davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
puGHISTIC SITJA-
 TON IS STILL IN
 HOPELESS MUDDLE

ssTshis annJna of 1914, now meander- ing along to it's close, hasn't been a remarkable one in 8 pugiHstic way Most of the divisions of the great game are still in a hopeless nuddle, and, with the sport legally barred ID California. and ended by war in Great Britain and France, it isn't likely that 1915 will accomplish much toward clearing up the situation.
 The most promising aspect Of the ! coming year is the possibility that the heavyweight title may change Eownership. Even if Johnson loses to aswhite man, however, said Caucasian will have a mighty dark road to trav- e1 to hold on to his honors unless he follows the example of John F. SuIl1- van in the case of Peter Jackson and draws the .co1or line" Johnson may have ruined his strength and stamina kby riotous dissipation, but there are apparently credible reports that the stories of Jacks wild ways have been greatly exaggerated Possibly. they Ehave been circulated with a view to. enabling Jack to- pick up some easy coin by turing an ambitious white man into the ring with him. Then, even l if Jack is all in, there remain cer- ltain dark-hued gents named Sam l Langford, Sam McVey and Joe Jean l nette. We are confidently inform I ed, in some quarters, that these bru- nette persons are also has-beens- We also know that they are gifted with a certain amount of acumen and that they don't always show the best goods they have in stock. They're not going to smash the egg that matches the golden goose.
 | The rrliddleweigh situation is all up 1 in the blue atmosphere We have a person named Al Mccoy claiming the championship of that division, because ] he landed lucky punch on George Chip, who had whipped Frank Klaus. l Mike Gibbons, Jimmy Clabby, Eddie McGoorty and Chip are men of real championship calibre, however, and
 the ring should have real middle weight champ before the coming year I is over. Whoever he is, he won't be
 another F'itz. because there was only
 one Ruby Robert and the pattern was
 out on top should be as good as most 1 of the naiddleweight tit1e-holders of
 the past.
 In the weIterw eight division-well, one could almost describe the welter
 class by parap aphrasing the essay on
 Snakes in Ireland,'' which read: -ttThere are no snakes in Ereland.' 'i
 Aside from Packey Mcfarland, who Esti11 embraces the nation that he's 3
 lightweight, there are no welters of championship caHbre to-day.
 The lightweight title has changed hands since 1914 was ushered in, but Freddie Welsh, in his recent battles hasn't demonstrated that he is a bona
 fde champ. The vegetarian Welsh man is a clever boxer, about as clever as they make 'em, but that about lets
 him out. His victory over Ritchie was
 far from being decisive. There are
 several 1ightweights now battling il
 America who would stand a good
 chance against the Brit1sher.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
WILL4ARD-JoHNsoN
 MATCH LOOKS LIKE
 OUNCE TO CRITICS

New York, Dec. 29-Valiant efforts are being made by the promoters of the forthcoming bout between .'Jess'' Willard and Jack Johnson. to be held at Juarez on March 6, to sur round the event with the glamour of a regular old fashioned scrap for the worlds heavyweight championship Willard is being boosted to the skies by the press agents-acc1aimed as the greatest white fighter since Jim Jeff fries and ''ofticiaIIy'' tipped as having a great chance to beat the negro champion.
 To suit the exigencies of the case Willard has suddenly developed over night from a very mediocre heavy weight to the leader of the class Nearly every bout staged nowadays has at stake for the winner some fu- ture engagement with the Ianky cow boy boxer.
 Just two things stand in the way of giving a, true ring. to the advance mo- tices that are being sent out One is that Willard has never shown any marked class as a fighter and would be the easiest kind of a mark for Johnson at his best, and the other is that the boxing public is not yet ready to take anything that Johnson is con nected with seriously.
 The laughabIe twenty round bout in which he met Frank Moran in Paris
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
PURCHASE OF
 YANKEES HAS
 FANS CUE SING 1


 The sale of the New York Ameri- cans 'progressed'' another step yester- day, or rather progressed to another one Of those exclusive meetings where the parties concerned are as hard to locate as the fourth dimension. The concIaye this time. between the pur- chasers Jacob Ruppert, Jr. and Capt. T. T.. Huston-and the sellers Frank Farrell and Big Bill" Dewery
 -occIirred at the Belmont Hotel. and Ram Johnson, the Czar of the Ameri- can League, presided at the confer enee.
 < It was not until a late hour last night that Col. Ruppert could be found at his. home. He declared that the deal had not as yet been com pleted. He further added that he ex- pected it to come to close, one way or another, within the next forty-eight hours.
 There are a lot of little things to be settled before we purchase the club. 7 said Col. Ruppert last night. These things just now are holding up the deal. Some of the newspapers are inclined to believe that we are Sockeying the deal. but such is not the case
 Col. Ruppert was then asked if the price to be paid for the franchise and players wa.i one Of the .t7ittle things that was blocking the sale of the club. MT. Ruppert admitted 1t was, but s'hoped to come to some agreement with President Farrell be- fore long"
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
Coffey Gains Point
 Tn His Fight Against
 Pittsburgh Nationals

New York, Dec 29-Jaclx Coney, former infeld star of Fordham Coll lege, an ex-Boston National league shortstop. has gained his point in a fight for recognition. Coffey was re- leased yesterday by Pittsburgh to the Denver club of the w estern league. Cofey managed Denver last year, and very successfully, too. Besides proving his managerial worth he figured as one of the leading infielders.
 Last fall Coffey was drafted by the Pirates. He set a big price upon his services, the alternative being that he be allowed to stay in Denver. Barney Dreyfnss refused to meet these terms Coffey notified his employers that url- less Dreyfuss recognized his request he would accept an offer from the Federal league. Both Indianapolis and Chicago of the Federal league were desirous of his services
 In the meantime, believing that Coffey was Iegiti mate prey of the Buc- cancers. the. Denver owners concIud- ed a bargain with Arthur Devlin, the old-Fdme Giant third basenan. to lead that club. Dev1in is ensconced in 1 Coneys s old job. If Ceffey goes to the Feds now, Denver and not Pittsburgh Twill be forced to shoulder the loss
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
WANT GIANTS TO
 PAY $500 FOR
 DRAFTED CATCHER

The Davenport, Iowa, club of the Three-Eye League will appeal to the National Commission for an account ing of $500 against the New York Gf- ants as the result of the draftir1g of Catcher Bob Marshall The Denver club of the Western League drafted Marshall from Davenport at the price in vogue among the minors. The Denver club then turned Marshall over to the Giants.
 2 The difference in the draft price paid by Denver to Davenport and that which Davenport would have received if he had been drafted by the Giants directly amounts to $500 The Daven- port club has made the demand for the difference, and it is very likely that the matter may be adjusted be- fore. it goes to the commission.
 A similar case happened when Catcher Fran Bruggy was drafted by Rochester from Lawrence, and then turned over to the Boston Braves. The Braves saved s45o by the transac- ton, but the Lawrence club put in it's claim, and at the last meeting of the National League in this city; Presi- dent Ganney Of the Braves turned over the s450 to Lawrence
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
.KAUFF HIT
 HARD ST
 LEFT FLANDERS !'|

, $
 Sweating the Federal Leagues southpa.wa: was quite a picnic last season. according to the latest Fed batting statistics, wisely drawn up by Secretary Lloyd Rickart, which show how Ted baHters fared against all kinds Of p1tching
 Ronsch of the Indianapolis cham pions led in lacing the sol1thpaws, and though he also is a. left handed batter he succeeded in hitting .520 in nine games against left handed pitching. Shaw of Brooklyn, another left hand ed batsrnan, succeeded in hitting A F in nine games against portsiders, while Benny Kauff, league batting leader, and a. third left handed hitter, hit AZ P in tI1trty-five games against left handed pitching. Benny found the Fed soathpaws much easier than the right handlers. as he hit 35 against the right handlers
 Runt Walsh. who Jumped the P1li1- lies and Otey Erandall, who gave up pinch pItching for NTcGrasW to accept Federal gold. are other brave lads with 40 Q averages against the south paws.
 Steve Evans, who finished second to find the southpaws specially succu- lent. Steve hit 262 in his thirty games against southpa.w pitching It is interesting to note that Otto Kna.be, manager Of the Baltimore Terrapins, who hit only 2 28 in the regular Federal League averages whaled the left handlers for an aver age of 375, showing how weak h. was against Federal right handlers.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
476 453 47e. Coffin Nails.
MICHIGAN GOVERNOR MAY ABOLISH BOXING
Ham Fats

Detroit Dec. 2s-Bosdng in Micht- gans which has hourished this winter outside of Detroit, as it never did be- fore, is threatened with extinction. Ac- tion by Governor Ferris threatened, and trouble, if it comes, will be due, as it is so often due, to friends rather than to foes of the game. Too enthu- siasttc accounts Of the mills in the newspapers. and too great 1enfency by managers and referees in the conduct of the bouts. have attracted attention and aroused hostility.
 Should the governor go through, an odd situation would be created. De- tro1t has been the only city in the state o1 any size deprived of the fstic game. If the sport is prohibited. De- troiters alone will be able to enjoy boxing, by reason of their proximity to Windsor.
 There is no thought of interfer ence at the club across the river. because of the careful conduct of it's affairs, which are boxing contests in every sense of the word, and the fact that the newspapers have worked with the management in avoiding anything that would arouse antagonism.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
gqTRBDNs TO TAKE ON
 JfeE, gF.lANIrIETTE'S TEAM AT BA sKETBALL TONIGHT

aketbau fans arc eEpected to be @sz,f.s 5z, f6ree at Colonial hall tonight r55asssn Jae Jeannettess road team will clash with the Blue Ribbon q i've Jean nsfte has been playing the Indoor ranae for a number Of years and is ,ssafd to be as expert at tossing baskets Sss he Is at throwing right hooks at nas opponent in the ring.
 All afRpe other players on Ioe2s team gre whfte and 1t is claimed chat they counprtse some Of the best basketball exponerts in khe vicinity of New York. Manager Iseavy will have Leon ara 1,scloi a,t center for the Ribbons and 4fs other stars will all be on hand, in eluding Capt. .BeeEnnans Reich, Roxey Roach and Swenson- Ianghanna1aer will be reserve man. The preHmfn- ez-y will be between the St. -Aalgustinea and sT TJz S Dancing will be held as usual. The big game starts at 8:30-
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
11s4 MAIN STREET, NEAR RIKER's DRUG STORE

Johnny Kilbane is still hugging the featherweight cha mpionship, but he has commenced to ming1e with the Hghtweights. Johnny has been a real champion, and one of the very few in recent years who have had a clean title.
 The bantam honors were annexed last June at Vernon by Kid Williams. when he knocked out old Johnny Cou1on. There isn't any dispute about the legitimacy of the Danes title, but he is rapidly 5ortgrowing the class and will soon be a, featherw tight
 The European heavywei ght cham pdon. Georges carpentier. is a soldier and even if the reports that he has been Killed or seriously wounded are false, it is unlikely that he will ever be as good a man again. Which leaves America with a clear field, egz- cept for Freddie welsh.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
BOXING NOTES
(BvT s. Andrewg.l }

A determined effort is being made in several cities where big boxing matches are held to. have the law changed whereby decisions wtl be permitted by the referee instead Cf the so-caIIed no-decision bouts as at present. It is alleged that the boolng game would profit thereby; that in- terest would be increased and that boxers would get their just dues. t may be true in a measure and might be the means Of stimulating the box CTS to greater efforts, especially where they are meeting champions or near- champions. These remarks were drawn from recent encounters be- tween Charlie White and Willie RItclie; White and Freddy welsh and pened that in each of these oontests the champion had the worst Of the milling and had a decision been given it would have been against the tttIs holder. That would have been great for the boxer meeting the champion and winning the title in ten rounds which is altogether too short to de- termine a championship contest nothing under twenty rounds should decide a title match. Then again, had these contests gone twenty rounds i'm
 stead of ten there might have been different results, too, for the cham pfons might have come along at their i
 is not fair to a champion to have a title pass away in ten round con test Two clever men could go that distance at top speed and never hurt each other in the least. Twenty rounds are about the correct distance and even twenty-five would be better for championship nnatch However, there are other dangers to the bo5ins
 game in this connection and which the promoters and others should try to avoid. have always been an ad- vocate of decisions in boxing contests Of the proper distance. or even in short bouts. but just now it seenll that the real danger lies in peTHnittllE decisions in these short round afIairs- The secret Of the whole thing is that
 decisions are wanted to enable the
 betting fraternity to gamble on the 1 results of the matches As matters now stand the betters must lay off or leave the decisions to newspaper sporting editors Horse racing has been killed all over the country by betting abuse and that is just what
 will happen to the boxing game if
 decisions are to be permitted in these short round affairs The boxing com
 missions in the states where the game
 is legalized had better consider twice
 before fooling with the blzz-saw; bet l ter leave the law as it is.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
Y YANKS HAVE
 SIGNED ONLY
 TWO PLAYERS

St Louis. Mo. Dec. 2s-That the Yankees have only two players signed for next season was the statement made yesterday by Roy HartzeH. the veteran outfielder of the New orlz club. HartzelI visited Mike Donlin and Marty NHcHale, the Yankee pitch CT, who are doing a turn at a local theatre.
 MeF5ale did not deny that he was considering an offer from the Federal league. but also refused to confirm the story. S.
 .The papers say that McHale and I are looking for jobs. " said Donlin. Nothing Of the sort. Jobs are chasing us. We are waiting to pick the best one. I imagine that McHa1e has talk en a Federal league job. He will not admit it. He is taking his time, but he says that his contract with the Highlanders can be terminated with a ten days notice and would not be surprised if he told me that he had given that notice,s'
 McHale is evidently piqued and in the hunor to leave the Hghlanders. He would not say very much beyond that if he jumped" he would stay ssjumped.7
 NO one can blame a player for leaving his old club to join the new, said McHa4e t.I may do it myself. that very few players want to jump The life of a player is, however. so short, so uncertain, that you cannot blame him for making the best and most Of it while he can. But once he jumps he should not jump back. ] think that the fellows who jump back will not profit by it.,
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
JOE SHUGRUE AND CHARL LEY WHITE TO
 MtNGLE TONIGHT !

What looks to be the best light weight bout Of the year win be staged tonight at Madison Square Garden to- night when Joe Shugrue of Jersey City and Charley White Of Chicago meet in q ten-round bout The men have agreed to weigh in at 133 pounds at {. o'clock this evening. The principals are the two most logical contender for the lightweight title and there is little doubt that the decisive winner if there is one, will be the next man to meet Freddie Welsh over a long route for a decision.
 Whites past record proves that he is a fighter of class and perhaps the hardest puneter since the days of Cans. The Chicago boxer has fought and defeated Wolgast, Ritchfe and Welsh in no-decision contests when they held the lightweight title.
 Shugrue has built up a reputation that stamps him as the best light weight developed in the East in years, and for endurance and aggressiveness is without a peer. His recent victory over Freddie Welsh won Shugrue many admirers, and not a few predict that he will take the measure of White.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
Holy Name Courts Tn Good Condition for
 Opening of the Season

The directors Of the Holy Name bazlzees3all league will convene for the fO1artE time, in St. Charles hall this evening at s:16 5. The schedule and s-lsasvs have already been adopted tfe report Of the various athletic com r15ttees.
 A report Of progress from the com baa1Stee on courts is eagerly awaited. Ht aS expected that they will report Hvorab1y upon the condition of the courts which are located in St ) ohm s han and St. Charles hall
 4,he schedule calls for the opening of the league season on next Monday. 4r, St. J6hnss hall; with the teams con sfestfng as follows: St. Marys vs. Sya.cred Heart; St. Charles vs St. spohnss-
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
AT. KETCHEL AND POSSE WILL BOX
 AT ACORN SMOKER

The fifth monthly smoker given by the Acorn A. c. will be held on New Years afternoon in the clubs gym nasium. Slim" Brennan the renowIi- ed annuoncer has charge Of the matchmaking and has construted the following. card: Young Fox vs. Young Cornell; K. O. Moran vs. Size Singer; ketcheH vs Young Bosse; star bout Teddy Hubbs vs. Dick Gil. All in all there will be five bouts each Of four rounds duration- Jim Rawley, the only man in Bridgeport that trav- elled to Reno, to witness the Jeffries- Johnson fight will be the thrid man In the ring
 The four round canter between Young Bosse and Al KetcheH will be one ee the dsStinct features of the afternoons entertainment Bosse has still there with the vaIIop. Ketchell has kept in training and is in good condition to give the fans run for their f-oney. The star bout will bring together Teddy Hubbs and fighting Dick Gill. Gill is rated as a conner and Hubbs needs no introduction to local fans. The bout scheduled between Fight ing Dick Rowan, the Limerick Lacer, | and Tom Hawthorne, the Cockney champion. will draw a big house
 Slim Brennan will be the an nsuneer and that is saying a whole lot Mike Broderick will entertain with another of his famous mono logues and a host of cabaret singers I will also be on hand. The first bout is scheduled to start promptly at 2:3f p. m. and it is advisable to be on hand early
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
Giants May Buy League
GIANTS MAY PLACE FARM
 IN SYRACUSE

New york, Dec. 29.-In order to save It's hAg couectaon Of promising young players, who will have to be turned loose when the major leagues season begins. 1t is not unlikely that the New York Giants will buy a minor league club before next season, where the young players can be Harmed out It was stated yesterday that one of the clubs In the dnternatn onals League might be purchased for this purpose.
 Several Of the major league clubs have this idea. in mind and that was the reason that Manager Hugg1ns or St. Louis and Manager Herzog of C1n- cinnaM both put in bids for the Ruf- salo club Of the International League gyhe major leag1ers forcaIl that the new rule restricting cir clubs to z men means that they will have to turn several players loose 'vhos are really good enough to be grabbed up by the Class AA clubs which includes fIa International LeaguA the Aner1- can Association and the Pacific Coast leagues.
 The negotiations for the trs:r1sfer of fhe Jersey City club to Syracuse did ffosaaI League club owners expected vF hen the matter first came up a few ~ueesxs ago. and since that tiI1e the New York c1sEb has become iaterestcd in the proposition.
 IT the Giants acquire the Syracuse r571b # IS very likely that Manager a1cGraw will see that George VViltse, [r4,<, has been internationally re- leased, will get the job as manager. rvvdtla aza InternationaI League club to farm his players. Manager " could hold all his youngsters rom rom -,,s 4a season and prevent them eorn4 sod1az back to the clubs from which they were drafted.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
REISIGL, OLD NEW HAVEN STAR
 TO GET TRIAL WITH DETROIT
Yale Football Schedule Completed
 With Exception of One Date

Mike Gibbons will find himself in court if he attempts to box Jimmy IClabby in Milwaukee, January 21. He had previously agreed to box Eddie McGoorty in Hudson, Wis, and Mo Goorty didn't like being turned aside. Nobody falls for that injunction talk. John the Barber was going to get one against Joe Shugrue when he boxed here but it ended in conversation.
 There is ruTnor that Billy Hogan may not stage the boxing show here on January IS as he planned. He has been figuring expenses and is doubt full whether 1t would be paying ven- ture. He declares if the high class bouts at. the armory were not prof1ta- ble he doesn't see how he can make anything. He or any other promoter can make something if they make the fighters work on percentage, as they do in other cities. Bnts they can't ex- pect to give a fighter a $1, GOO guarantee and then show a profit
 The appoinfment Of Doninfck A1uI- laney as an American league umpire has been confirmed by an announce 1nent from league headquarters. Null | fancy was in the Eastern association l two years ago. He displayed great skill as an umpire but got in wrong after his fight with Bobby Stow and Jack spratt at Savin Rock
 Yale.s football schedule, with the exception of the October 30 date. has been arran ged. Colgate and Notre Dame will be dropped because the Yale officials don't want such hard oppon- ents in the preliminary season The schedule follows:
 $ September 25. Maine; October ?, vir- Iginia; October 3, Lehigh; October Is Springfield College Y. M. C. A; Octo- Iber 23, Washington and Jefersons Oc- ltober 3o unsettled November 6. Brown
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
By Wagner.)

Bugs Reisigl, who was a star pitcher with the New Haven club for several years, is to be given a. trial with the Detroit Tigers again next season. This is the second time Reisigl has been in the big show. He was taken south by Detroit two years ago but was sub sequently farmed to Providence. Later he was sent to the Southern league and then to Topeka, Kan. He did so we'll in the Western league that De- troit decided to try him once more. Reisig1 was drafted from New Haven by Providence. He has fine curve ball but on account of his cratic tenn perament has shown a, tendency D blow up in critical situations
 Louis Litschi, shortstop on the Bridgeport club in 1911, has been sold by Venice of the Coast league to Oak land, Cal. Litschi hit -279 last sea- son but for some reason was not very popular with Venice fans.
 Art Guest, who played shortstop on Springfeld's 1911 champions, is visit i-- friends in the Massachusetts city. He has been playing with Oakland on the Coast league for several years bu! would like to get a job in the east. If Gene McCann hears of that he will snare Guest for New London.
 
 Here's $6,ooo that. wants a good home and nobody will take it. The money was paid by the FederaIs to Walter Johnson when he jumped to the out laws but after he jumped back to Washington he tried to return the bankroll The F'ederals refused te take 1t and sent it back to Walter who declined to receive it. So a 1o1 of cigarette money is riding back and forth in the mall cars.