Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
A REVIEW OF SPORTS,
The Singular Work of the
Local Ball Club.
THE RIGHTS OF RELEASING.
Won Der Ahe's Curious Statements
About the League.
ABOUT SULLIVAN AND KILRAIN.
Extensive Comment on Their Proposed Bat
tie Next Week.
THE RIGHTS OF RELEASING.
ABOUT SULLIVAN AND KILRAIN.
SOME FACTS CONCERNING THE MEN

Local baseball affairs have been extremely
prominent during the past week in many
respects. The team has played in very
singular way, having given exhibitions oi
the very worst kind of ball playing and dis
plays of the very best. Deacon" Whites
appearance in the city has caused stir and
the release of Pitchers Beam and Krumm
was q theme for considerable talk among all
the local enthusiasts. When The DIS
PATCH published the exclusive news of the
release of the TWO pitchers named, there was
great surprise among the patrons of the
game; not because of The DIsPATcH's s
usual exclusive quantity of i'm
portant news, but because of the
sudden release of the two. young
men. Probably everybody who has the least
knowledge of baseball affairs expected that all
three of the young pitchers, that is Beam,
Krumm and Dunning could not be retained,
and that one or two of them would eventually
be released This was generally expected, but
few people expected that any of them would
be released until they were more thoroughly
tried. AS far as l have been able to judge
from the conversation of the friends of the re-
leased pitchers the lack of sufficient trial is the
burden of their complaints. l mention this to
point out very important principle in base
ball, viz, the right of a club to release players
when it chooses. There is not only a
principle of right in question, but also
one of expediency. l don't think that
anybody will for one moment contend that the
Pittsburg club exceeded its right in releasing
Beam and Krumm when it did. Certainly it
was unfortunate for both young men to be in
duced to leave their employment only to be
.szl.,
suaded them from home. Results of this kind
are not only disappointing to the victims, but
they stir up very unpleasant feehnAs But we
must not forget that such is baseball; the con-
ditions just referred to are existing through
the entire baseball world to-day, and they exist
absolutely on the principle of the survival of
the fttest After all baseball is an out
and out calculation of the theories
of those old philosophers of the Bentham
school The survival of the fttest is
paramount in baseball, and every young
man who enters its arena must keep
that in view. Consciously or unconsciously
every club director acts on this prin-
clple, and regardless of charity or gener-
osity they keep the good and refuse what
they deem inferior. In releasing the young
pitchers above named, the local club simply
acted on this principle. Common sense will
teach us that the club officials we're convinced
that there was better material at command
than tie two young men released. However,
it is q pity that they were not tried more than
they were, and yet if they had been it might
have been worse for the club.
How the Race is Going.
The pennant race is becoming exceedingly
interesting as the half distance approaches.
Cleveland during the week has been gradually
ing more of a surprise than ever. Ifear that we
all Unjust be forced the conclusion that there is
something more than luck in Cleveland's sue
cess. 1 can find nothing in the science of prob
abilities to show how those Spiders could win
SO many fnely-played games by anything ex-
cept merit. If luck has been their talisman
then we must conclude that luck has become
an established principle, However, am in
Seps TO 70 break down the POcasd
luck of the club would vanish 1
will not be surprised if Cleveland
passes Boston before long. New York,
splendid team of ball players, are up to their
ears in hard luck. No sooner does that team
get outof one difficulty until it is into another.
1 am free to admit that the Giants are in many
respects my ideals, but when their best men are
injured or prevented from playing they are not
likely 70 win victories that they otherwise
could win. The club has had comparatively
little good from Keefe this season, and Ward is
now disabled, L still have hope in the Giants.
Two weeks ago L intimated that Boston might
take tumble after leaving Pittsburg. The
achievements of that team have borne out my
prediction. Chicago is bracing up and the
balance of the clubs are going along as usual
Deacon Whites Case.
According to what President Nimick told me
venerable Deacon White with us this season.
It is pity that such an old and excellent play
er as White should be in such difficulties as he
is. There is much sound reason
ing on his side, but I fail
sSor,s 70 see s,v. h; why the PItts6urG club
here or violate any law of baseball to secure
his services. If it is true that President Stearns
of Detroit, or rather ex-President Stearns has
sseaTns should 5e looked 1e for ' any gssSrs exsrs
money money M am. am fully TIiIg persuaded that
ball law. The American sentiment is against
any man OF body of men amassing fortunes by
stealing or forcibly holding the services of
other men to the entire benefit of the stealers
or holders. don't think that any country to-
day tolerates a system that permits one man to
sell the services of another against the will of
the latter II is easy to see by the Detroit deal
that q company can make fortune out of the
qualities OF men whom they force to play for
them or not play at all. There will be change
some day.
Won Der Ahe's New Scheme.
Il was stated few days ago that Won der
Abe has declared himself against the city Of
St. Louis. and threatens to have his revenge by
leaving them minus good ball team To do
this, the report says, he intends to try and buy
the franchise Of the Washington club and put
q League team in that CITY, The reporter who
gave this story to the world from St. Louis
definitely states that he heard Mr.. Abe make
the statement There are apparently two truths
in the matter. One is that Won der Abe said
what he is quoted TO have said and the other
ts that il is all nonsense what he did say ex-
septing that part relating to St. Louis.
Won der Abe ought to know more about |
ST Louis than 1 do. AT any rate, Pn |
believe him when he says his club is not re- |
ceiving sufficient support His declaration on |
this point gives us to understand that financial |
matters in the Association are not in the very |
best condition. II also seems to mean that |
there is such a thing as being champions too |
the St Louis cranks want to have little more |
excitement than that caused by sure thing |
every season However this may be. it is safe /
20 say that Mr.. Won Der Abe will never get the |
franchise. The desire to have him League
member is not strong enough to help toward /
that end; indeed, I learned some time ago from
Association officials that his retirement from
that body would not cause many regrets. Not
that Won der Abe has not done anything for
baseball, or that he is not energetic He is all /
matter in question reminds us that
we may be prepared to hear time
and time again about the retirement
Of Washington from the League before next
knows anything about it yet 1t is true that
W Washington is not getting smoothly along, but
the same may be said of two or three other
cities. A VI Washington gentleman in a position
70 know told me few days ago that President
Hewitt at present, has no idea whatever of
parting with his franchise. But IL he resolves
10 90 that Won der Abe will not get 1t. The
probability is that the latter will have the op-
portunity TO buy few Association franchise