Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-23
Blunders of the National
League Magnates.
HONOR In BASEBALL DEALS
Opinions About the Battle Between
McAuliffe and Carroll.
COMPARISON OF THE PUGILISTS


better term. For instance, we find refer
enee to the "war period" the famine
period, - the 'puritanic period, " etc. Well, In
future, baseball enthusiasts will look back
to the various periods of the national games
history, and undoubtedly as far as the
National League is concerned the period OF
1889 and 1890 will be referred to as the
''Blundering Period" Probably J. Palmer
O'Neill never made truer statement in his
life than when he said, the other day, that
the National League has made some mis-
takes. We all have known that for long
time, but what would be interesting to know
is when will the League stop making
blunders. In very many respects the mag
mates have done we'll in the past, but
since a new force of opposition has appeared
on the scene none of US can say the magnates
have acted with anything like good judgment.
Why, was there ever such muddle than the
ten-club and eight-club affair? They had
great and lively time in getting the ten clubs,
and indeed, they have had much more of
Donnybrook-fair-time in getting the organiza-
ton down TO its usual size again. Certainly we
have been told that everything has been pleas
ant and ali the magnates have daily declared
their respect and admiration for Presidents
Brush and Hewitt But the latter have GER
tainly had reason to say:
"'Tis all very well to dissemble your love:
But why did you kick me down stairs?"
While all these manifestations of friendship
have been going on depend upon it the
magnates have stealthily been applying
the boot to both indianapolis and
Washington A timidity worthy of censure has
characterized the magnates recent actions;
they had a work to perform, and have been
doing it in way that indicated they were
ashamed of it. They made most egregious
blunder when they added two clubs to their
original list, and they have developed that
blunder into much larger proportions by allow
ing it to remain uncorrected SO long. The
magnates must show much more vim and
activity in future if they want to make good
impression during the coming conflict.
The Eight Club Lengue.
without doubt the eight-club plan is the very
best thing that could be for the National
League. With that number OF clubs the League
Will be strong and in excellent fighting condi-
ton. That there are some very strong cities
in the League nobody will gainsay and don't
expect that the circuit of eight clubs will b. a
very expensi''' on. In several cities at the 40
per cent rate visiting clubs will, make money
and the salary list of each club vii. be much
it would have been better for the Brotherhood
had the ten-club plan remained, but fail to see
that it would have been much better. If the
new League cannot cop. with the old as an
eight-cIub league don's think its chanee2 of
success would be much better were thera two
clubs more. The elgh i-club plan will permit of
more conflicting dates should there be desire
to have them. The desire may and may
not exist, but 1 am not inclined to think
that it does exist to the extent that
we have been led to believe. To
me it would seem business to have as few con-
f1ictlng dates as possible. OF course am aware
that it is question of the survival of the !
fittest but there is reason to believe that the |
'fttest' part of it will be tested thoroughly |
even though the dates may not be very conflict |
ing
The New Club.
Manager Hanlon is one of those anxious men |
who is never comfortable mind until every
thing under his charge is all right. He has |
displayed this anxiety considerably of late in /
trying to have his team of players in good con- |
dItion for the opening of the season. There |
are very strong indications that he will succeed.
He has a team of willing workers, and |
SO far none of them have been reported |
much out of condition, Work on the |
new grounds has not progressed as |
it ought to have done, and this may prevent |
the players from lots of practice that they 9TH |
erwise would have had. However they are |
exercising hard every day, and if they get into |
good condition their ball playing art will soon |
be frightened uD. Mr.. Hanlon is to all appear |
ances going to have good team. say ito all |
appearances because experience has taught |
us baseball teams and players are oftentimes |
not what they seem. But l think it is pretty |
safe to rely on the fact that the new local team
will be an exceedingly good one. The recapture |
of Beckley has strengthened the club consid- |
erably, and expect that no matter how erratic |
his course may have been, he will play great |
ball His Shortcomings venture to saw will |
be forgotten by the public as soon as he |
clears the bases with long hit. The public /
sentiment in cases like Beckleys is extremely |
spasmodic. and if his playing is remarkable |
his past will be to great extent buried. If he |
makes big mistakes his past will be hurled at /
him with greater force than ever. l make |
these remarks not as a palliation for Beckley's |
questionable dealings, but as my opinion of the 1
stability of public sentiment. Well Beckley |
will do the club good. The balance of the in
rectly. But MIR. Hanlon will have a great |
pitching force and some very big hitters. These |
are two great essentials in winning games. |
There is every prospect that the pitchers will |
all be in good condition and the catching force |
is also very promising.
About the Colts.
Well, after all, we will have ball PLAYERS when |
the present stars have been totally extin-
guished. The week has revealed the fact that |
the youngsters, at least some of them, engaged |
by the local League club are likely to become |
great players During practice some of them |
have displayed remarkable ability, but what |
they will do in a bona fide conflict remains to |
be seen. There seems no doubt, However.
about the ability of some OF them, and, indeed. |
it would be strange were no good ones to be Sc |
cured out of the lot There is an enthusiasm |
among them that augurs WELL and Manager
Hecker is about as enthusiastic as any in the |
team. Of course old players always have |
tendency to look with kind of nonchalapt and |
superior air on youngsters, and even if the lat |
ter are playing in the most brilliant style the |
older heads refuse 20 give credit for it until |
circumstances absolutely force recognition
This was in the cases OF Staley and Beckley
when they first came to Pittsburg. Those
great players who have become rich in
the business all young themselves
once. and encouragement and -fairplay have
been two great elements in their success Well
we ought all of US, both public and players to
in every way possible give the youngsters a
SHOW If PIttsburg can develop good team
out of raw material, l think it will be one of
the best achievements that has taken place in
local baseball annals. There will, no doubt, be
few old players in the team but the bulk will
be youngsters, and am sure they have my best
wishes to succeed They have nothing what
ever to do with the conflict going on, and there
is no reason why patrons of the game should
discourage them from trying to become experts
in the business. 1t seems to me that the more
good players there are developed the better it
Will NC AOt bhO puDl1Cs L du lnCilueu 10 lnlnh
that the bonanza" period of the ball players
is rapidly vanishing; all the bulwarks that
guarded their big salaries are one by one dis
appearing, and when the whole is swept away
they will be in a very much changed condition.
Those Questions OF Honor,
1t is not unreasonable to say that during the
last week or so, particularly during the last few
days we have been inundated with declara-
tions from Brotherhood and National League
alike that nothing but the highest standard of
honor was prompting their actions. 1 am not