The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-24
THE BASE BALL SEASON


The weather, since the opening OF the
month on the average. has been so dsagreeable
that little attention could be given to outdoor
sports Of any sort in this region. The water in
the Hudson is still SO cold that the shad fish
cries are getting only small yield. though we
are now Mt the season when the catch begins to
be heaviest in ordinary years. To the north
ward Of us the snow remains on the ground.
and hereabouts the fields for athletic sports
have usually been too spongy for comfortable
use.
As late rs only about a week ago. or on the
18th. heavy snow storm occurred in the
vicinity Of Troy and in the northern part OF
the State. and the season Is reported as nearly
month later than last year. At that time two
feet Of snow still lay in the Adirondacks. Lake
George was covered with leo thirty inches
thick. men and teams were crossing Lake
Champan on the ice. and the highways in some
parts of Saratoga County were almost impass-
able from snow drifts. The condition of things
was not different In northern New England.
and even hereabouts there were snow1akes
mixed with tho cold rains OF some OF the days
OF last week.
Clearer skies and warmer air now. however.
begin to tempt the sportsman out and by the
beginning of May we shall probably sec the
active start Of the most spirited season OF ath-
letic sports we have known.
The base ball senson. for which extensive
preparations have been made. opens on the
first Of the coming month with games at Buffalo.
Cincinnati. Chicago. and Cleveland between
the professional National League clubs. and
during May they will also contend at Syracuse.
Troy. Providence. and Boston. The League
clubs have a full list OF engagements up to the
close OF September at the places we have
named. and we expect to see some OF the most
holly contested matches on record Lot us hope
that the season will not be disgraced by those
unsportsmanlike practices which in other years
have clouded the fame OF the professional
players and tended to bring our national game
into dlsrepute.
Already the mere fact that what should be only
pastime has grown to be n business. pursued
for pecunlary profit by so many men. has mar
red the enjoyment OF professional games. and
awakened suspicion OF the honesty with which
they may be conducted Fromthe simple one
old cat" and two old cat" base ball by a
process Of rapid development during the last
twenty-five years has become quite compli-
Gated game. with long series Of rules and
precodents. which only much experience and
unusual aptitude for the sport can master
This il the explanation OF the rise of the pro-
fessional player whose interest it Ia to make
base ball n business Of increasing difficulty.
proficiency In which can only be attained by
more constant practi e than most men can give
| to il. No novice nowadays stands any chance
against an expert pitcher. who accomplshes
wonders with the ball. and a thoroughly good
| catcher is as much Of trained specialist rs a
mechanic. II IS well enough to see our great
game getting something OF a scientific charac-
! ter but we need TO take care TO guard II against
becoming n mere trnde The college clubs and
| the many private clubs for base ball. who play
for sport and in healthy competition. do more
for the game than the professional men. and In
some Of them are players OF skill which rivals
that Of those who make business Of the ball
and bat.
In addition to the professional National
League clubs. whose number is now greater
than ever there is an association OF junior base
| ball clubs. formerly known as the International
| Association. but which now Canada no longer
| being represented In II. hHschanged its name
10 the National Base Bail Association. In this
body there are more clubs than in the League.
and the number Of games in which they will
take part during the season is greater. One
game has already been played und May is
crowded with engagements for tho different
clubs at Il score Of cities and towns.
As It is now played. there is no more exciting
contest elmer Tor the observer or Tor the parti-
cipator than base ball. The feats executed by
the pitchers. the catchers. and the lelders are
| often really marvellous. and the batting. rem.
dered a matter Of great skin by reason Of the
swiftness Of the ball and the artfulness Of the
pitcher. is a beautiful thing to watch. Tho game
has also grown far more dangerous than Tor.
merly. and every haso ball season furnishes
pretty long list Of casualties some Of which ar,
fatal. Broken fingers. broken noses, fingers on
Of joint. and severe bruises are matters OF fire.
quent occurrences and n college boy who is en-
thusiastic at the game may be lucky II he get,
through the seHson unframed. But all our ath
letic games ore becoming more and more dim
cult and arduous.