The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-02-03
Near=Season Baseball Gossip.
Cleaned From Busy New York

Arthur Shafcr. the brilliant iniielder
nl the Giants, has returned unsigned
two different contracts which the New
York club has sent to him. Shafer
has made no demands for salary. hut
has announced that he will not play
ball with the New York Giants again.
~ friend of Skaters stated here that
tho real reaso that the intielder had
resolved not to play baseball any more
was the result OF an incident which
occurred in Boston after the last game
of the worlds series between the
Giants and Red o last fall. 1t is
asserted that after the memorable
game in which Fred S%nodgrass muffed
a fly ball from the bat of Hack Engle,
which lost the game and gave Boston
the worlds championship. tho Giant
players had a warm session in the
dressing DON after the game. ~.
1t is said that some of the New
r players crowded around Snod-
grass after the game. and criticised
him harshly for making the costly err
ror. In the heat of the criticising of
Snodgrass many words We're passed
between the players which caused
much i'll feeling. Shafer, who was a
elassmate of snodgrass in Il college
here. camc to his defense. and in the
face of all the talk that was hurled
at Snodgrass said that any ball player
was. likely to make an error in such
"a situation. Shafer, it is stated, re-
scented the criticism of some of the
plaverS. and became more prominent
In the argument that SnodgrasS him
self.
Shafer. SO the story goes. was SO
provoked at the antagonism againss
Snodgrass that he declared right then
and there that he would never play
ball with the Giants again. Shufer
was sincere in his assertion and be-
lleVed that the verbal attack on his
friend S~nodgrass was unfair and I'm.
just. He said at that time that he wa
through with professional baseball,
ana MS friends here stated that this
was the real reason that he has re-
turned two Giant contracts unsigned.
Shafer has always played baseball
Tor the love of the game and against
the wishes of his family. He has
told friends hero that he will not leave
the coast this year until his many,
business affairs are settled, and then
AT the Offices of the New York club
It was stated that Skaters first con-
as soon as 1t arrived a second con-
tract was sent out by Manager Nc
Graw giving .Shafcr an increase i n
salary II he would Join the Giants or
their trainine trip in Texas. Offciais
OF the club said that Skaters second
contract had not been returned, but
that the club would cease it's negotia-
lions with the player just as soon as it
was received. -
shafer will be a big loss to tho
Giants. He is a natural ball player.
and at times has played a really bril-
liant game in the infield. Not long
ago Manager McCiraw said that Shafer
was easily capable of winning the e
ular shortstop berth on the club, and
ne expected him to do it his season.
Shafer is young. but has made wonder-
full improvement under McC;raw. Last
season he could run to first base faster
than n PLAYER on the club. and could
bat both right and left handed.
Eddie Phelps. the Brooklyn catcher.
has sent in his signed contract, and
will be In Augusta by March S to helm
get the Brooklyn twirlers into shape.
Phelps. by the way, started his pro
fessional baseball career in Danbury,
Conn. and the manager of the team
at that time was Bald" Jack Rose.
chief witness against Charles Becker
in the Rosenthal murder trial. Man
ager Dahlen is not only worrying
about winning the pennant next sea-
son., but he is also worrying about J..