Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02
PRINCLE'S REVIEW.
Features of the League Pen
nant Struggle.
THE HOME CLUBS CHANCES
Comment on AnsOn's Predictions
About the Winners.
MYER-HAULIFFE CONTROVERSY.
J. L. SulliYan's Rambles and His Wrestling
Exhibitions.
THE HOME CLUBS CHANCES
MYER-MAULIFFE CONTROVERSY.
KILRAIES RETURN AND OTHER TOPICS

Amid the great excitement consequent on
the terrible catastrophe at Johnstown it is
somewhat difficult to find time to talk about
the sporting affairs of the week. All other
subjects and questions sink into the utmost
insignifcance in presence of this heart
rending calamity. However, putting aside
the thought of the fearful results of the in
undstion for few minutes, we'll, as usual,
mention a few leading sporting topics of the
week. Doubtless, thegreat feature has been
the national game, and it is satisfactory to
me to know that the attendance at each
place during the week has fulfilled
the predictions made by me as to
the increased popularity of the game.
Despite the fact that the weather has not been
very favorable the attendance at each game
has been great The Bostons and Chicagos and
the Brooklyns and St Louis drew tremendous
crowds, which certainly goes to show that base
ball in America is almost in its infancy as far
as popularity is concerned. The rising gene
ration are being reared thorough-going base
ball cranks. Almost every block of housesh has
its baseball team, and surely this is proof suff-
cient that each successive season will find the
game more popular for a long time to come at
least In presence of these facts it is a
pity that the local club is in such bad
condition. Had it been in its best form probably
the clubs exchequer would have been enriched
considerably. Combined with the unfortunate
condition of the club the miserable effects of
Q very miserable schedule are being felt. Had
there been a rational schedule in operation the
team might have had some reasonable opportu-
nifty to recuperate at home. Certainly the
l,,Ia h., 80 Ala
League magnates, or at least some of them. 1t
ought to prompt a common understanding
among them that those who are absent from
the Schedule Committee must be fairly dealt
with. The home players have just ended long
and weary trip, and almost before they have
time to change their clothes they will be away
again. The thing is ridiculous.
Features of the Race:
Nothing extraordinary has been developed
during the week in the pennant struggle. The
Bostons still keep well in 'front.' but the truth
Is they have not tackled any team yet that is in
anything like championship form 1 do not for
amoment underestimate the hitting power of
the Bostons, but most certainly they have not
1sced the great pitchers in their best form yet
The Phillies are still plodding on more in good
luck than anything else. If President Nimick
IS anything like correct the Phillies are consid-
erably inferior to the Pittsburgs. This seems
reasonable statement. The Philadelphia lot
have not been here yet, but on paper
they look degrees below the Pittsburgs in
quality. It seems &c me also that the Phila-
oelphia pitchers almost good now
they will be, while the Pittsburg twirlers can
not well get worse than they are. However,
fhs p hillies are never to be despised, they are
always dangerous; probably not as winners Of
the pennSRt but as players who can stop some
other people from winning it. Cleveland con-
finues to surprise everybody. I mean by sur
prise that the Babies are doing far better
work than anybody expected them to do. They
really are another Illustration of the uncertain
ties Of baseball. 1t may, however, be that when
all the clubs got into thorough-going order the
"Babies" will not show up so good. They ares
. cTeditable accession TO League ranks, how
ever and their victories will doubtless be
hailed with delight by thousands of baseball
lovers. New York still keeps sadly out of
form. Like Pittsburg it generally makes bad
start. and it only seems reasonable to expect
that the club will shortly be as formidable as
ever. With Keefe and Welch in their best
form it seems difficult to see how any team can
beat the Giants. They are bound to play con-
siderably better than they have been doing, and
20 will Chicago.
Anson's Prediction,
II Captain A. C. Anson is correct in his pre-
diction, the League race is over as far as nam
ing the winner is concerned. The sturdy cap.
tain is certain that Chicago will finish first and
that Boston and Philadelphia will be the next
two. Pittsburg, he says, will likely beat the
New Yorks. All this sounds very well. but be-
fore seriously noticing what Mr.. Anson says or
predicts, we must not forget that he is man
ager and part owner of the club he predicts
ha firS4
view, could not very well say anything else than
what he has said about the result of the con-
test However, If he is in earnest, predict
that his prediction will be very wide of the
mark. Chicago has not played like winner at
all, and II does not seem that it will be much
stronger. The Chicago pitchers are
II they do not steady themselves won
Serfully the team will be far from the top
OF course Pittsburg will likely make matters
Interesting for New York. I believe that part
of Anson's prediction; but I also believe that
Plttsburg will make it lively for all the clubs
The horrible i'll luck that has tracked the Pitts
burgers so far cannot always last. 1t is a long
lane that never has a turning, and Just as sure
as this is q fact the luck of the local team will
turn. All that is needed is that the pitchers
get thoroughly into condition again, and when
they do the team will certainly declare itself in
very emphatic terms.
The Local Management.
During the week the local enthusiasts have
urged all kinds of reasons for the poor success
of the club. The most radical of these en-
thusiasts are again to the front with the stock
in-trade complaint about the -'rotten manage
ment" One of these complainers wrote the
paper the other day using exceedingly
strong language regarding the management
OF the teams. To publish the letter in full |
would serve no intelligent purpose because it
was made up entirely of assertions lmention
this to show that the charges of rotten man.
Agement" are just as regular as the baseball |
season. and thew not eOnfinad IN oil \.
they are in every city where i'll fortune is fol-
lowing the team. Icannot see for my life how the
local management is responsible for the poor
success of the club. Under the circumstances, |
the management has done extremely we'll If |
fhe pitchers had been all right the club would |
have been among the prominent winners and. |
II this had been so where is there one among |
these complainers who would have said other |
than the management was first class? The |
breaking down of the pitchers has caused the |
failure. and surely the management was not |
responsible for that. The truth is that if the |
pitchers had been all right and the club |
winning, the management would have /
The playing material at command would have |
been better and not the management This |
on the minds Of those who are looking for |
victims. am not arguing as to the merits and |
oemerits of the management of the local club. /
That Is another matter and which will not |
touch here, but what want to point out at /
present is the fart that there is nothing what /
ever TO show that bad management has had /
anything 70 do with the clubs misfortunes this /
1essoz.
The Local ScuIlers,
There are several young men actively en-.
gagged in trying TO revive an interest in boat
rowing. The task is an uphill one, but there
are prospects of success. Among those inter-
egted most are several members of the Colum-
bia Club.
Two Of the members had a scull race on
Decoration Day and that little event showed
- fu F1,a