The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-21
A MINOR LEAGUE.
The Atlantic Association Is
Strong and Healthy.
TT DOESN'T ESCAPE THE BIG WAR.


! The Fight Betwcra tho Brotherhood
and the National League Affects Every
Professional Ball CInS in the Land.
Prospects in the Pennant Race.
There have been many attempts made
during the past ten years to establish a
minor league Ia the east that should be
permanent, but ali have been failures for
reasons hardly worth reasdiing now. The
! latest attempt, however, which resulted in
the organization Of the Atlantic associa-
ton, seems to ne % have a stability to it
that may make it a permanent feature Of
our baseball family OF Leagues. There
would not be a doubs Of this were it not for
the baseball war occasiorod by the revolt
Of the players OF tho National league and
| the stagnation of general interest, which
all are now compelled TO admit is likely to
continue as long as the war exists. This
matter Affects the Atlantic association as
it affects all leagues, and the Atlantic
| association goes under the baseball conflict
between the two big leagues win be solely
responsible for it.
There are some. very strong men IN the
association, men who neyer quit and who
never know when they are beatan. The
main props OF the organization are John
w Shoemaker, of Newark; James n.
Braden, of Jersey City; Walter W. Burn
ham, of New Haven; f. J. Lang, of Hart
ford; William Barnie, of Baltimore; James
A Cudworthy, of Worcester, and John
Burdoek, of Jersey City OF these Mr..
Shoemaker and the three Bs-Braden,
Burnham and Barnie-have done the prin-
cipal work in putting the association on q
sound basis, and to their individual efforts
is really due its present existence, because
they held things together when the situa-
ton was critical, and By wise moves and
sdllful steering managed TO avoid the rocks
of disaster against which the association
seemed to be sure to go.
These four men rescued the association
from shallow waters, smashed up an or
ganization which was seeking to dismem-
Der it, and patching up the damaged cir
cult started out with better prospects than
ever The circuit at present has only one
really weak member, the Wilmington club,
and that is weak of necessity, as it was al
most the last to come in, and the club
must needs struggle along until it gets a
team and experience. Some club must be
last in the race, and it is only natural that
the weakest team should go to the wall.
After a season, if the Wilmington people
stick, they viii get fair team together,
and with good manager can expect to
make showing that will be more salts
factory.
lam not In position to know anything
very definite as to the financial success Of
the League this season. From general in
formation it is my impression that the
New Haven, Baltimore, Newark and
Washington clubs are not losing any
money, and that the former club has done
very well financially. At Hartford, Worces-
ter and Jersey City there has been very
little profit, but the gentlemen connected
with the clubs appear to be satisfied, SO
presume the deficit is not large. The Will
mington club IS large loser, mainly be-
cause of the poor playing Of its team.
The pennant race has been most inter
esting one. The first six clubs are very
evenly matched and the fight between
them has been hot. At the start the Wash
ingtOn team cut out a terrific pace and
seemed to have a runaway race Of ii, but
after a while the other clubs got their
speed and have succeeded in pulling Hew-
tits team down to fifth place, but the team
is too good a one to remain contented with
that position 1t ought to finish at least
fourth or better.
The fight at present is between Burn
hams New Haven team and BARNES
Orioles. These teams, with Worcester and
Newark, will probably run up and down
the gamut from now to October, but it
seems TO me that TIE final struggle will be
e ~ay-
and that it will come between Burnha1n
and Barnie on the end of the season. 1t
Will be a toss up between the two if they
keep their teams to the front until the
close. OF course allowance must be made
for accidents; either New Haven or Balti-
more is apt TO have some of their most re-
liable players in ured, which will, ofcourse,
make great difference. The general i'm
preston, except at New Haven, is that
Baltimore will land a winner There is
chance, however, that the favorite Will slip
up. Personally l pin my faith to New
Haven, with Baltimore to finish second.
The managers of the Atlantic Assecia-
ton are ambitious rs we'll as able men, and
there seems to be no good reason why their
organization should not become 4, PseGma-
nent one, That it Will De l have no doubt,
IL ilftN C@-l1 lAC6) ~ ssJIii~ IubIl VIC
tween the two great leagues has been fin
ished or truce called Secretary J. n
BTaden, who is the right man in the right
place, says that the association is solid
financially and sure to go ahead. The
scheme of Messrs BGrnie and Burnha-a
TO get the Athletic club into the associa-
ton has not been abandoned by any means,
but is only sleeping. From present APP
pearances, however, it IS doomed to long
sleep, a. the American association seems
likely TO hold together. If, however, such
a desl could be arranged the Atlantic asso-
citation would be d fixture surely.
There Is a general impression that the
American association outcIasscs the Allan
tic TO great extent This is principally
because under the National agreement the
American is recognized as a major league.
As a matter of fact the Atlantic association
is rich In playing material. and while the
American teams as r,2fe are better, the
difference is not 50 great as is generally
supposed. The New Havens, BaitimoreS,
Washipgtons and Newarks would all hus-
tie the best club in the American associa-
ton, and On the whole the class of ball
playing furnished by the Atlantic teams is
quite as interesting snd enjoyable as that
put up by the American teams as at present
constituted. ". l. HARRIS