Evening star., 1914-01-23
CATCHER OWENS
JOINS FEDERALS
Player Drafted by Griffith Said
to Have Signed With
''OutIaWs."
JOE BOEHLING EXPECTED
TO REJOIN NATIONALS S
Engel, and Shaw to Be Pushed to
Front Early in the
Spring.
BY J. ED GRILLo.

According to. a report which reached
here from Minneapolis this morning. the
Federal League has secured one of Grif-
f1th's players. namely Frank Owens. the
catcher who was drafted by Griffith from
the Minneapolis team last fall. Griffith
was anxious to have Owens join the Ma
tionals, as he figured on using him as the
Nationals third catcher in the event that
"Rippy" Williams arm should not be
strong. He sent Owens a contract just
about week ago, but has heard nothing
from him.
The following Associated, Press dis
patch tells Of Owens jumping to the Fed
erals:
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., January %
Frank Owens. the Minneapolis American
Association catcher, who was drafted by
Washington of the American League last
fall, has signed a three-year contract
with the Federal League, according to
announcement here this morning. The
| amount Of Owens salary Is not given, but
it is stated he is to receive bonus of
sa,oOO for quitting organized base ball.
Owens has been with the local team four
seasons
Joe Boehlirg will have conference here
with Manager Griffith, the outcome Of
which will probably be that Boehling will
SlSH his contract LOT next season. w nile
there has been considerable correspond
ence between the pitcher and his man
ager the question Of terms has not been
settled, and believing that he could make
arrangements better by a. personal con-
fab, Griffith notified BoehlinR to be here
Saturday, which he has agreed to. There
is, of course, hardly chance Of Boehling
becoming hold-out. There has been no
such thing under Griflth's regime Any
time the PLAYER is reasonable enough to
rfNSroSt f< r. VI, GA1
Griff. he usually falls into line, which
Boehling is expected to do tomorrow.
Harry Williams. whom Griffith secured
from Helena, is. in the opinion of many
the making Of great pitcher Williams,
who served his first year in professional
ball last season worked in nineteen
games. He pitched fourteen full games
and won as many as he lost, and that
for team which finished next to last
incidentally he is one Of the few pitchers
who went through the Union Association
season without making an error. Williams
showed lot Of stuff during his trial
here last fall and he is apt to have a
chance to make more of himself this
spring.
Providing both Engel and Jim Shaw get
into shape in good time this spring.
Griffith proposes to give them the bulk Of
the work to: do in the early games Of
the season. He said yesterday that a
pair Of capable youngsters like this would
be apt to win lot Of games during the
early part cs the year If they can be
rounded into good form during the train
ing period. There is some doubt, how
beginner. Last year he did not report
until late. ard it took him some time to
round into fern. but he may show big
difference this year. He will be one of
| the first to go into training.
Coveleskie, who a few years ago was
known as "the giant killer because of
his ability to stop McGraW's team when
that aggregation was fighting for the
pennant near the close Of the season. will
next season Coveleskie has signed his
contract. He had short experience
with both. Philadelphia and Cincinnati.
failing to star with either team, and
eventually slid into the Southern. 1t was
while there that he seemed to recover his
form, and during the past season pitched
high-class ball, which resulted in Jen-
nings taxing chance and purchasing
him. He won twenty EIGHT games last
season and lost but nine. which seems to
give him chance to make good in the
American League.
Marty OToole. the '.high-priced one"
is the twentysfourth Pirate to sign his
contract. O'TOole appears well satisfied
with his treatment by Pittsburgh, and
O'Too.e was expected to be one of the
greatest pitchers that ever broke into
the major leagues, and holds the dis
tinction of having brought the highest
price ever paid in base hall--s22. aO3-he
has never shown much since joining the
Pirates.
lie seems to have been unfortunate in
that he always suffered from some all
| ment or other which interfercd with his
pitching. though he contends now that
he is in better condition than ever be-
fore, and that he will be ready wien
| the. bell taps.
/ John B. Williams. a pitcher secured
| by Detroit from Sacramento, is a
/ Hawaiian, the only one that has ever
| broken into big league ball Williams
showed lot OF stuff while with the
Sacramento team last year and there
J were several major league clubs anxious
I to buy him. Among these was Wash
ington, but the price asked was toe
| high and the Sacramento club finally al
lowed him to 60 to the draft in the
hope that some one Of the other play.
ers of the team would be chosen. Grlfitt
| had a draft in for Williams, but Detroit