tached to the new boss. II, on the other
hand, the club celebrates 1910 by landing
in fifth or sixth place-but what's the
use? At any rate. the new manager is
determined TO give Washington something
better than the city has been accustomed
to during the past six years, and. with
his long experience, keen judging of talent.
together with the fact that he has some
first-class material with which to work,
it would not be surprising If ne actually
did upset some Of the predictions out-of-
town newspapers and others are making.
When you figure on the Nationals pros
poets this season, you must first look over
the ether American League clubs and
ask yourself the question: What team can
we expect TO beat out?
The writer put this question up to Nc
Aleer last night, who replied diplomats
ically: II hope at least to beat out st.