Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-01
A REVIEW OF SPORTS,
Leading Features of the Pres
ent Base Ball Season.
THE CHANGES SUGGESTED.
Reasons Why the Double Umpire
System May be Adopted.
THE DEMPSEY-LE BLANCHE FIGHT.
Opinions Regarding the Unexpected Defeat
of the Nonpareil.
THE CHANGES SUGGESTED.
THE DEMPSEY-LE BLANCHE FIGHT.
AFEW WORDS ON VCONNOR AND SEARLE


its close. 1t just seems a few days since
Anson and his team opened up the season
here, and yet many very important events
have happened in the baseball world since
then. OF course there is yet plenty of time
for even more important things to happen
before the season closes. However, so far
the season will be remembered for one or
two features that have made it prominent.
None Of us will forget the very wonderful
fight that young club like Cleveland has
made from the first day that the season
commenced; none of us will forget the very
close and exciting struggles there have up
to now been going on for positions
right from sixth place to the top
of the list These are two features
that will undoubtedly attract national atten-
ton, but what is of more interest TO the citi-
zens of this locality is the part Pittsburgs club
has played. There is yet hope for that club to
take very creditable place, but certainly
chances are against it. However it may be safe
to say that this has been the most evenJful sea-
Son in the history of the local club. When
everything is considered one cannot but feel
surprised at the clubs standing so well to-day
as it does. Probably no team of a leading kind
has had more difficulties to contend with than
the Pittsburg team has had this season. Some
of these difficulties may to some extent have
been self imposed, and this would suggest to us
that they ought to teach lesson as to prevent
ing a repetition next season. There is no deny
ing the fact that many of the players were far
from being in good condition when the season
opened. Circumstances have proven that
one of the most important things in ball team
is to have Its members in good form. Probably
oF 4f,a hae+ of n, of
this statement is the present condition and
work of Ed Williamson. An extraordinary
transformation has tahen place in the work of
that once brilliant performer since last season.
The cause is easily found. He is considerably
too big and no more fit to play ball than to run
a 20-mile race. True his leg is yet weak to
some extent, but when ball comes in front of
him he cannot stoop to get it. Williamson's
case then shows conclusively that every man.
ager and oflcial of a team should by all means
see to the condition of the players before the
season starts There are numerous methods of
conditioning men and also of testing whether
CT not they are in good condition. Perhaps it
would not be a bad idea TO keep every player,
who does not report in condition, suspended
until he is all right.
Some General Features.
The season SO far has taught us some general
lessons. One is that the double umpire system
must sooner or later be uniformly adopted.
Probably one of the best reasons for this is the
fact that in all the most vital contests Presi-
dent Young details two umpires to them. Bos-
ton and New York, and even Boston and Phila-
delphia have had this system to guide them.
Surely this means that in the opinion of the
League President two umpires are more relia-
BILE than one. If this is so, why should there
game is Of Importance to the teams directly in
terested A team fighting for sixth, fifth or
fourth place has just as much right to receive
all the protection that is afforded to club
fighting for first place. / am inclined to think
that the League will adopt the double
umpire system next season. So far one of the
strongest arguments urged against itsiadoption
has been its expense L submit that this is
hardly worth the name of an argument. The
expense is almost infnitesimal when It is scat
tered among all the eight clubs of the League.
Another important feature that has been made
prominent during the season has been the
very powerful and very intelligent opposition,
aud venture to say that there will be some
modification of it next season.
The Great Struggle.
People who like to see neck and neck races
and every muscle and device used by contest
ants to get into first place. certainly have had
their hearts fill in the League pennant race.
Nobody could reasonably wish for a better
struggle than Boston and New York are making
for first place Each club is strainng itself to the
greatest possible limit and all America seems to
be brimful of excitement over the keen contest.
Boston still holds command. but the Giants are
pressing so closely that we may set it down as
case of who cracks first" Although New
York is slightly behind l am still inclined to
favor her chances providing she makes no
more bad breaks Bostons' chances almost en-
tirely depend on Clarkson, and if he can hold
out at the present gait until the end of the sea-
son he will be one of the most wonderful
pitchers the profession has seen. The chances
are against him. however. because the club will
be away from home during the last two weeks
of the season, and the Western teams are all
in very good condition. On the other hand
New York has two good pitchers who are first
class, and for third Crane is very formid.
able man. Radbourne has not shown himself
as reliable as either Crane or Welch and
this increases the chances of New York. OF late
however, New York's defeats have almost been
as much the result of poor fielding and batting
as ineffective pitching. Considering the abili-
ties of the New Nork's players some of the late
games have been ridiculous If they could
once get into their excellent line of playing
and keep there, really don't see how Boston
or any other team can beat them. Another in
terestlng question is: VIII Chicago finish ahead
of Philadelphia? 1t looks as if the answer
would be in the affirmative. because Phlladel-
phia, like other Eastern clubs, will finish the
season away from nome. however, Lle East
ern trip of the Western clubs will almost settle
the question. 1t also seems as if Pittsburg
was destined to overhaul Cleveland. The lat
ter. although losing, is fighting like game ter
rier No team has a picnic with the Babies,
and if Pittsburg gets ahead of them it will
have to be by good playing.
The Dempsey Marine Battle.
The great sporting event of the week has
been the fight between Jack Dempsey and
George lie Blanche the Marine. venture to
say that almost everybody interested in sport
ing matters at all took an interest in that con-
test Probably no pugilist of modern times
is better known and has larger following than
Dempsey. His engagements with variety shows
have taken him into almost eveyy city in
America, and his remarkable career as pugi-
list. as lar as victories were concerned, all
tended to make him a lion of the age.
This great popularity caused many thousands
to be interested In the battle. However, while
so many were interested in the affair because
of Dempsey's popularity the result was looked
upon as foregone conclusion. Few people
could even dream of Dempsey being beaten,
and SO this tended to tame all excitement rela-
tive to the fight The hero of SO fights, how
ever. was vanquished, and then everybody be-
came astounded. The surprise was great one
and dare say that the majority OF people have
not gotten over it yet. Among many thousands
more was surprised. and am frank enough
TO say that ] thought Dempsey was able to de-
feat man ike the Marine however. read
ers of THE DISPATCH have for a long time
been well aware of my opinion of Dempsey as
an effective pugilist. When he was in this city
and when be had his affair with McCatfrey at
some length contended that Dempsey was an
overrzbed man. ] don't think that ANYBODY
who knows anything about prize fighting will
run LIE Blanche first class. He is plucky fell
low and can take what the sporting fraternity
calls ''his gruelh as good as anybody. but when
IN the presence of a clever man who can hit
hard LIE Blanche would soon get Cruel enough
TO drown him.