Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-29
FOLEY'S GOSSIP.
The Baseball Writer Glves Some Pointers
About Bos,sn-The Old League on
Top There = PIttsburg and
Cleveland Won't Each

Keep Two Cluha.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE DIsPATcH.I
BosroN, December 27.-some time. ago the
Brotherhood team Of this city were standing
on tip.toe and shouting: 1--WE are the people
for next year: the League people won't be in
it." It is now the triumvirs' -Soden, Billings
and Conant-turn to shout; they have recently
nailed some great ball players and they, too,
can shout: "We'n be there when the flowers
bloom in the spring" Clarkson and CAMEL
make as fine abattery as there is in the coun-
try, but there are many more good men.
"Chollie" Smith, who-is Puritan by birth and
ball player by profession. will scoop up hard
hits from the shUrtstop's position; be will also
fan the gentle atmosphere with as much ease
as his nlustrious friend, Jimmy Calvin,
Of the Pittsburg brotherhood team.
ers.t hOmsrun hsssa Of the intsTnstons
Association, has signed League contract.
He will cover first base instead of Dan
Brouthers. Leblanc is well liked here. few
years ago he made his first appearance on the
Boston grounds, and he made record that
any man might well feel proud of. He ap-
peared here with the Buffalos, when they were
members of the International Association.
Radbourn pitched for Boston and Lehane
found him perfect berry, making four crack
ing hits, including "a terrific homer" away
over the left field fence. Another crack out
fielder has been bought from the Hamilton
team. His name is Brodie, and from all
wagon tongue, The addition of
these men gives Boston the nucleus OF first
class nine to battle for League championship
honors. However, can't say that any League
club is AZ strong as the present BROOKLYN team,
and it won't please League admirers to see the
champions of the American Association walk
in and carry of the League championship.
Cincinnati, too, is very formidable nine, and
he Of fhao old ne
must do some tall hustling If they expect to heat
out the two ex-Association teams. But it is a
long time between now and. the LIST of April
and heaven only knows what may turn up by
that time.
A few short weeks ago, after Cincinnati and
BROOKLYN joined hands with the League. the
Brotherhood leaders were having things their
own way, so far as signing the Association
stars was concerned. The boot is now on the
other foot and lately some of the men who
signed Brotherhood contracts some time ago
are now signing with the old League as fast as
the Association stars we're signing with the
Players League some time ago. The Brother
hood wasn't thoroughly organized for revolt;
if they were they would have remained loyal to
each other. called the turn; felt positive
that some of the numbskulls, like Glasscock,
would be the first to weaken. The
players should have been insured
work for at least three years;
as 1T is now the Brotherhood hackers can quit
at any time, and if Pittshurg and Cleveland
should throw up the sponge what would be-
come of the players? And where could the
Brotherhood secure q foothold after refusing
ST. Louis an admittance, a city where there
would be no competition? Mark these words:
PitJsburg and Cleveland will never support
two teams. wouldn't want to gamble that
any city in the country can support Two teams
with an admittance fee of so cents.
Chicago has great team, and as there are
many wsgeworkers and socialists in the
Windy City, l am inclined to think that
they will draw better than any other
team in the Players League. Every organiza-
tion has to make a record before they can ex-
pect the support of the people, and it all de-
pends on how the players behave the next
season. If they obey Ward they will come out
with flying colors in the end if the hackers are
tLoroughbreds and don't weaken easy; but if
the players engage in any "Garrison finishes"
la Mike Kelly, the hackers, as well as the tenn
League organs will pitch IN and mp the players
up the spinal column. Won der Abe is queer
kind of man, but has money and would add
strength to the Brotherhood's cause; so for
that reason they may regret that the ST. Louis
Dutchman was not allowed to enter a team in
the Players League.
There is even now, rumor in different local
tiles that Won der Abe will be taken in later
on. He would have been taken in at the last
meeting, but the Brotherhood people were
afraid that he would demand some of the men
that had been stolen away from him; and in
case these men we're not given up, Won der Abe
would demand some Of the best Brotherhood
players to take their places on the Browns.
Won der Abe Is no chumpshe can tell chicken
from ham sandwich if he does occasionally
Young Daley, of the Bostous. is now doing
fine Worlzin California. I always said he was
good one. CHARLES ]. FOLEY.