Telegram-herald., 1890-07-13
BASEBALLAFAILURE
The National and Players Leagues
Losing Big Money.
1 sEW SCHEME FOR sEII YEAR
There VIII Probably be Some Record
smashing at the Blue Ribbea Meet
inx sullivan IS Esaalns Jack
son--Gsaer@i sporting Esents.

basc-DAll peyOnu uOubt mas uctn
failure all over the country this season,
and the only wonder Is how some OF
the blg salaried teams have managed
10 keep up as long as they have. The
attendance has been simply ridiculous.
Ii is true that one or two OF the Ma
tional and Players league cities are
drawing respectable crowd, but the bal
ance do not thaye enough 10 pay guaran-
tees. The actual figures show this.
Up to and including last Thursday the
National l.eagueclu played PSI games
and the Players League 25l games.
The combined attendance for the sea
son has been sS5 1856. and of this 81 per
cent. We're patrons OF the Players
League. The average attendance has
been l742, Boston and Philadelphia
nave drawn about so per cent. of this
and the balance is divided between the
other cities. According 10 an
article published IN the Chicago
Tribune six weeks ago, il was necessary
for the Players League Club of that
city 10 draw at least 1900 people 10 each
game, in order 10 make anything at all.
The attendance has not averaged half
that number; IN fact, IL would be nearer
1000, and often it has been nearer 800.
The Plttshurg National League Club is
on the verge of dissolution, and both
the National League and the Players
League organizations of Cleveland are
ready 10 throw up the sponge. Buffalo
has also lost money. This is the situa-
ton at the present day. Both of these
big leagues are in even worse condition
than the International League WAS
when it interviewed the ghost few
days ago. The public may not be
surprised If the crash comes at any
moment.
Next season will undoubtedly zee
many changes in baseball. President
Hewitt. of the National League, in
speaking of the situation says next year
will witness an Eastern and Western
baseball circuit. Already the East is
tired of losing money. paying for long
and expensive trips to the West, and
the proposition isreceiving earnest con-
sideration by the magnates OF putting n
stop to such waste. No one for an
instant believes that the Brotherhood
will last another season, and the best
players OF the organizations will be
found next year in the Eastern and
Western teams. Already suggestion
has been made looking 10 the formation
of one Eastern League IN which Wash
ington will be represented, and the best
paying cities in TINS section will be en-
rolled under the new banner. When
the new league is organized Washing
ton will be represented, and money can
be made if good team is secured and
admission is fixed at 80 cents"
The races of the Detroit Driving Park
begin next week with the best field of
horses ever entered at trotting meet
ing, and the exhibitions promised have
never been equalfed in America. 1t is
l. altogether likely that with such horses
as Alcryon, Palo Alto, Margeret s..
Alerton, NavIdid Houri, Susie S Axtell
and Sunol there will be some record
smashing, and horsemen will watch the
result with great interest. ID. j. Cam
pau and the gentlemen who have
worked ipdefatigubly for the success
of the Blue Ribbon meeting, are deserv-
iug,of, the highest praise, and their ef-
forts should be paid by the earnest
support of the public. The meeting of
the Grand Rapids Horsemen's Associa-
ton illustrates that horse races are at
tended by the best class of people when
properly conducted The sport is
noble, grand and elevating.
Will John L. Sullivan meet Peter
Jackson, the Australian? This is
question which sporting men answer
evasively. Sullivan has time and time
again declared that he would never
| fight colored man. He declined the
challenge of Godfrey and others several
years ago, and at first he said that he
would never meet Jabkson ID the ring.
The Australian, however, has been
pushing him pretty hard and several
months ago he consented TO meeting
at the rooms of the California Athletic
Club providing the purse was large
| enough. He also stipulated that the
match could not como off until after
his Mississippi trouble was over. Sulli-
van has since had his little difficulty IN
the South settled, but as yet he has not
slgnified his Willingness to meet Jackson
70 sign articles of agreement IN any
from or shape. Jack Ashton, the
Providence Spugllist, who has been the
sparring partner of Peter Jackson since
the latters return from England, has
just came east from the Pacific slope.
He says Jackson is diss ppointed at his
inability to get on a match with sulli-
van, and ne Will soou return TO Austria
lls, # IN the meantime, does not
change his mind. He has looked for
ward 10 a fight with the champio1 ever
since he came back from England, but
be has little hope of meeting him.
=.
There seems 70 be A widespread di-
versty Of opinion as 10 the relative
merits Of Tommy Ryan aud jimmy
Murphy. and It is only question Of
time when they viii have 70 come to-
gether to settle the point Of superiority.
Both men are unquestl0nablv very
I scientific. and each has hrs friends
who are willing 20 wager their money
on the result of meeting between the
two. Murphy holds the lightweight
championship Of Michigan, and none
can MAKE clam 20 i bat himself, until
+ they succeed ln defeating him. Ryan
AZ the prcsent time CLAIMS that Murphy
: afraid 70 give him a second 70, but
T Murpby in return SAWS be VII gTatify
+ the syracuse man u the fall Eve
snce thev fought sbout a year ago. an
/ am cable feeling does not exist. Mar
/ rhs- a.--s that Nvar - ont ~ "a ct.-s