Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-13
HOW THEY WON.
NEW YoRKS TELL HOW THEY CAP
TuRED Y'he PeNNANT.
ghe Giants ct Baseball Reviewing Their
Recent work-Never Afraid Of the
Result with Ewing Behind
the Bst.



must be conceded that or team overeamo
more obstacles than any team Of pcnnant-
winners ever did since the organization OF
the league. Boston opened under the
most auspicSous circumstances. Their sur
r0uudings were pleasant. The pubiic turn
co ont in largo numbers ana cheered them
on 10 victory. When the season began
their men were all IN the pink of condition,
ready for the coming fray. and all working
Ike trained veterans under the able cap
taincy Of VI. J. Kelly.
When the close observer sums the entire
matter ny he must concede that they were
a formidable organization, and, further
that they were favored by everything, with
nothing TO setard them. The result has
proven this estimate 90 be true, and that
We had a most desperate struggle TO sue
coed 40 the end.
There was little, If anything, Of that kind
20 favor us, in the early part Of the season
NJ least. Several Of our men had not
agreed upOn terms with Mr. Day, while the
Polo-Grounds were also in dispute. The
effect Of such an unsettled state Of affairs
was depressing IA the extreme on the team
in general.
The season opened. for want of better
grounds. over ia Jersey CITY. From there
We were soon afterwards transferred 20
Staten Island. There the weather was so
cool that every man ID the team fell on IN
.ployinc. Tho crowds were very light and
there was little or no enthusiasm, making
on tho whole o most dismal affair OF the
proceedings from the start.
II was some time after the session began,
in fact 10 was We'll on its way. before keete
was signed When be- did begin work he
was far from being in true form, as he
would have been had be taken part in the
preliminary games. We were, for time,
virtually without pitchers. Ewing and
Hatfield being obliged TO 60 into the box,
owing 10 the disability Of Crane and Welch.
All these circumstances tended 10 put the
team behind while Boston was playing
successful bah. putting game after game to
their record and getting lead which al
most made them pcnnant-wlnncrs.'
The change IN the fortunes Of our team
came about the time We purchased the re-
lease Of O'DGy from Washington. ms
Young pitcher started IN AZ once 70 DO
some Great tWiriing and proved valuable
man. as Tho record now shows. As soon az
wccot within hailingdistauce Ofthe Boston
they appeared TO halt in their onward
march: but II WIS not breakdown as
many imagined at the time, for they soon
picked mp and made magnificent battle
90 the very end
The one particular point where we were
stronger than Boston was IN pitchers.
When tho season got well under way our
pi+chcrs were practically invinciblc. With
four such mon a. Kecfe. WEIGH. O'Day, and
Crane 90 DO the pitching. and Ewing be-
hind the bat, we were always able 20 nut
batter If the strongest KIND ln the hcld.
We AN agree that the idea which dOml-
mated every man-that We were able and
capable Of winning the championship,
nud. furthermore. that We would surely do
eo-had more 90 do with our victory than
ANYTHING else. n was that firm belief
which stood Us in good stead when others
might have Quailcd at the task before
e. arAr I
not be overlooked.
The effect of harmonious team work was
never shown 10 better advantage. There
was no record playing among us each man
being too DESTROYS Of success 20 take
single chance. II was this strong, steady,
and machinclike work of the men which
often struck terror into the hearts Of OUr
opponents. Every ball-playcT knows how
honest work by the entire club viii result.
II Will win against ANYTHING aud every
thing. There was no combination OF stars,
each ondeavorlng 10 Outshine the other,
hut a resOlute set OF men with only one
object IN view.
Every man on the team was in perfect ac-
cord with his fellows. We all wanted the
remnant, were resolved TO do or die in the
attempt 20 win II, and, firmly believing
that ~ "a whole there was no other Organi-
2aliOu In the country able 10 cope with ms,
there was infused into every man degree
of confidence which the severest reverse
could not shake.
II was said that we were over-confdent,
and lost games on that account. While that
might have been partially true ai the ont
set II soon gave way to downright honest
work of kind that had its effect. Over
confidence may have helped to lose game
or two, hut the confidence we had III our
selves won the championship.
That such was the case glance at the
official rocordy il soon prove. While other
clubs have men at the top IN their various
fielding positions the New Norks have
none. II was the determination to 90 after
everything at any sacrifice, which pulled
down the averages but Won victories. II
made no difference whether "a man was III
the out4or in-fold. he made at least an ef-
fort to get every ball and though II fell 10
another he, having in mind the proper play
~ be- made. was AZ once IN position 10 as
siet or support the feldcrs.
our team never allowed themselves to
get ratified" Steady play was The thing,
and knowing that. the one thought upper
most in an minds was TO hold steady ana
true. rather than cOuntenance brilliant
displays of q character which, while sure
% bring forth plaudits. does much 10 I'M
settle the men III general way. 10 me
captliUcy of Ewing too much credit for
such state of uniformity IN play cannot
be awarded. He certainly possesses the
NHfiiA fhl4ifllthA ION NA RiAl4 a. AittA A.
or of men, together with "a knowledge of
every point in baseball and an aptncss TO
seize upon an essential move and turn II
% the best advantage for his own men,
which makes him especially fitted for such
an important position. Ii - seldom that
man in that position has the respect con-
ilence and regards of his men to the de-
gree that Ewing has. With HIM behind the
bat there was certain feeling of uncun-
corn regarding the result. We all believed
that victory was sure. IL must he cOnsd-
cred that he was catching difficult pitchers
nearly every day, feat no other man IN
the league attempted.
Had II not been for our batting there
would not be a scmblance of q pcnnant 10
hy from the Polo-Cirounds flagstaff next
season. There was mutual desire 10 AID
one another in that respect, which had IT'S
effect 10 putting SO many of the New Orks
near the top with their records. Quiet
talks among ourselves regarding the pecu-
lariiits of different pitchers and undaunted
confidence braced up the boys IN common.
Ia a close game there was general and
etorootvpcd command along the line 20
Zine 'en out" which demoraliZed many
an opposing pitcher just on the eve Of We
tory by the succession OF safe hits which
followed. II was the same ldpollcy which
We always followed never 20 quail even iOr
a moment.
This steady nerve of the team has
brought out SO many compliments on all
sides as 20 embarrass Us somewhat. In one
respect We feel that We are highly favored.
That is as % the management. No other
man 10 the league is Ike President John
= Day He is away and above any other
man IN the business. There Is something
g. high-miuded and honorable about
Mr. Day that his very name IS reycred
hv US. He was 50 accomplishing IN the
face of disaster, always the soul OF good
nature. aud SO generous under any and oil
circumstances thar, ii only 10 please hlm,
We would have stood anything sooner than
lei Boston beat Us. Aud Mr.. Day has a
worthy aid III Manager James Mutrie. 1t
was Mutrie who got the men together. who
was with us daily, saw that everything was
a. We desired, and made the eluO some
thing In the line Of happy family. No
wonder. then, that we fought like demons
at Cleveland, and no wonder that we went
without sleep Of any consequence 10Y inc
three last days Of the week. 50 great was
our anxiety 10 win. when We were dong
battle for such men.