Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-16

rsPEc1AL CORRESPONDENCE OF TIE DISPATCH.
| CLEVELAND, O., September l5-The local
baseball cranks, of all grades and stations OF
| li1e and without regard to evious condition
| of servitude, have been thoroughly agitated
this week over the report of a consolidation of
forces between AL johnson, of this city, and
John NJ. Ward. The stories that have been in
circulation in this, Johns on's home, would put
| to flight those ancient yarn spinners who con.
cocted the stories of the Arabian Nights "
| and make them hide their faces in downright
dismay at their inability to equal the liars of
the nineteenth century. One rumor had it that
johnson had bought the Cleveland club out
right: another that he had offered q big price
for the Pittsburg club and was going to run the
organizations in both cities; and still third
said that he had decided to invest 100000 in
the baseball business, which is probably several
thousand more shekels than he can command.
To tell the plain truth about johnson he is no
more fit to be in control of a baseball ofganiza-
tion than was the wrecker Lucas. johnson
would do very well to run street car CON-
pany, and he would run a baseball club with
about the same tactics. He would be the
driver and the club the horse. But ball players
are generally too intelligent to desire to be
driven, and it wouldn't be long before they
would begin to balk under Johnson's regime
and sigh for return to their former man.
ayers.
Your correspondent has taken the most care
ful pains to trace down every story in CleSe-
land and hunt up every rumor, and does not
believe that there is the slightest foundation
that the story is true. That it began its crcu-
lation from Cleveland there is not much doubt,
and that its object is to terrify (?) the League
magnates before the next meeting there is no
question. 1t did not originate with the men,
bers of the Cleveland club, and on the whole, l
dn NJ art,l- c,.f4
Cleveland club foolish enough to entrust them
selves TO a concern managed by Al Johnson. If
there are any shall be greatly surprised, for /
had formed better opinion of their personal
business foresight and general intelligence,
The differences between the brotherhood and
League should be settled as differences are
settled between men of business integrity, and
not by the circulation of poppycock rumors
that are laughed at on all sides.
Secretary Hawley. of the local organization,
has been over among the Canucks watching
the !nternationals play ball Il tell you
what it is" said he, THAT'S the greatest minor
league that was ever organized in this country,
and the style of ball that they play over there
is Mt to grace any diamond" and then he
added, as he saw an inquisitive look coming
over the writer's face. "but there are
no players in that organization that can
add strength to Cleveland. Not one
of our present men will be released. They
have done what is right by US this year, and we
shall do what is right by them. The only thing
that the Cleveland club has to regret in its
seasons work is that the victories came all in
bunch and the defeats in the same way.
Jimmy McAleer is nursing that badly injured
ankle of his in the solitude of Youngstown,
and bemoaning his inability to be with his
club. Of all the youngsters that have gone
into the out6eld of the stronger associations
this year from the minor leagues of last year,
not one has made the brilliant fielding record
that McAleer has. Bug Holiday has proven
a harder hitter, but watch McAleer another
year and see if the boy doesn't develop into
something of a League slugger himself.
Cleveland will play some exhibition games
with Detroit, Toledo, Columbus and Cincin-
passed into oblivion and on to the records of
the years work, and Cleveland will have the
proud satisfaction of knowing that no first
year organization ever equalled their perform
ance. And there is another individual who
will take good deal of satisfaction out of it
in quiet way. His name is Tom Lotus, and
he is one of the best, if not the best, manager
in the business. JOHN b. FOSTER