Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-04
A REVIEW OF SPORTS.
Talk About That Absurd Re-
port From Minneapolis.
HORACE PHILLIPS ILLNESS
Prospects Of the Local Ball Club for
This Season.
COMMENT ON SULLIVAN'S ARREST.
The Champions Refusal to Fight Under
Prize Ring Rules.
HORACE PHILLIPS ILLNESS
COMMENT ON SULLIYAN'S ARREST.
SUCCESS OF THE CLEVELAND RACES

SUCCESS OF THE CLEVELAND RACES
1t is a question that won't be settled off
hand as to whether or not snakes or baseball
clubs are the subjects of the more sensa-
tional stories. am inclined to think that
the nstio nal game will take none the worst
of it in comparison. Stories Of the most
surprising and ludicrous kind regarding
baseball affairs are nowadays just as prolific
as the most sensational snake stories. 1t is
not lsng since we were told with much
seriousness that Won der Ahe's st. Louis
team would be transferred to Washington.
That story, which might be called a good
sized whopper, was soon thoroughly ex-
ploded. But another has been sprung and
even more sensational than the one referred
to. This time we are told that negotia-
tions are going on Tor the transfer
of the Pittsburg Club to Minneapolis; indeed,
according to the story-tellers. the scheme is all
cut and dried. Were the story true, Minne-
arolis might need all the sympathy possible if
the team is no more successful in future than
1t has been this year. However, there is no
truth at all in the rumor or statement, and it is
difficult to understand now such a stupid story
could originate except it may be the result of
remarks made by poor Horace Phillips while
in his sad mental prostration. The story was
sent out from Minneapolis, and what puzzles
me most is the fact that the Minneapolis
porters never asked what Pittsburg had to say
in the matter. The story was, undoubtedly,
sent out in all seriousness, which really COM
mands more than usual sympathy for the too
of the story. doubtless, there have
been sufficient of what the ancients
would call trials and tribulations in
the club to make everybody connected
with it sick and weary at heart. Probably no
team in the country has been more of a mark
for misfortune than Pittsburg has during the
season. Player after player has been dis
abled, and as a climax one of the ablest and
most gentlemanly managers in the country is
taken from the club by sad illness. This is
discouraging, and it would be no surprise to
me if the present directors were to CRY
''enough" and sell out. But it would be az
prise if the clubs franchise were to gos so far
west as Minneapolis. We can rest assured
that there is plenty of money in Pittsburg to
buy the franchise and players from the present
owners were they disposed to sell. Why, the
League would never for a moment think of los
ing city like Pirtsburg If it did, depend
upon it, the Association would soon be on the
scene.
Manager Phillips Illness.
The very sad turn which the sickness of Man
ager Phillips has so suddenly taken is no doubt
a great surprise to all. True, he has recently
displayed symptoms that recalled by present
circumstances would have suggested pending
mental arrangement, but few, if any, of us
ever dreamt that the affiiction would terminate
cn ell nnh ifatiu w
aver that recovery is impossible, but according
TO the old saying, as long as there is life there
is hope. However, e may be safe to say that
Horace will not be a manager of baseball
team again, should he recover, and in losing
him the club lose as able man as can be Sc
cured. The public will PROBABLY never know
the amount of work that Manager Phillips did
in one way and another. His mind was ever as
restless as the waves of the sea: he was ever
concocting and working out schemes tor the
financial success OF the club. and his work was
never half hearted. His whole mind and en-
ergy were always devoted to anything he took
in hand. While there was nothing about him
of brilliant nature, never did more patient
more honest, more original, or shrewder man
manage a baseball team. His work will be
missed. While others did their work amid
flourish of trumpets Horace old greater things
unobserved.
The Home Teams Prospects.
Undoubtedly the home team is in a sorrow
full plight. Probably a more unfortunate lot of
ball players never set out ito contest for the
League pennant. 1t seems as if the club has
heen battling tooth and nail against fate from
the first week of the season, and in the natural
turn of events a change ought to take place.
There are no indications, however. that would
lead us to expect any great change for the bet
ter. The old fault, and great one, Is still in
existence. The pitchers are weak. in fact at
the present time there is only one pitcher that
can be relied on. Our old friend Calvin is
somewhat out of line at present. and while he
is pitching with considerable force, the results
are very disheartenlng. 1t is not expected that
Garfield will be of any use to the
CLUB this year whatever he may be next if he is
retained. So far, Rowe and White have not
only been disappointing to the public, but also
to themselves Pm sure that nobody feels
their mistakes more than themselves; but they
will get down to steadier work, and if we could
once get our pitchers in form there might be
hope for a good position in the race yet. How
ever, as matters look now 1 don't expect the
local team TO finish better than sixth place. 1t
cannot beat Chicago or Cleveland out and it
apolis. True, Cleveland has had a tremendous
slide but that is not the result of bad ball
playing. That club has, during the last week
or SO, played some of the most remarkable
games and lost. Wherever that team may
finish, its first season in the League is a re-
markable one. At any rate am inclined to
think that the Clevelands will easily keep ahead
of Pittsburg.
Pfeffer's New Book.
/ am in receipt of a new book entitled
scientific Ball." by Fred Pfetfer, the
brilliant second baseman of the Chicago team.
Nowadays. when baseball books are almost as
numerous as guides to Europe, one has to be
guarded in passing opinion on any of them.
However, 1 have read MI. Pfeffer's neat little
volume, and can conscientiously say that it is
a very useful addition to baseball literature. 1t
is very well written, indeed, and that pedagogue
The book is full of useful information. and
contains a biography of the author by Mr.. De
Wilt Ray.
SulIivnn's Arrest.
John L. Sullivan, now commonly called the
champion of pugilistlc champions, has finally
been arrested for participation in the late prize
fight for the championship. Undoubtedly the
event-that is. the arrest-has been one of the
great affairs of the week, and doubtless has
surprised many people. 1t certainly will have
a great effect on prize fighting in America, and
may to a very great extent be the means of
preventing any more championship contests
outside OF some privileged club. But there are
some very inconsistent features about the
arrest features well worthy a little comment
A question which will undoub btedy strike
all of us the very first moment we
think of the matter Is: Why was the
nght allo wed to take place at all If Governor
Lowry is such determined man in enforcing
law? He and his subordinates had any amount
of warning, and yet there wasn't the slightest
with tha contest I Once haard a