The Washington times., 1914-01-18
BIG LEAGUERS ARE
NOT TAKING BAIT
Players With Future Are Hast
ening to Hook Up With
Old Clubs.
fEDERALS GETTING VETS
Ban Johnson Promises to Aid
Hedges in Gathering
Winning Team.
FEDERALS GETTING VETS
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

Big league players do not seem to
be falling for the tempting offers
from the Federal League, but are
fastening to get into the fold of or
ganized baseball as fast as they can.
With the training season but a month
away, the outlaws have signed but
four young players, performers with
futures. They are getting veterans
who have either fallen back to the
tall grass or have quit the pastime
altogether Joe Tinker has signed
Gene Packard, the Reds southpaw;
King" Cole, drafted by the Yankees;
Red KiIlifer, the Pills stellar
-backstop, and Ad Brennan, Dooin's
promising young southpaw. This
quartet completes the list of young
players now in the ranks of the
F'ederals.
Ted Easterly, reported to have jumped
the White Sox for Stovalls Kansas City
team, has been on the ragged edge for
several years in the big show, and it
was expected that he would slide back
into the bushes this season.
Mike Mowrey has been in the big
leagues for ten years, and has outlived
his usefulness. Bill McKechnie, Al
Scheer, Hap Myers, Jack Onslow, all
said to have jumped, are big league GALL
ures.
George MuIlin is ''all in So is Harry
Gessler. Otto Knabe and Joe Tinker are
fast reaching the end Of their active
playing days. Stovall is in the same
boat No young, promising players are
taking the plunge. 1t is more than prob
able that both big leagues will get un-
Ger way in the spring with quite the
same line-ups they had in 1913.
Fan Johnson has visited st. Louis,
where he informed the waiting scribes
that he intended aiding Colonel Hedges
as far as lay in his power to strength
en- the poor old Brownies.
81 came here solely for the purpose OF
aiding Mr.. Hedges and Mr.. Hickey In
getting together a pennant-Finning
team said Ban johnson. II believe
that, with little help, Mr.. Hedges ana
Mr.. Hickey will be able to get up IN
the pennant race. 1 am going to make 1t
possible for them 10 get the necessary
help. st. Louis is a great baseball town.
I realize that fact, and for that reason
I am going to do everything can 10
give the fans a first-Clas club"
Ban forgot to mention where he was
going to get the players with speed in
their heels and brains in their heads 10
strengthen the Brownies. Ban haon
been in the Mound City since 1911. His
unexpected arrival has set the hearts of
the fans fiuttering. Already they nave
visions Of pennant.
I'VE are going to supply major league
baseball at 25 80, and 70 cents" is the
proud announcement Of Ed Steininser'
head of the ST. Louis Federal League
team. With favorable weather l shaH
have our stands built in thirty days
from the time We break ground This
is not a miracle. Indeed. 1t has been
done many a time when necessary. Our
park will seat 1900. and there will be
room for 1000 more around the field.
Jimmy Collins. who led the champion
2oston American League team 10
worlds title over the Pittsburgh Pirates
in 1903, is to coach the Boston College
BASEBALL candidates this spring. In his
day Collins was the best third base
man in the business. He has now
grown portly through living on his in
come and is going saL% TO "a act TSo,9S aS G9Sea
native of Buffalo. y. Y. Collins now
makes his home in Boston.
y look for the Federals. TO make their
best showing in Chicago" says Johnny
Tyers. the Cubs manager Charlie Weegh-
man is no bluff know him Hes got
sEswer for the others. II the outlaws
tumble, / look for Weeghman 10 go down
lighting. He's willing to take a chance ali
tie time"
Paul Mufser writes from his winter retreat
With the Climbers this time. Musser was
drafted from the Canton Club in the old
O. ana League in 1871. reporting to Mana
Ee- Griffith the FIRST year the team went to
Charlottesville. He was green then and
failed 10 stick. He was sent TO Los Angeles.
A,-1 tgTnl
larta Last year he was with Atlanta IN
til his wildness brought his release Man
agcr Griffith then turned him over TO Frank
IsbeTs Des Moines Western League club
and the young twirler settled down TO busi-
ness from the jump.
dricks who led the championship Denver
team. He pitched some great ball for Is
bell and We. had to fight every time we
Of covering up his delivery and his curve
ball is one Of the best I've ever seen in a
with GTin's team now"
II was because sf such laudation from Is-
driclcs that Manager Griffith decided TO give
NUsser another trial. The Millheim lad has
the best wishes Of al who know him FOR he
iE white all the way through.
That's Dutch inheld with the Reds next
year with NeihoT. Herzog, Groh and Hob
litzcil pulling of the stops and heayes.
'Trs funny" says Mique Martin. ths
ever I've been, the club has always had the
leagues leading base runner. In New York
we first had Dayy F'ultz. now head Of the
PLAYERS Fraternity After he quit. 'Wid'
Conroy sprang TO the front base run
ner In Cincinnati had Bob Bescher out ,
~ front all the time. Now in Washington
have 'Zeb' Milan leading the league
Manager Griffith is going TO have his
troubles preventing Eddie Ainsmth from
cvervorking this spring. The young back
stop is wintering in the Capital and intends
ioinfng the first bunch Of players working
out al the Y NJ c. A. The Old Fox may
prevent that. II is now expected that Aim |
smith will catch johnson, Shaw and Dos
sibIy Boehling this season, thus allowing him
70 split up the work behind the bat with
John Henry. johnson and Shaw use ter
rife Fpeed which never seems TO worry /
IInsnIith in the least. As Grin SAYS. He |
eats II up" Ainsmith. thanks TO the care |
he mas taken OF himself since his Illness is |
almost at weight now and will not need much /
work before being able 70 jump right in and ]
show championship class.