davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
TERNATlONAL IS
BEHIND RIVALS IN
SECURING PLAYERS

New York. Feb. 24-Unless the In
ternational league club owners go
out and hustle for some ball players
of real ability the American associa-
ton is likely to put it all over the
Barrow league in their inter-league
series next fall. Every day the asso-
citation clubs are adding valuable ma
jor league discards-men of the type
of Mullen and Boone-to their clubs
Such players are just a shade shy Of
big league timber, while the Interna-
tional is not making a. move to Sc
cure any such players.
Sometimes it is necessary to spend
money to make money. In view of
the fact that the second half of this
series will be played it especially be-
tional league cities it especially be-
hooves the International clubs to
strengthen. Should the international:
clubs be badly trimmed when they in
wade the Association country the
series will be a bloomer in the East.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
KuNZ WINNER IN
BOUT WITH PITTS

4
South Norwalk, Feb. 24-Battling
Kunz. lightweight champion of the
state, successfully defended his title
here last night by outpointing Charley
Pitts Of Bridgeport in a fast IL round
bout. Both boys Waged desperate
battle from the opening round and
were fighting furiously when the bell
changed in the twelfth session.
KunZ showed to better advantage
than at any time since winning the
championship and had Pitts in a bad
way in several of the rounds In
the eighth round Kunz landed a hard
right flush on Pitts jaw and the lat
ter went through the ropes into the
laps Of spectators. The Bridgeport
er jumped back into the ring again
and fought gamely, standing up well
against the champions fiery attack
1t was announced by Kunz adher-
ents that he has passed up an offer
to box Johnny Drummie in New Ha-
ven next month. Kunz, it was stat
ed, has not recovered from the al
legged unfair treatment he received by
the fans there several weeks ago and
has reiterated his original announce
ment to never box in that city again.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
.YANKS DEPART. !. !:
..... tr71
FOR MACON TO: :
START TRAINING

New York, Feb. 24-Accompanied
by Capt. T. L. Huston, half owner Of
the New York Americans, Business
Manager Harry Sparrow, Manager Bill
Donovan, and Scouts Kelly and Far
rel, the advance guard Of the Yam
KEGS left today for their training camp
in Macon, Ga.
With Donovan were Slim Caldwell,
the bad boy of the team; Alex Fer
guson, the young semi-pro pitcher.
from the wilds of Bloomfield, N. j.;
George Mogridge, the left handler;
Jimmy Duggan, the trainer, and
number of baseball writer's '''''
Leslie Nunamaker was also sched-
uled to leave this Afternoon. Nunie,
however, had his tonsils cut and his
doctor advised him to postpone the
trip for few days. Therefore Nuna-'
maker will report to Donovan with
the second squad, which reaches
Macon on March 1. r
Bill Donovan Sr. will join the party
at Philadelphia and Fritz Maisel All
len Russell and Joe Kelly at Baltimore.
At Washington, Bob McGraw, another
young twirler, will greet the leader
OF the Yankees. The other young
players and pitchers will go direct,
from their homes to Macon. Practice
will be begun on Monday. -: ~se-
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
JOHNNY HAYES IS
LIKELY TO MAKE
M'AULIFFE HUSTLE

There has been confusion about the
date of the Bridgeport Sporting club
boxing show at the Park theatre. The
management originally announced that
the affair. would be held Tuesday but
it was found another attraction had
been booked at the theatre for that
night SO it was necessary to postpone
the boxing show until Wednesday. The
fistic carnival will positively be held
Wednesday night.
The boxers are training already
and will be all the better for their
extra day Of work. Hugh Ross has
shown no desire to let up in his
training for his nixup with Tex Kelly.
The latter has a decision over Augie
Rather and WILL make Ross go at a
lively pace when they get into the
ring. Ross and Kelly are scheduled to
go ten rounds unless Kelly can put
over one of his haymakers.
frankie Conifrey has settled his Diff
ferences with. the club and nothing
bars his match with Battling Kunz.
Conifrey at first agreed to box for 800
but later said he wanted 5000. The
club couldn't afford any such figure
and Conifrey was told some other OPP
ponent would be selected unless he
modified his demands. So a compro-
mise was reached. The Conifrey-
Kunz bout is booked for ten rounds.
The battle between Young McAuliffe
and Johnny Hayes of New York ought
to be good. Hayes is said to be
hard working battler and may give
McAuliffe tussle for ten rounds.
Johnny Bennett and Johnny Sharpe
will meet in the six round preliminary.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
JOE BONDS BEATS
up SAILOR CARROLL

New York Feb. 24-Joe Bonds the
latest heavyweight to hop into this
town made his debut last night at the
Harlem Sporting club, and the affair
was a success. Bonds met Sailor
Carroll in the star event and stopped
the Sailor in the sixth round. Bonds
gave Carroll such a terrible lacing
all the way that the referee ordered
Carroll to his corner.
There was no doubt that Bonds
would have surely stopped Carroll be-
fore the end of this round. In prac-
tically every round Carroll was on
the verge of lolling into slumber, but
he knew enough to hang on. This
manoeuvre enabled him to last as
long as he did.
Bonds showed the crowd he pos
sessed a corking right hook, which
seldom missed reaching the Sailor In
addition he owned a fairly good left
1t looks as if Bonds might make it
interesting for some of the local
heavy boys now in the game.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
BROWNE TRYING
TO USE DILLON
And NOT MCCOY

New York, Feb 24-Evidently
Grant Hugh Browne has made up his
mind not to pit AL. Mccoy against
Lee Darcy in Madison Square Gar
den on the night of March 5 In the
press matter sent out last night, Nc
Coy's name does not appear as OAR
sy's opponent. Jack Dillon is named
as the man who is to meet the won
der boy of Maitland, despite the fact
that Mccoy holds a contract with
Browne assuring him Of the bout and
$4,000 balm for the mental and
physical strain resulting from such a
set-to. b
In the notice sent out McCoy's
name appears but once, then only in
telling of the strenuous doings of Dill
lon prior to the Darcy bout. This
is how the notice reads:
''Dillon arrives in this city on Mon
day and will engage in two bouts in
short order. His first will be with
AL Mccoy, at the Broadway Sporting
club in Brooklyn, and the second will
be the all-important one with Darcy,
at the Garden. Boxing fans are un-
certain as to the outcome, but they
will admit that if Darcy beats Dillon
decisive1y he will have proved his
right to fight the very best American
middleweight for the undisputed
championship Of the world.
And whom can they mean by ''the
very best American middleweight 2"
Surely not poor,Y much abused Albur-
tus Mccoy. Mike Gibbons must be
the one in mind. BY this it would
seem that Mccoy is going to get .;the
chuck and going to get it good
Trouble is bound to follow, trouble
that Mccoy has had no hand in. He
is entitled to his rights as champion,
and surely he is entitled to hold
Browne to his contract.
The Boxing Commissioners can do
naught but force Browne to live up
to his contract with Mccoy. That
is just simple justice. One thing is
certain If Browne insirts on forc-
ing Dillon into the breach, Mccoy is
going to fight his level best to show
Dillon up at the Broadway Sporting
club next Tuesday night. For once
Mccoy is going to show his true fight
ing ability. It has been dead thing
since he knocked Chip out with
single punch on the jaw.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
NEW YORK BARS
ALL BOXING AFTER
NEXT DECEMBER 81

Albany. N. Y, Feb. 4.-Professlon0Cl
boxing in New York state will be as
dead aus the proverbial doornan after
December 81. Gov. Whitman mas re-
Tented somewhat from his decision to
stop the sport Immediately but 1t has
been agreed that the repeal OF the
Frawley law will take effect January
1, 1918.
It has been pointed out to him that
many engagements have been made In
good faith for bouts during the sum-
mer and fall under the present law
and that it would be a hardship TO
many interests if all were cancelled.
Accordingly he has agreed to a COM
promise under which he will accept an
amendment to the Slater bill which
will defer until December 81 the ef-
fectiveness of the proposed repeal.
Not only will the boxing commission
and all the clubs that have operated
under the Frawley law be wiped out
Of existence under the amended Slater
bill, but, under legislation to be enact
ed, the only form of glove contest per-
mitteal will be between amateurs and
devoid of commeTuialisn.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
Tommy Ryan Beat +
Tracey in Great Bout

Syracuse fight fans saw their popu-
lar idol, Tommy Ryan, give the Aus
tralian welterweight, Tom Tracey, a
thorough trimming just 20 years ago
today. Tracey had a great reputation
among the welters, and he was ex-
pected to give Ryan a tough argu-
ment. Ryan did have to extend him
self in the early rounds, but in the
ninth chapter he delivered a punch
that ended the battle.
Tracey came to America early in
1893, and the following year he
fought Joe Walcott in Boston. For
IS rounds he held his own with the
Barbados Demon, but in the six
teenth Joe knocked him out Tracey
then fought a six-round bout with
Tommy Ryan in Chicago, the latter
getting the decision. The Australian
then made successful trip to Eng
land, and on his return met George
Green, the original young Corbet,"
in San Francisco, losing the decision.
After being whipped by Ryan a
second time he again tackled Joe
Walcott, and held him to a draw.
Tracey's last big fight was with Kid
Lavfgne, the lightweight champion, in
1898. They met in San Francisco,
and Tracey managed to stay the full
20 rounds with the Saginaw Kid, but
he loeyt the decision.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
We're Gets Release
Although He Batted
800 For Worcester

New Haven, Feb. 24-Batting about
$3.50 for the 81 games he played with
Worcester last season, We're is one
Of the unattached ball players who is
not likely to be overlooked merely
because he was not placed under re-
serve by the Worcester club.
Coupled with the .216 batting aver
age given Potteiger and which has
been allowed to reach official publi-
cation in the yearly. baseball record
books, the failure to reserve We're
is one of the moves in connection
with Worcester baseball which is
rather d:ffi"ult for the ordinary fan
to understand.
We're played with Jim Dele
hanty's champion Hartford team in
1915 and he led the first basemen Of
the league with a fielding average Of
$3.50. Last season We're played with
the Lancaster team Of the Penn State
league and batted .316 with that
team for 81 games.
1t was the breaking UP Of the Penn
State league which landed We're in
Bridgeport with team which was
very weak and uncertain from day to
day. 1T was from Bridgeport that
Worcester secured him.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
HANS WAGNER Is
43 TO-DAY AND ne
CAN GO SOME YET

AS there is only one Teddy, SO there
is onlySone Honus. And this is the
day when the Pirate fans celebrate
the birthday of their idol, for John
Henry Wagner was born on Feb. "a,
1874, and has thus attained to the
venerable age of forty-three.
The Flying Dutchman doesn't re-
member when he commenced to play
ball. He simply can't remember a
time when he didn't. The first regu-
lar team he played with was the A B
G club of his native town of Carne-
gle, Pa. He also played with the
local club Of the Allegheny County
League, and with the ST. Lukes. In
those distant days he doubled as
twirler and backstop.
When Honus was still a kid, his
brother AL, who had made quite a
reputation on the back lots, was
offered a job by Canton, o. A little
later he received proposition from
Mansfield, O., in the same league. AL
took the Canton job, and sent Hans
to Mansfield. Honus tried to pass
himself off as AL, but the deception
was discovered. The club was badly
!,
and Hans was given a trial.
In 1895 Honus was engaged as
shortstop by the Warren club of the
Iron and Oil League, and finished the
season with Steubenville. Wagner
was then pitcher, and had terrific
speed, but no control worth mention
ing. Besides playing with Warren
and Steubenville in 1895, Wagner
also spent a brief period with Adrian,
Mich, as an infielder and captain.
In 1896 Wagner was scheduled to
play with Wheeling, but the circuit
went on the rocks, and the players
were sold to the Pittsburgh club
Capt Kerr, the owner Of the Pirates,
wanted to send Hans to Kal5as City,
but Wagner refused to go so far away
from home, and he was given to the
Paterson club Of the Atlantic League
It>was in Paterson that Wagner got
his real start. In 1896 he played
first base and batted .348 and in '97
he was sent to- third, and hit the pill
harder than ever. Ed Barrow, then
the Paterson pilot, began to receive
many offers from big league managers
for his hard-hitting Dutchman. Pitts
burgh made several offers for the
man who had been turned over to
Paterson as gift, but Louisville was
the successful bidder, and Wagner
broke into the National League with
the Colonels.
Wagner was shifted from first to
third base and to the outfield during
his stay of three years in the Ken
lucky metropolis. In 1900 the Louis
vile National League outfit was trans
ferred to Pittsburgh, and Hans has
been a Pirate ever since. In his
nearly twenty years in the big show,
Wagner has made 1913 visits to the
plate, and has made 1858 base hits.
He has batted 800 or better every
year until 1914, when he slumped to
.252 In 1915 he fattened this to
PA, and last season he did even bet
ter, with an average of .2S7.
Wagner has kept young by leading
an active outdoor life the year round
When he isn't playing baseball he is
hunting or fishing or playing basket
ball. In Wagner's opinion, cities are
made to play ball in, and that lets 'em
out. Keeping chickens is his only
luxury. Wagner is now a newlywed,
having taken bride about two
months ago.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
HOPES
ITO have GREAT
/ YEAR WITH BAT

Eew York, Feb. 24-Manager John
] .McGraw did not go with the first
paFty Of Giants yesterday as he had
Ell Sected. He will wait about week
a18 go with the next group. Davy
RI bertson has not signed his contract
y& and is the only member of the
clEb who is outside the fold. How
eI&r, the club received a communica-
til from Davy yesterday, and Secre-
taiE Foster said that he would proba-
BIZ sign before the next party goes
Sd It'll next week. Manager McGraw
isl Anxious to have Robertson in line
bd ore he leaves.
new feature Of the training camp
til year will be shed which
al bundkeeper Henry Fabian has
bJ bit for the pitchers. On stormy
ar windy days the twiTlers can
wslrm up under the shed. In the
spying pitchers arms are just as sem
siAve as opera singers voices and
haze to be kept out of drafts.
More than anything else, Manager
MSGraw is pleased with the impa-
tiSnce of many of the regulars to get
TOT the training camp as soon as pos
siRle. Usually the players are not
to get started, but this
year the veterans can hardly wait
until it is time to start. The regulars
In yesterdays party were Benny
Kauff, Ferdie Schupp, RUDE Benton,
and Lew McCarty. Jeff Tesreau will
join the group at st. Louis.
Kauff said before going II am
anxious to get to work as soon as
possible this year. Last season, you
I was late in reporting,
and was not in< good form until late
In the season. I think 1 will bat
much better this year than l did last.
There is no reason why I should not
hit over 300"
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
WILLARD WANTS
$4,000 TO MEET
FULTON IN ARENA

New York, Feb. 24-Tex Richard,
who is confident that he eventually
will stage the Willard Fulton bout,
has, received Wizards terms for the
match. The big champion, it ap-
his worth. He demands a purse of
$4,000 and 81 per cent. of the NOV
ing pictures or $4,000 cash. He stip-
ulates that $4,000 must be paid
when the articles are signed and that
all moneys shall be paid over As
hours before thee ontest.
These tsrms come direct from Will
lard himself The big fellow really
is his own matchmaker, merely leav-
ing the details to be arranged by his
retinue Of managers. However, his
demands probably will suffer consid-
cradle revising downward before any
thing definite will be done.
Just at present the future Of the
sport is uncertain for Richard or any
other promoter to bind himself to
such an agreement. If articles are
signed it is likely that Willard will
have to be content with $4,000
purse. Richard, who never has been
wrong as to the value of a fistic at
traction, has set his limit at the $780,
900 mark and he is determined not
to be moved.
Willard evidently figures that if his
match with Frank Moran drew $751;
900 the Fulton match would draw
much more. But Richard thinks that
while Fulton looks~like a better op-
ponent for the champion than the
clumsy Moran, there no longer will
be the same amount of curiosity to
see Willard in action as there was
in his first fight since winning the
title from Jack Johnson. Because
of this fact the value OF the match
will be about the same as the Moran
affair.
The threat to stage the match in
Milwaukee does not worry Richard
in the least, as he is familiar with
conditions in that section Of the coun-
try and is sure that Milwaukee could
not support the bout. He says he is
sure that when Willard makes up his
mind to fight, the champion will
listen to reason and that he (Rick-
ard) will be the man who stages the
big attraction.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
Hitting The High Spots

stick to the circus business a long
time if he waits for Tex Richard to
give him $4,000 and a few other
odds and ends to meet Fred Fulton.
If Governor Whitman hears about
that he'll feel like abolishing all
bouts on "a hours notice.
Our foreign office has heard unoffi-
cial reports of a bowling challenge
hurled at us by Poison Pen Jackson
of The Standard. Unless he is guilty
of some overt act we see no reason to
depart from our time honored policy
of armed neutrality.
Andy Smith, the former Pennsylva-
MIA football star, has been retained
as coach by the University of Cali
fornia for next season. His assist
ant, Gus Ziegler, will also go back.
Eddie Mahan. who was an assistant
last year, will not return. The former
Harvard star had been taught in
different school of football and his
ideas clashed with Smiths.
The boxing commission appears to
have a lot of authority in New York
city. Orders are given to have Les
Darcy meet AL Mccoy on March
and then Promoter Browne comes out
with the declaration that Darcy's OPP
ponent will be Jack Dillon. Bring in
the lawyers and let them spar cou-
pie of rounds.
The plan to have military drill for
big league players is advancing mer-
rily. Major Dorey Of Major Gen.
Woods staff, has taken up the mat
ter with the war department. There
may be some difficulty in getting Off
GERS to drill the men but Major Dorey
thinks the department will allow fur
loughs of few weeks to sergeants
so they can visit the camps in the
South and put the players through
their PAGES. The clubs will agree to
pay all expenses Of these sergeants.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
Crane Has. Not Yet
Deposed Mcbride as
Senators Shortstop

All around the American league
circuit writers are conjecturing the
possible fate Of George Mcbride,
writes Bob Thayer in the, Washington
Times.
MANY believe that the Griffmen's
captain will not remain with the club
more than half the season, believing
that Sam Crane will supplant hin..
We may be wrong, but we think
something like this: If Crane and
Mcbride hit at the same rate, give us
Mac out there in that shortfeld
rather than an energetic youngster
likely to blow UP in the pinch
ST Crane outfits Mac, let him take
the job for we need hitters. With
Crane plunking the bail between ESQ
and 200 and fielding well, McBride's
influence on the bench would. be val
liable to a ball club in the pennant
hunt But please, you American
league writer's. don't tie the can on
George before his successor has made
good,,'
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
Stamford Man to
Address Y. M. G. A.
Mems Gathering

Howard Agnew Johnston of SIAM
ford will speak at the Y. M. G. A.
mems meeting tomorrow afternoon
In the association lobby at $3.50
O'Clock Mr.. Johnstons subject will
be, bad Government in Free Coun-
try with Manhood Suffrage; Who is
Responsible" Mr.. Johnston has
been sent around the world twice as
an investigator and is one Of the best
posted men on world conditions in
the East.
Mrs J. T. Rourke, one of Bridge
ports popular, soloists, has kindly con-
sented to assist with her beautiful
voice. Mr.. Harold Weed will be at
the piano.
After the address Is minutes will
be given to discussion Of the subject
presented by Mr.. Johnston. All men
present will be invited to take part in
this part Of the meeting.
All men, regardless of their rela-
tionships to the Y. M. G. A. are cor
daily invited to attend this meeting.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-24
OUGHT TO
MAKE, GOOD MAN
FOR DETROIT CLUB

New York, Feb. 24-Onlys three .
Detroit players still remain unsigned. 7
One, George Burns, has promised to
sign as soon as a contract is returned
to him. Harry Coveleski is expected
to fall in line within the next few days.
Oscar Witt is the only hard and fast
holdout now on the list. Hughie Jen-
nings, who was considerably worried ).
a few weeks ago, is resting more
easily now. He is preparing to get
along without Witt, as chances of getf
ting together with the third sacker
look slim.
incidentally Howard Ehmke, the
upstate youngster who joined the
club late last season, has stepped inton
line. Jennings. is expecting quite a.
lot from this lanky youngster = Re-
garded for time as holdout, sEhmke
discovered a few days ago that he had
only a slight grievance and came to-
terms with Jennings. ~ee ~ 80
Ehmke has had rather spotted
career since taking up professional
baseball few seasons ago. In 1914
he, broke into the Coast League fresh
from high school and proceeded to +.
set dizzy pace with the Far Western
ers. Clark Griffith promptly got busy
lowing season. But when Griff came
to talk terms Ehrnke was on a high 4
perch and couldn't see the Old Fox's. :
offer with a Lick telescope. Instead >
he hoped to the Feds. at
! He failed to shine brilliantly with'5
the outlaws. Last season he begantt
with Syracuse, and again he looked SOD
good that he was drawn up, goingfe
with the Tigers His brief experienced
indicated to- Jennings that he mighty
make a real pitcher. Hughey hasV
high hopes for him this year 80 g
Ehmke is one ball player who con-sf
stantly employs the services of bars
rister. Said 4barrister, is none other 70
than an older brother. This brother
apparently understands the practice
Of his profession in court of the land"
better than he does dealing with base
ball managers and club owners He
is popularity supposed to have been re-
sponsib1e for Ehmke's jump to the
Feds. This of course soured Clark
Griffith on the youngster. Ehmke
might find the going better if he de-
cided to paddle his own legal canoe 4.