//-V^-Tr ^-*^<»< < -TV*.-.'—— —8t-4-?€-* _,' - ,{ ~O3-^> '^——(>-l^r<^7\ ^r= ~—— ~*-~~j*\ .. ^f^^^^„__ -"-^f4^**^ DEVOTED TO SE BALL, TRAP SHOOTING AND GENERAL SPORTS VOLUME 32, NO. 16. MILADELPHIA, JANUARY 7, 1899. A. C. ANSON©S HINT FOR, TIE CIRCUIT OF THE EAST ERN LEAGUE. It Will b3 lore Compact Than Ever A Base Ball War Would he Almost if the Able Executive, P. T. Powers, Sure to Result From a Paring Down Can Gather up His Threads and oi the Big League Circuit Without Get Everything Into Line, Providing For a New Association. As "Sporting Life" goes to press the Chldago, Jan. 3. Editor "Sporting Life:" Eastern League Circuit Committee, com Although no word has come from him posed of Messrs. Powers, Sheaii, Kuntzsch for some time, Captain Anson follows the rind O©Neiil, are deliberating, their meet present situation and its complications ing having been set for Jan. 5 at the fully as closely as any of the magnate^. Konmore Hotel, in Albany. The circuit His manner indicates that he would seizu President Powers is believed to be work any favorable opportunity to step into ing upon and for, includes Providence, the national game again. Rumor has con Worcester, Springfield and Hartford In nected his name with the purchase of the one section and Newark, Albany, Syracuse St. Louis Club if the franchise is sold by; and Rochester in the other section with order of Court. Troy and Utica as alternates. This would WILL BE IN IT. abandon Toronto to the Western League Asked yesterday if there was any truth and exclude Montreal. This would be the in the report, he said: "Well, stranger things have happened. MOST COMPACT CIRCUIT I don©t think St. Louis is a baa town, and the Eastern League has ever had and I would not mind owning a club in any would be composed of cities of about good city. But. who told you they were rid equal capacity as to patronage. The ox Vou Der AheV They have been trying acquisition of such a circuit, however, is to oust him for a good many years, but not so easy as the mapping out,©*-as Wor you see he still hangs on. And if he in cester has been assigned to the New Eng downed, you mark nay words, he might land League by the National Board, and not stay downed." Newark and Hartford must remain in the A HI N©T OP WATl. Atlantic League by order of the Board. "Do you mean, Captain, Ue would form Unless these three cities receive permis another club©.©" sion from their respective leagues to with "Certainly." draw there is no way the Eastern League "That would mean another base ball can secure them without withdrawing war." from the National Agreement. Of course "Well, in several of the cities there are an amicable arrangement is possible and capitalists wUliiig to take a chance on, Worcester may be secured in that way, another conflict, and such things are good but iu view of the for the players, too." IMPORTANCE© OF NEWARK ANOTHER LEAGUE, SURE. to the Atlantic League as a pair with FERDINAND A. ABELL, Perhaps Captain Anson would be perfect Patcrson, it is difficult to: imagine what The Brooklyn Magnate Who Planned and Won the Anti- ly willing to be identified with some clut inducement could be offered that league in a rival league. He thinks the ultlrns to permit Newark©s withdrawal. Of course Brush Battle. forcing out of the four weak cities in, the Newark Club©s suit for the dissolu Above is a fair likeness of Mr. Ferdinand A. Abell, the controlling stockholder in tht present circuit will develop compile^ tion of the Atlantic League will cut a. Brooklyn Club of the National League. Mr. Abell, who has been connected with the Brooklyn which may result in the forming of uif big figure in the round-up should the Club almost since its inception, is over CO years of age, and is a resident of Manhattan. body. Newark Club win it. But that is improba He is reputed to be a millionaire, being a large property owner iu New York. Ho be NOT A FAILURE. ble. From this angle it looks as if the came associated with the late Cuarles II. Byrue and Mr. Doyle in the ownership of the Mr. Anson made light of the reporf Brooklyn Club soon after it joined the American Association, and was the largest holder St. Louis that, he was "a monumental only available Eastern League circuit of stock. He has made a reputation for being the greatest purchaser of players connected ure," and that he would be rejected* would be Rochester, Syracuse, Montreal with the national game. It was he who engineered the purchase of the Cleveland team tried to meddle in base ball affairs o and Toronto in one section and Providence, years ago, just as he has been the promoter of the present deal, both of which were in their Browns. The ex-manager said that he Springfield, Hartford and Worcester in way the sensational events of base ball history. Mr. Abell also advanced most of the written Becker during the early day! the other. That would leave money whereby Carrntbers, Bushong and the late Dave Foutz were transferred from St. the base ball muddle in the Mound ONLY ONE DOUBTFUL Louis, a transaction which also created a sensation. Mr. Abell is still the principal owner making him an offer and giving him of the club, although he has delegated the financial management to President Ebbets. He terms under which he would take hold* town Worcester to the acquisition of is a man of the old school, pleasant with and courteous alike to all, whether the other man which the Eastern League could devote be a League director or the porter in a hotel. In consequence he is exceedingly popular the St. Louis Club. © all of its energies. The matter will be with all classes of people, and especially with the journalists. With all his geniality, THE ST. LOUIS SITUATION. well settled ere another issue of "Sporting however, Mr. Abell is a man of strong character, iron will, infinite resource and great "I wrote Mr. Becker," said Anson, "when©© Life" greets its readers, as the next meet force, tampered by a rarely subtle spirit. He is always positive in love or hate to friends the negotiations for the St. Louis fran ing of "the Eastern League is set for Jan. loyal to the extreme; to enemies, bitter and unrelenting. He is a master of diplomacy, chise were first begun by different parties. 10 in New York City. rarely fails to achieve his object, and possesses the rare faculty of wielding power and shaping I laid before Mr. Becker at the time the affairs without the ostentatious egotism which so often mars otherwise able politicians. He terms under which I would take hold of it was who so skilfully framed and consummated at the recent League meeting the revo the club, but I am not certain now that I TORREYSON©S TEAM. lution which overthrew the hitherto invincible Brush faction one of the greatest and most would like to manage the team under any skilfully executed coups in the history of base ball, Mr. Abell thus once more demon circumstances. I read in the papers tuo strating that he s a force in base ball always to be reckoned with. story of my alleged failures, as seen "What is Being Done to Strengthen through the eyes of a St. Louis critic, but Grand Rapids. I am at a loss to understand the animus Grand Rapids, Mich., Jan. 3. Editor "Sport- NOT WAGNER©S IDEA. KljOPF©S CASE. of the attack. I am sure, though, that lug Lite:" Manager Torreyson, of the Gr.ind there is something behind it all. Rapids Base Ball Club, while putting in lus Catcher Donohue First Proposed the The National Board Not Yet Ready A JOURNALISTIC ENEMY. time this winter at Mahoney©s bowling alley, is "The writer must have had some person keeping in touch with base ball matters and New Catcher Plan. For Judgment. al reasons for writing what he did. I haya looking out for players for next season. One Donohue, catcher of the Chicago?, was the Milwaukee, Wis., Jan. 2. Gus Klopf, the never blamed the newspapers for any fail player that he has been after for some time ia first person to suggest the plan for the League short stop, who is having his case heard before ure which I may have sustained during A. W. Kennedy, and he has landed him. Ken to psss a rule compelling the catchers to play the National Board of Arbitration, received my career, and, as a matter of fact, news nedy lives near Pittsburg, and has quite a rep- close up behind the bat all the time. Rushing another letter from one of the officials regarding paper men have always been among my ntationVs a sprinter. He is a big fellow, about into the office of James A. Hart, president his claim. President Barrows, of the Atlantic 0 feet in\ height, and ©las demonst.rateil that he of the Chicago Club, one day, Donohae ex League, has claimed that Klopf must play with best friends. Whether or not I will re- knows a \hiug or two about pitching. *He is a claimed: "I©ve got a great scheme. The catcher Richmond instead of Detroit, but the Milwaukee enter base ball is a problem. One thing southpaw Vand last season he shut out the ought to be made to play close up all the time.