Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-04
A REVIEW OF SPORTS.
Some of the Leading Baseball
Events of the Week.
TWENTY-FIVE CENT BALL.
Oarsman Hanlan's Opinion About
Mclean and VConnor.
twenty-five CENT BALL.
CHALLENGES TO FIGHT SULLIVAN

Here we are again, and the fight is still
going on; of course 1 mean the baseball
fight. We must not ignore baseball, as for
the time being that is the alpha and omega
of terrestrial affairs. Matters have not been
as lively during the week as they might
have been, rain having prevented several
rames. The wet weather has been pretty
extensive. and while the water has been
falling uanv OF the new baseball capitalists
NAV have looked on with an aching heart,
to say nothing of the players. The rain has
been unfortunate, indeed. But it has given
some people pretense of saying that it has
been the inclement weather that has kept
the crowds down. 1 will be very
happyif future patronage verifies this opinion:
but fear that it won't The week has not
been fraught with anything Of a prominent
kind, except the rain. The various clubs have
not been as successful as the friends Of each
expected to see them. There have been big
"0penings." of course, but we all have lived to
learn that openings openings nowadays.
In many cases don't hesitate to say that there
has been a drummed up enthusiasm that has
soon shown itself to he of an ephemeral kind. 1t
is hardly fair to take this kind of enthusiasm
into consideration, so that we must walt much
longer to see what the lasting or per-
manent sentiment Is going to be. !
don't think that any of us who are at
all fair minded can prove ANYTHING by
the patronage bestowed on the respective clubs
so far There must be a longer test but am
quite free 60 admit that as far as matters have
gone the Players League has had much the
best of it. But how much? That's the ques.
tion. 1t is preposterous to talk about 10 to
ora TO ! the best of it. Such statements are SO
ridiculous that they Iniure the side on which
they are made. 1t is singular to me to find that
during The week those who dabble in figures,
one-sided figures / mean, seem to have over
looked the fact that at Boston and Brooklyn
the new League is having quite a struggle to
keep, even with the old organization. In deal
ing with matters of comparison most as
suredly we should use our best endeavors to be
impartial. If we don't our comparisons are
as worthless as a rotten peach. Well, now,
If the struggle continues at Brooklyn and
at one or two other places as it has
begun 1t will need some very curious figuring to
make either side pay. Don't let US shut our
ewes to this fact. II matters don't mend there
will be collapse somewhere. 1t is only nat
ural to expect that after the first flush of en-
thusiasm produced by the novelty of new de-
parture is over, that patrons of the game will
more or less settle down indltferently. Then
will be the time for the real test and then will
be the time for each side to put forth its best
attractions
The Work of the Clubs.
There has been little or no choice between the
playing in the two rival leagues during the
week. There has been some very loose playing
on both sides. which fact goes to strengthen
my contention that the revolt has interfered
with the quality of the respective teams We
need only to look at the Boston or New York
teams to become convinced Of this fact. Last
year there was something like an ideal base
ball team, and this year. juds ing from work so
Tar done, neither of the clubs is good second
rate. A fact of this kind ought to discourage
disinterested lovers of the game. Our local
clubs, in my way of thinking, are neither as
good as that which we had last tall. am aware
that Manager Hanlon thinks differently. and he
is a good practical judge but work so far done
leads me to my conclusion. 1t Is fair, however.
to note that the season is just start
ed, but 1 an taking that into con-
club, 1 am inclined to think, is destined
TO be a good team. The youngsters have
played some good games. just as good as any
team has done so far. They are irregular, and
that we must expect to see for some time to
come. What is needed most is a good pitcher
and an infelder. l don't mean that the young
pitchers are not good; they are among the most
promising in the country, but l mean that a
good and reliable man is needed to help the
youngsters out. Another good infielder would
also make a great difference. Altogether l
season progresses. They have time on their
side.
Two Leading Features.
During the last few days the baseball world
has been considerably agitated regarding two
happenings in Pittsburg and what makes mat.
tiers more interesting is the fact that one OF
these happenings relate to the new League and
the other to the old one. Of course 1 refer to
the reduction of the price of admission to
games and to the transfer of the PittSburg-
Chicago series of games from Pittsburg to Chi
cago. There has indeed been much said and
written concerning these two changes, and each
OF the contending parties have endeavored to
prove that the change of base on the part of the
other has been caused by what is termed weak
ening." Now,l pay very little regard to the word
weakening, particularly when used as many
people are using it. 1t is invariably used in the
present conflict Just as children would use it
when playing at school, and has no real applica-
tion to the case at issue. If we will take the
time to examine the matter with little care
think we'll find that in both the cases above
referred to there were reasons of the most
potent kind for both changes. l do not attach
much significance to the transfer of games
made by the National League because fail to
see any proof that it is the precursor of any
thing like a general change of dates. A
change such as the one in question might be
made even in the most pacific times; in fact
games have been transferred from city that
did not seem very profitable to one that was
much more profitable time and time again
And in no instance have we argued that it was
. case Of weakening" Common sense of the
most ordinary kind taught US different; it
taught us 20 know that ordinary business in
terests prompted the change just so with the
transfer of the games referred TO from Pitts
burg to Chicago. Mr.. Spalding thought that
to open the Chicago season ahead of the Play
ers' League would be a benefit to him. and he
requested the Pittsburg club TO assist him in
making the change. The change was made
then. for business purposes, and it would Ger
talnly be very bad business tact to allow senti-
ment prevail over the sensible demands of
business il such case. Wen, the little move
on the part of the PittsbuTg and Chicago clubs
has been cause for many people saying that the
National League was about to make change
al around. wish such a change were made,
but Messrs. Day Young and others tell us that
no such thing will happen. change would
be the wisest thing.