New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-18
A BASEBALL CONFERENCE.
LEAGUE DIRECTORS TO MEET.

I'm the corridors of the Fifth Avenue Hotel have
to seek yst!ng place for 81 least two days this
week Baseball when In convention generally
mOnopollze considerable space, and as the National
lie lgue will this hotel Tuesday and
"Wednesday The usual frequenlels Of the corridors
should take warning In time. The convention may
last over Thursday, some important questions
pertaining 10 the welfare OF baseball must be settled
before the club return 10 their homes IN
various parts OF the country. II will undoubtedly be
Of the most largely attended baseball conventions
held in this city, and the outcome of the meeting
will be watched with general interest than that
Of any Of Its predecessors. That the League VIII
have its hands full goes without saying. On Tuesday
the Committee Rules which embraces delegates from
both the League Association will hold It's session
committee Of FIVE from the Scorers League VIII meet
with the managers and try to unravel the knots In the
playing and scoring rules. II the scorers are as
uniform in their opinions the managers, consider
able good work ought 10 result
One OF the most important questions 10 be decided
will be the plan heavier more scientific
batting This Will be Of tho most difficult ques-
tions OF the meeting 10 solve Hundreds OF sugges-
tons have been offered to bring about the desired re-
suit, but objections be found to each The
majority Of the club owners 10 think that re-
turn 10 the high low ball will bring about heavier
batting The plan would undoubtedly rob the pitcher
of of his effectiveness but 1t would also rob the
poor umpire OF HIS peace Of mind. II This plan must
be readopted. IT should carry the doubleumpre sys-
TEN with IT, The umpire's lot was not a sInecure
when he had TO judge ball between a players knee
and shoulder If the change Is made he will have 10
Judge between the knee aud waist and the and
shoulder That WIFI give the regular umpire about all
be wants 10 do lie should have assistant at
tend TO the decisions the bases Opponents Of the
double umpire system say that two incompetent nm
pIes will make twice as much trouble Is lncom-
petent one. That is at all, there should
be no incompetent men the staff The double-um.
pre system, tried both last fall and In 1887, with
unusual 1t is also probable that the cham
ponshp schedule will be shortened from 40 10 12G
games. Both 1iy snd Spaling opposed lenethening F.
the season year ago. and will champion the scheme
10 make each League team contest IN but 12G games.
Tie championship season then start about Nav l
and close about October l. That would leave plenty
Of time for au interchange Of games between League
aud Association clubs in Aprl and October.
During the warm, pleasant days OF the last week (
many of our local baseball enthusiasts ineon-
soable. They could Dt understand how, With such
baseball weather. they could not have green
diamond battles. The pleasant weather Of Wednesday
caused more than OF followers Of the game
60 to the Polo Grounds The field was in perfect
diton for ball game. except that the goal posts 4
used In the football games took up part Of tho |
diamond. The t0boggsn slides SIN standing /
there Ike grim senuncls or skeletons Of pleasures
past They will be either taken down this winter /
allowed TO crlInble with age, for they will prob
ably be used for toboggsning again Tobog-
gaming a sport In Gotham more short lived t
than rollersksttng, although possessing virtues where
the latter possessed VICE Tho grsndstand presented
dIeary appearance aud will need careful attention Of
carpenters and painters before seasons battles
begun The folding chairs, with their seals point
ing the skies seemed to offer silent invitation /
for some baseball crank TO and use them. |
Two frollcsome urchins, tho children Of the ground I
near the clubhouse, and that was about the only |
picture OF life ia the dreary looking Enclosure There
was one other object in sight but in cid not !
appear have much life. 1t was battered OLD !
rooster, but 1t had only animation enough 10 want /
to die 1t was the only mascot that remained with !
the Giants through the whole season. II deserved |
a better fate and some Of the champions may shed !
a tear when they hear what has befalen their old |
luck brlnger.
Last spring the young members Of the Giants were
taken Oh a tour OF the Southern States by Manager
Mutrie TO get them in condition and TO see what
kind OF stuff some Of them were made o. 1t Is SAID
that while In New orleans fair Southern maiden
fell In love with Catcher Murphy With all the lm-
pulsiyeness OF her warm Gulf-ofMexico nature. lt
is recorded that when the young Giants came to their
Northern home about the middle OF March, the fair
Creole wept and pned for several moons knowing
TINT her adored one was a warrior bold and would
fight mauy battles on the greendlamond ned during
the summer, she looked around for fitting token 10
send TO the man who bad stolen her peace VI mnd
for the time being. New Orleans is famous for her
fighting chickens, the pretty Creole thought She
would pick the king OF the birds of the south ana
send It North with kind regards II was done, ana
the bird ferocious looking chicken, arrived at the
Polo Grounds early last summer IT at once became
great favonte with the Giants and had the freedom
NJ the crpun,!s IL IS said that the chicken the
hero of several Harlem battles last summer and That
the Giants purses not diminished by those liie
meetings The bird also took q strong dislike To
urchns with legs and OF great assistance to
the ground keeper in chasing climbers out OF the
grounds.
one Of the virtues possessed by that rooster. be
sides his aggressive qualities, tremendous pair
OF lungs which when used IN times Of triumph brought
erhoes back from the distant Jersey hills Since al!
the giants have goIe 70 their homes the chicken has
been lonesome and sad. He was troubled with in |
somna, and that disease soon became contagious /
among the human inhabitants Of the neighboihood /
He has made night hdeous Of late by climbing to the |
top Of The grand stand, and In his loudes notes chal
longing the chicken Kingdom 10 mortal combat Herr |
Elte who keeps the hotel Just the street from
The grounds is q man of peace but is also addicted |
70 much rest between shutdown aud sun-up lhst |
rooster annoyed him, and he waved exceeding wlo'h. |
Casting aside his beerstaned apron on "Wednesday,
he for the Polo Grounds, aud sought All inter-
view with Superintendent Eel.
-. Ich want dat rooster InooZled,' said he he
keep me wake all night. / vas told he vas Elm
fighter und bet mine dnnghill rooster over by mine
store und he III knock der feders from of eny came
cock I'm der kontery.'
superintendent Bell did not think So and quiet mh
was arranged for that evening. The TWO chickens /
x,re mt in Eiters cellar and allowed TO settle IL
In about five minutes the door opened and Etels
bird came prancing out as spry as thoroughbred.
The Southern fighter found in the darkest corner
Of The cellar and the GIANTS mascot presented pill
ful sight The other had torn his comb completely
or and there not handful of feathers iei' on
the fighter His tail was gone. and he Will NOT DO
ablc 10 use one eve for time. IL he ever does
again. he has been turned loose on ne GROUNDS ~
die or got well he NJ. His lighting days are
over and the Giants VIII have to get another mascot
next spring for IL is doubtful II that proud ,ieoie