Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-07

for the streets are TO be cut through It
eventually. In the matter OF expenses,
however, the New York Club leads 1t
costs about Sle0, 600 per year TO run
the New York Club, which believe is
moro than it costs 10 maintain any
other bat know Of course the Boston
Club has spent good deal Of money In
the last two years in buying Kelly,
Clarkson, aud later in securing Bennett
and the others, which may run their ex-
penses up pretty high. But / think
that the expenses Of the New York team
are greater than those OF any other"
"What il the best baseball city go
far as attendance on games is con-
cerned ?"
THE BEST BASEBALL CITY.
"Well, think New York leads here,
too. But Boston is great baseball
city, and no mistake. The record for
attendance at single game is 20. 600.
That was in New York. Well, Boston
has come very close 10 that. Chicago is
a great baseball city as well. These
three cities are the best, with Philsdel-
phia coming next for the reason that it
Is o twenty. city and not be-
csuse il doesn't take in baseball. The
rest come after. In New York the at
tendance upon baseball games ranges
from 5000 on ordinary days 10 $4,000 or
more on holidays. 1t depends good
deal on the teams that are playing.
THE NEW RULES.
CHOW ere the changes in the rules
and the system of classification going to
work 2"
"Ibelieve they will work well. Moving
the pitchers box back and reducing
the number OF balls upon which batter
may take his base will, think, improve
the batting and reduce the power of the
pitcher As for the matter Of classlfica-
ton, it will not affect the players now
signed with teams, but only new men.
They will be graded and paid according
10 their grading. Men like Ewing, Mike
Kelly. Keefe, WEIGH. and men of their
class are not affected by it. The plan
was adopted for the benefit OF weak
clubs that could not afford TO pay star
players. You see some players as soon
as they made home run or good field
play would expect their clubs to raise
their pay the next year. Well, If base
ball paid everywhere this might do. But
as a matter of fact only four or five
clubs made money last year. The Bos-
tons made money, SO did the Chicagos !;
so did the Philadelphias, believe, and,
concluded the manager, "the New 1orks
made little, but L have my doubts
about the rest.
"There will be some argument over
/ this matter OF classification, the mana
ger continued, "but 1T will wear OIL.
OF course there will be star players that
tie public will always make much OF. /
don't 60 in much for record players my
self" said the astute Mr.. Mutrie. 81
have noticed that a winning club draws,
and that no star player can pull dead
losing club through"
INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS.
al never discuss individual players,
said Manager Mutrie. 81 think the
league players are superior to those OF
the American Association as a rule, but
there are great players in both. Buck
Ewing, of the New York Club. is great
player. So are Keefe and WEIGH so Is
Gore and so is Richardson and Conner
and Herman so are Mike Kelly and
Clarkson so are Glasscock and Wening ;
so are Morris and Calvin so are Arson,
Ward, Morrill,, Burns. Farrell, and any
number of others that can be named.
The woods are full OF them. However,
l think the pennant will come to New
York in 1880"
Baseball mas certainly developed
wonderfully of late years, continued
Smiling James. 81 can remember when
Mike Kelly was anything but $4,000
Beauty in a financial sense, for he ran
bases on the Columbus co. Base Ball
Club in his bare feet Why Al. Spal.
ding played ball for $50 month and
John Ward played for mighty small
salary. I had Tim Keefe, the king of
the pitchers, for $50 per month, and
George Gore for $40. Just think of 1t !
Some Of the stars of baseball playing for
SO or Sl2 per week. Things have
changed, haven't they? Just think Of
Tim Keefe or John Ward or Mike
Kelly playing ball for $40 per week now.
l tell you it's big change.
TUousANDS OF CLUBS.