Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-08-23

as well equipped as it's strongest rival
Even the most rabid supporters of the
Boston team admit this fact.
One of them, in comparing the playing
strength of the three leading clubs in the
struggle, said: Boston is possibly a
shade weaker in the box than either oi
the other two, for everyday work, week
in and week out. We are as strong be,
hind the bat as either OF the others
stronger than Philadelphia, unless
Clements catches; stronger than New
York unless Ewing catches. Conse
quently, l consider that the Boston team
is better off in catchers than Philadelphia
or New York, because it Is better provided
against accidents. Buck Ewing is won
der. So long as he is in his place base
running against New York is out of the
question, but Buck Ewing, catching as he
does, or will have to do, every day, is In
way to get hurt, and everybody knows
that Buck Ewing, when slightly injured,
is as big gutter as there is in the bust
: ness.
New York has other good catchers,
/ but it is Ewing's presence on the team
that makes them win, with all respect tS
/ Tim Keefe. Not so with Boston. If Ben
nett is knocked out CAMEL can do the
work Just as well; and then there is
Kelly, who is not very slow as catcher.
Philadelphia does not depend on Glenn
ents so much as New York does on Ew-
ing, and yet Clements is almost neces-
sary to the Philadelphia nine every day
if Harry Wright intends TO pull the pen
nant off. In team work both New York
I and Philadelphia can give our men points,
but at the bat Boston is equal to either,
Although the recent work of the New
York team would seem to Justify re-
, verse prediction from what made al The
outset os the season, l am still confident
that when said Bo ton would ultimately
win the pennant did not shoot far from
the mark. The Boston club has not
lately been playing up to III" form which
it showed itself capable of at the outset
OF the season, but the acquisition of
Smith, of Pittsburg, will strengthen the
team in the only spot where it has been
otherwise weak.
Take every position on the field and
compare the playing strength of the two
teams, New York and Boston, and nine
out of every ten impartial critics will
agree that only at short with Ward is the
New York team superior to Boston.
Take the individual work of the men
playing the various positions and COM
parison will show that Boston is strong
est in the majority Of them. Figures
speak about as plainly as anything can.
In predicting that Boston will win, I
hardly think. Therefore, that can be ac-
eused OF aloN.ng prejudice to get the
letter of my Judgment. 'Tis human ma
ture to err, and l should be happy to
kno" that in my error the New York
team wouldSe the gamer.
The Smith whom l refer to above was
released by Pittsburg to Boston for a
consideration of $500. Having been
connected with the Smoky City team for
so long, it was thought that he would
evince a reluc ance TO part with his old
associates and admirers, whom he num-
bers by the thousand, for "Pop" was
easily the most popular man on the
team. But, on the contrary, he said the
other day, prior to leaving Pittsburg:
"lt Is the consummation of my wishes
Tor the past two seasons. 1 would not
have had much chance here anyway this
year. The trouble with the Allegheny
club is that it has too many good men
and that there are so few fixtures in the
niield and out that few of the men have
any assurance one day that they will be
playing the next. Most of the boys are
hatting4well, and they deserve u better
show than they are apt 20 receive for
some time to come. | am the first to
go, and suppose there will be others.
As | said before, | am very well satisfied
To go, as, i'll addition to my home being
IN Boston, l will receive more money.
1 cannot say that / leave Pittsburg en-
irely without regret, as l have been
here so long and have been SO wall
on 10 Ntth. hot L a.,
to regard myself as a Pittsburger.
nave made good friends there and will
ID" sorry to leave them"
Smith will prove himself to be valua-
Die man to the Boston enlargement. lie
- good, conscientious, everyday
player, and now that he is with club
where he sill have good opportunities
he will improve, although really there Is
little room for improvement.
But what of the other teams in the
league race! 1t would be unkind to
slight them in criticising the all-around
work. Now. there is Chicago. Between
the niggardliness of Spalding and the
idealiZed buil-headedness OF Anson the
Chicago zine III pitiable plight. The
record of tho season is history of eX-
perimenting when there was no necessity
for 1t, anu ui sacrificing games 10 ca
price. There has not been time since
the opening of the league season when
u iirst-class snort stop could not be Sc
cured for less than $4,000. But Chicago
is not buying stars for Sj,UUU. or any
other amount. it prefers to sell them
for 1000 each. The result is that the
once boasted nine has not been in play
ing trim, owing to the gap at shore. In
stead OF getting Il man known 10 hn
good. it was Ilp' l,oIicy up to month ago
of spelling IA good fielder 10 make
II bad short s;o,. and "a good catcher 10
make II Lad ileiGr" until Bastian was se-
cured until Wa. .n@un WIS able 10 play.
But WilIiam-uu ia now ready TO play.
He has re- c.'ruiy told his trends tna;
he was never ~ n'iter shap", aGd tho7r
who have seen him exercising know hn
does nos orcIIa q his condition. He ~
the Williamson Of old, ami could play
with vim wni'h would make material
difference III Nh'Hro = standing. He j.
not playing am! h.caGo Is losing gaines
1T would otingT.s,' win. because, a, a
trusted cor.r- ..,'drna who Is on tine in
side says, 81 aiu,ng wants To- doe, Vii
Hanson for hl' he time lost bv him in
recovering from an injury received In
Spaldings SERVE"
an nt hap ,.ia L.,