The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-01-15
IBOBBLiES'>
Midwinter Base Ball Gossip

are doings in the Hot Stove League. Yes,
indeed. No less parsonage than Byron
Bancroft Johnson has declared that an up
heaval is due in things baseballic and just
naturally it is bound to follow that the
stars in the baseball armament are likely to
change position-by falling and other
wise. Says the Gar of the American
League: "We need bitter war in base
ball. hope the Federals put up good
fight and have the necessary backing to
win out. Organized ball is at at stag
nant stage and war will Clearly the at
mosphere. But, you ask, what is it all
about
The whole proposition centers about
that pesky Federal League, which act
ualy had the temerity, to say nothing
about effrontery, to come through last sea-
son alive, notwithstanding few dozen well
directed kicks in the Stats by the press, plus
the loss of bushels of scads-or SO we were
led to believe by those who were knocking
the organization. In spite Of all these trib-
ulations the Feds have gone serenely about
their business grabbing dissatisfied players
from the fold when they could, and utilizing
vacant sand lots for playing purposes.
Now, however, the attitude of the press
has changed and we are reading
daily about the olts the Feds are landing
on the solar plexus of organized ball.
This extra attention may be due to the
scarcity of other news during the dull sea-
son, and, then again, it may be due to GER
tain gentlemen who have lent their names
and financial backing to the Federals dur
ing the past few months. The latter is
more likely. Certain it is that when
"Foxy Ned Hanlon aAiliates himself
with any new baseball venture, it., at the
very least, must show him an even chance
of success. Mr.. Weeghman, who has the
Chicago franchise, has long been trying to
break into baseball and not very long ago,
nearly succeeded in buying the St. Louis
Browns. For this escape Mr.. Weeghman
should shake hands with himself and prob
ably his Joy there-at is taking expression in
his tremendous energy with the new enter
| prise. 1t is intimated that this gentleman
has plenty of the needful, and there are
others who are anxious to back third ma
ior league associated with him. At re-
cent meeting of the Federals held at the
Hotel Blackstone, in Chicago, appeared a
gentlemen from little old N'Yawk, who
| laid a certified check for one hundred
thousand cold iron men on the table, as his
bid for franchise in Gotham. Did any
one say "money talksF' President Gil
more Immediately grabbed RATHER bound
for Manhatten and if he can find a corner
| lot in Brooklyn that mans hundred
thousand will be working next summer.
Let us hope to good purpose.
The Federal Players
AS for players, what do you suppose?
| The last player of note to go over to the
| Feds, you remember, was George Stovall,
who is to manage the Kansas City outfit
summed up in: ooh, we'll, Georges days
But, dear readers, your attention is now
mond who have gone over, bag and bag
gage, to the new league.
First, we have with us today, Joseph B.
Tinker, sometime manager of the hapless
Reds. You say, we all know Joe, but
what does the B stand for? Hush now
never mind-sufhcient to say that nobody
is putting the bee on Josephus unless he
| puts it there himself. Of course, if he
does that, we all know what it stands for.
Ever since the last stand of the Reds in
Gotham, or was it in Boston, last season
Toe has been peeved. Do you recall the
loud war whoops he omitted on said oc-
casion? After which he proceeded to I'M
burden himself of various and diverse I'M
complimentary remarks with reference to
| the thankless job of managing the Zinzin-
natl Reds, but more especially aimed at
the owners and board of directors, or kit
chen cabinet of said club. The genial
"Garry'' Hermann came right back and in
about three thousand we'll chosen words
A. "a
which, things in the Porkapolis resumed the
even tenor of their way. That is, they
did, until Joe got back. Then these two
amiable gentlemen got together and in
prolonged session agreed to try again, 1t
again pilot the Reds in 1914. Much Joy
and red fire in Redland. All that pre-
ceded the grand confab and, now historic,
annual National League meeting. AT this
session, President Hermann casually re-
marked that he was Joe to Joe, and Joe
wouldn' manage this season but was re-
duced to the ranks. Great hubbub among
owners, and trades of all the 6fty-seven va
rieties were Immediately proposed to Mr..
Hermann. 1t remained for Charles Holt
day Ebbetts and Mr.. Hermann to get to-
gether in grand blufing match. Mr..
Ebbetts grew holder as the evening waned
and finally slipped one over, offering
| $25, 900 cold for Mr.. Tinker, with the pro-
vision that the Cincinnati club was to get
SIS, 900 and the other ten thousand was to
be given Joe as a special inducement to
play in Brooklyn. Mr.. Hermann prompt
ly and gracefully accepted and the news
was heralded far and wide. No mention
was at first made of the proviso. When
Joe was first told of it he sputtered and
said in effect: "Never!!! Never!!! Will l
play ball in Brooklyn That's final