Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05
HAD MUCH TROUBLE
Boston Did Not Sign Speaker
Easily.
PLAYERS AT HOT SPRINGS
Will Soon Begin to Gather to Get
in Shape for the Coming
Season.
PLAYERS AT HOT SPRINGS
BY n. w. LANIGAN.

0C0SVus
BY n. w. LANIGAN.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. January 4.-The
Boston club had a lot of trouble signing
iris Speaker its renowned center fielder
last spring. 1t was only a few days be-
fore the Red Sox hit the road and start
ed east from here that McAleer and
Speaker came to an understanding on the
salary question. Iris did not make any
| bones over the fact that he was a MEM
Der Of the Hold-out Club. Furthermore.
he stated all along that the Boston man.
agement would give him the figure he
deemed he was worth or he would HE
back to his Texas homestead and lead
the simple life.
Nobody but those interested know what
stipend was evidently agreed upon. How
ever, along about April Speaker signed
up. The salary was never made public.
Nor was the length Of the document
named. Locally the fans cling to the
opinion that Speaker signed only one
year contract The reason for that be-
lief is because President McAleer. in a
signed statement. recently gave it out
that while Speaker was wondrous star
and Ty Cobb a marvellous all-around
workman, Clyde Milan had the shade on
both suburbanites; in fact. that said
Clyde Milan was the king OF the present
day flock of outfielders. Ii Speaker only
signed for one year last spring there was
probably method to the madness OF Nc
Aleer'S mutterings.
Speaker or Cobb First.
1t is only natural for Speaker to be
nominated the king Of the fly chasers
by his own president. and skilled a work.
man as is Milan in the games every de-
partment. the Texan certainly has the
edge on him. To the enthusiasts in this
section of the globe either Speaker or
Cobb is the monarch of the men mean
dering in the meadows. with Milan. an
unuuestioned star. trailing. So locally
McAleer's statement Is taken to mean
that Iris signed only a one-year contract
last spring, and that pretty soon the Red
Sox cfieftain has got to do business WIN
his crack center fielder all over again.
Hence he doesn't want iris to come TOO
high as to terms.
McAleer was probably right when he
placed Walter Johnson ahead of Joe
Wood among the pitchers. That's be-
cause the Washington teams star risht-
handler has more natural ability ana 1ast-
er steam than any other finger in base
ball and Is at his best when sent In to
do relief work. That's something Wood
cannot do successfully. Wood has got
| to twirl his own game to thrive. He can
not stand any i'll fortune. and no Boston
Skipper has ever called upon him to go
on in any wind-ups. Charley Hall does
not begin to own as much smoke or as
much stuff as Wood. But Hall Is another
Doc Crandall when called upon to finish
stiff encounters, whereas Wood has sell
dom, IL ever, been called upon in the
| pinches during his career as Bostonian
George Mullin Is Expected.
Now that George Mullin has signed his
Detroit contract, he will probably be
coming this way before long. The last
two years Big George has been the first
big Lacquer Of renown on deck at the
American Carlsbad. Though Mullin did
| his share of the work In winning three
| American League championships Tor
| Navin. he was game enough to ADMIT IN
his official chat with the Detroit magnate
a fortnight ago that he had shown but
fair form at best in the 1912 grind. hence
would willingly accept the cut In pay ne
had coming. Navin prettily retafiiated,
so runneth news report, by assuring Null
lin that if he came back and won good
ly percentage Of his games he would re-
ceive bonus in the fall which would
allow him to play even on standing Tor a
cut So it's up to Mullin.
The big fellow numbers his admirers
by the dozens in this townlet and they
can be relied upon pulling for him all
summer to wallow in victories. Muilin
used to COME along early in the spring
with Wild Bill Donovan. Sam Crawford.
Dutch Schaefer. Jim Delehanty and
Charley O'Leary as companions. That
budget of Tigers has certainly been shot
to pieces. Donovan is now managing the
Providence eastern League) team. Dele
chief cut-up for the Washington Ma
tionals O'Leary is holding on to his
Detroit job by the skin Of his teeth. just
recently having been traded back by
Indianapolis. He's labeled to go to Provi-
dence, it Is generally understood.
Crawford Spa Regular.
1t won't seem like old times If Mr. Sam
Crawford and Mrs. Sam Crawford don't
pay their usual March visit. They have
been coming down for a good many
wears. Crawford is a hold-out and the
White Sox stand an excellent chance of
| landing him, according to siddy Dame
Rumor However, WahOo sam Will PROB
ably insist upon getting in three weeks
work here regardless Of what club lie
lis to play with next season. He is as
strong a champion of Arkansas Hot
Springs as either Hans wagner or Cy
Young, not to mention Jake Stahl and
diamond who don't believe ball player
can get into condition any other place In
the land but In this townlet.
With the Red Sox and Pirates the only
big league aggregations coming this way
in the spring, the third ball yard, FOgel
Field, will probably house Jack Hen
bricks Denver team. The Grizzlies were
here for ten days last March. They went
out and initiated the Red Sox. following
up their triumph in the Western League
race by bagging the post-season series
from the Minneapolis american Associa
toni champions Hendricks wants to
come here and Doc Owens boss of Whit
tington Park, is anxious for him to re-
turn. So there can scarcely be any hitch
in the plans.
with the Red Sox and Grizzlies repeat
ing. which is more than probable. that
means that the Spa will own three pen
nant-winners next october IL that good
looking ION paper) team of Fred Clarke's
can dispose of the New York Giants for
remnant honors in the National League.
Frank Farrell, owner of the New York
Americans. processes to have been delight
ed on receiving official notice of the re-
lease Of Frank Chance from the Reds
to the Yanks.
Doubt as to Chances engagement to
manage our team no longer exists" said
FARRELL Yesterday. when I see Chance