Toronto Seven
13 September 1898, Washington fans are awakened to headlines that the Wagners had sold the team to Arthur Irwin.
One paper penned this article; “Well, the break has come at last, and we are to experience a change in the management of the Senators. Arthur Irwin, the Toronto magnate, has purchased an interest in the Washington Club and will assume entire control of the team. Whew! But this announcement is a relief to the Washington fans. “Anything for a change,” has been the cry of the faithful patrons for the past several months, and now that their wish is about to be realized they can hardly believe the fact. Washington cranks do not consider Irwin such a fine manager, but they are eager for any old kind of a change, so consequently are jubilant. The deal which put the Toronto manager at the head of the local team came in the nature of a surprise to the Washington public. It was the general impression around town that the Wagners and Irwin were not on the best of terms. I know from a conversation I had with Mr. Wagner early this summer that there was a breach between the two. But matters seem to have been patched up now, and Arthur will be here in a day or two to take charge of the team. Mr. Irwin will bring with him several of his Toronto stars who have made reputations in the Eastern League this season. Just how much of the club’s stock has fallen into the hands of, Irwin and his backers has not been made public.”
The team would not be sold; it was too lucrative for the Wagners to even consider selling such a cash cow. After Irwin’s arrival the team braced up and began to play with some ginger. Their success caused one paper to print this long article about Irwin and the new players.
The excellent showing made by the new men now being tried by Manager Arthur Irwin has stimulated the interest in baseball in this city, and a glimpse at the features of the players, together with a sketch of their careers, will prove of interest to local fans. To begin with the manager, Arthur Irwin, is known in the world of baseball as a handler of winners. He is a genial and affable gentleman, and at all times attending strictly to business. While always a considerate manager, he demands of his players their best services at all times, and is a strong foe to all kinds of dissipation which unfits players for good work. He was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1857, and is consequently now in his forty-first year. While a youngster he played ball in the Canadian capital and his skill and ability attracted much attention. His first professional engagement was with the famous old Providence team in 1882, where he played shortstop until disbanding of that club in 1884. The following year found him playing on the Philadelphia team, where he remained until 1889, when he came to this city and assumed the managerial reins of the Washington club. Then the Brotherhood incident came to pass and Irwin cast his fortunes with the players, going to the Boston club. The collapse of the Brotherhood caused Irwin to seek shelter in the American Association and he turned up as manager of the champion Boston’s of 1891. In 1892 Manager Billy Barnie was sidetracked by the Wagners and Irwin installed as his successor. He succeeded in putting the Senators at the head of the second division. In the middle of the season Irwin resigned his position and went into business in this city. The year ’94 saw the mantle of Harry Wright fall upon the shoulders of Irwin, and as a result the exchequer of the Philadelphia club was inflated to a marked decree. In 1896 Irwin was engaged to manage the New York’s, and just as he had the club going at a lively clip Andrew Freedman became disagreeable and Arthur tendered his resignation. Then it was that Irwin took hold of the Wagner’s Toronto club and made it a second place team in the Eastern League championship race. Last fall Irwin bought out the Wagners’ interest in the Cannuck club, and has realized a royal profit out of his Investment. He now comes back to Washington and the fans hope to see good results.”
The New Players.
James P. Casey, the catcher, who is at present playing third for the Senators, is an Eastern League man and before coming here played at Lewiston and Toronto. He is twenty-six years old, stands five feet five inches high and weighs 155 pounds. He is one of the shiftiest men on the diamond today, and handles himself like a born ball player. He is a sure hitter, a successful and daring base runner, and when behind the bat is at all times “in the game,” and is not afraid to take a chance on throwing to bases.
John Freeman, the right fielder, played ball with the Haverhill, Detroit and Toronto clubs before coming here and was always known as a conscientious and hard-working player. He is twenty-seven years of age, measures five feet nine and one-half inches in height and tips the beam at 165. He is a hard hitter and will be found at a high notch in the .300 class when the batting averages are made up. He is also a sure fielder and can cover a great amount of territory.
Frank Gatins was the star shortstop of the Eastern League and worked under Irwin on the Toronto club this season. He is twenty-seven years of age, five feet eleven inches in height, and scales at 160 pounds. He is an active and heady player and fields his position in a clever manner.
Charles C. Carr enjoys the distinction of being the tallest man in the National League and gives every promise of developing into a fast first baseman. He is only twenty-two years old, six feet four inches in height, and weighs 175 pounds. During the present season he played with
the Paterson, NJ team and made an enviable record.
The remaining three men are pitchers. Kirtley Baker first began his career on the diamond in Baltimore, thence to Milwaukee, and later on joined the Toronto’s. He has all the requisites of a good pitcher and is at all times cool and does not possess a yellow streak or get rattled if the bases fill up behind him. He is twenty eight years of age, stands five feet ten inches, and weighs 171 pounds.
Walter M. Williams played with the Lewiston club before Joining the Toronto’s and is highly spoken of as a twirler. He is twenty-four years of age, stands five feet eleven and one-half inches and bends the beam at 174.
John Sutthoff is the youngest of the new twirlers, and pitched ball on the Toronto’s this season. He is twenty-three years of age, stands five feet eight and one-half inches, and weighs in at 165 pounds.
Notes, Arthur Irwin made several appearances on the major league stage for Washington. Young Walter Hewitt relied on him only to discover that Irwin had cast his lot with the Brotherhood, although to be fair Walter should have seen it coming. Irwin was a busy person; he spent the off-season involved with football. He committed suicide in 1921, jumping off a ship into the Atlantic. It was later discovered that he had two different wives and families.
Walter Williams is better known as Pop Williams. Frank Gatins was first listed as Gatans and is so listed in the picture. “Buck” Freeman had previously played for Washington but this was either forgotten or ignored. He would quickly establish himself as a fan favorite and the premier power hitter in the league. Doc Casey played ball for Maryland. He would enjoy a log career in professional baseball.
