Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-25
A REVIEW OF SPORTS.
The Good Work of the Local
Ball Club.
CAUSES OF IMPROVEMENT.
Some Significant Facts About the
Allegheny County League.
PROPOSED SMITH-SLAVIN FIGHT.
Opinions About the Recent Crooked Racing
at Erie.
OF IMPROVEMENT.
PROPOSED SMITH-SLAVIN FIGHT.
ABOUT TIE TEEMER-GAUDAUR RACE


ball generally cannot well grumble at the
work of the local club during the last week
or two. Anybody and everybody who like
to see good playing have certainly had a
good supply of it from the home players.
They have done nobly and deserve hearty
cheer. The good work, however, has what
may be called painful feature attached to
it. 1t only seems to remind us more forci-
bly, than ever what might have been. The
work of the team lately proves beyond the
shadow of a doubt that Pittsburg might
have had very tight hold of the pennant
at present. There is nothing absurd or
visionary in this statement. 1t is a fair
and reasonable assertion warranted by facts.
During the last eight or nine games the work
of the club has been a shade better than that of
any club have seen in this city, and that must
mean that taken at its best Pittsburg is the
peer of any team in the land. In the early part
of the season l argued this, but a chapter of ac-
cidents and mIsfortunes upset all our calcula-
tions. After passing through those trials and
tribuiations the team have braced up and are
now playing great ball. and still it is not at its
best. am aware that Manager Hanlon is be-
ing given any amount of credit for this He de-
serves all the credit he can get because with
out doubt his management has had much
20 do with the improved playing. However, l
don't believe that it has had anything to do
with it. The pitchers have gotten into better
shape than they were and some of the fielders
are in much better condition than they were
some time ago. This is great factor in the
case. True, Hanlon is among the players both
and off the field and that tends to keep
everything in ship shape, and if l mistake not
this is one of the most important facts in the
entire matter l am certain that all of us will
wish Hanlon success. If he can keep the club
in the present condition until the end of the
season we may yet land in fourth place.
$50
Features of the Race.
1t looks as if the idol of many of us was
going TO get smashed into hundreds of pieces
refer to the New York clubs chances for the
pennan:. confess that the work of that club
lately has been exceedingly surprising to me.
Just when the Giants set their feet in
front of others they collapsed miserably and
dropped behind. The pitchers poor work had
much to 90 with it. but when the Giants were
here 1 somehow other got the notion that
they were not as enthusiastic as i have seen
them. They certainly lacked that earnestness
and determination which characterized them
la; year. and were apparently quite jovial over
the fact of their poor work. The Giants GER
tainly needed little plain lecturing by their
superiors. However, the race between them
and the Bostons is still a great one, and
it is almost impos ,ible to say who
toward New York. Boston is playing a strong
game, but Clarkson is almost their only relia-
BILE pitcher. He cannot hold out and New
H0rk's pitchers will, / think, get better. Phil
adelDhia seems to have third place all right,
and many people think Harry Wright's delega-
tion will get into second place. Chicago is in
fourth position, and Cleveland is rapidly fall
ing down the list. As already Intimated, Pitts
burg has fighting chance for fourth or fifth
place. One thing that is favorable to the real
1Zation OF this hope Is the fact that the club
will finish the season on the home grounds.
A Dangerous Profession.
Certain authorities, right or wrong, have
come to the conclusion that football is not a
recreatlve game. but is a dangerous profession.
That is the conclusion to which the English
conference of RechabItes have come and ac-
cordingly they have decided not to give sick
pay to any member injured while playing foot
ball am not much surprised at this because
of late football has become a very rough and
tumble game indeed. The same conclusion
may be arrived at by the American Rechabites,
but hope there is more sporting blood in them
than in our British cousins. However, the
latter or at leas: the Rechabite portion of
them, also eadeavored to rank cricket playing
among the dangerous professions, but happily
the effort failed. Perhaps the RechaOites have
a natural sympathy for cricketers as who do to
some extent live in tents"
Dishonest Racing.
l think that few honest sporting men will
fail to regret the very questionable and to a
great extent disgraceful transaction at the
recent Erie race meeting. If all reports are
true it was the banner meeting for ringers"
'jobs," etc. Dishonesty trickery and fraud
were according to reports SO rampant that
there couldn't well be an honest event at the
entire meeting. This very unfortunate state
of affairs, and the promoters of such scandalous
proceedings should be summarily dealt with.
1t is absolutely necessary that this should be
done. All horse racing is in a dying-em Der
state in Pennsylvania. and nefarious transac-
tions such as are reported from Erie will kill
every vestige.a The only way to uphold the
reputation of horse racing in this State is for
the Erie track authorities to use every possible
effort to have the vlolators and robbers dealt
with to the fullest extent of racing law. There
is a law TO catch them and it ought to be cn-
forced.
Tecmer and Gnudaur.
II all goes we'll wen see Teemer and Gaudaur
row their four-mile race near this city on Sep
tcnber l8. Everything seems to be satisfacto-
rily arranged, and nothing is left to do now but
10 speculate as to the result. Everything
seems favorable for great race. Both men
are in active training. and will get into their
boats on the day of the race in hrst-class condi-
tion. As 20 the result OF the race 1 have little
or nothing to say just now. i am aware that
professional sculling is somewhat under a ban
here. but am in hopes that the approaching
race will be such as TO give it lift into public
favor again. Certainly no more honorable gen.
tleman than john A. st. John could have to do
with the race. His being identified with set
ties all doubts as to its squareness / am fully
convinced that IT will be rowed on its merits and
j also expect to see Teemer in great rowing
form. However, / am not unmindful OF
the fact that Gaudaur is really good sculler.
i have seen the 1.-the st. Louis man row a first
class Scull, HIS style when saw him last was
exceedingly attractive and his powerful reach
made him then a dangerous opponent for any
body. None of MS will readily forget the pump
ing he gave Beach when the latter was at his
best. ] am certain that had Teemer been in
that heat on that day on the Thames he would
have finished in third place. Well, Gaudaur
may be as good now as he was then. and if he is
Tecmer will know that he has been rowing
after the race. At any rate, hope the race
NAV be the means of another here between the
winner and either Searle or O'Connor.
An Interesting Suggestion.
A few days ago AL Pratt, the well-known
dea;er in sporting goods in this city, and also a
veteran in baseball affairs, suggested to me a
plan by which League and Association clubs
could contest against each other at the end of
the season. Mr.. Pratt's plan is to the effect
that the first, second. third and so on in the
League race play series of games with the
first, second, third and on of the Association.
Mr. Pratt was enthusiastic about the idea, and
thoroughly convinced that it would be a
great success. Doubtless at trst sight there
are attractive features about the plan. but
fear that those features belong almost entirely
10 the clubs that stand well IN the respective
associations. For instance. what great inter-
hnr hn in nj frQr fugaa