The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-05
Base Ball.

| In progress are sufficiently notlceaOIe 70
turn general attention from tho misfortunes
besetting our national game to con-
slderation of what may be coming. The
source OF these opinions Is WILLIAM EWING.
an intelligent man. mainstay OF the
Brotherhood, the captain and catcher OF Its
New York contingent, and one OF the few In
the profession whose play reaches the dis
tinction OF positive style. Mr.. EWING
was as efficient rs any one In creating
tho duplicate OF the National League known
as the Players League. Having established
Itself. its purpose, In plain English, ls
to run the older organization out OF
business Tho success or failure OF that ef-
fort is on its way to decision. but that the
members OF the movement who have thrown
an eye beyond the present struggle hope to
do great deal moro than merely capture
the ground held by the premier organiza-
ton was stated with sufficient clearness in
an interview with EWING printed in The
| SUN on Sunday last, to this effect:
| "You arc In favor Of a nation Al agreement"
"Certainy."
This answer would come from any respon-
slbe man to whom the question might be
put Excepting the league made up Of the
fesslonal base ball business Of the couu-
try Is carried on as a sort OF trust, regu-
lated by what is known as national agree
ment. Under this arrangement the growth
OF popular interest In the game, and the
benefits to an ever increasing body Of
young men In search OF q living by playing
ball. have been astonishing. There was a
time, not 80 long ago, when the only
clubs whose names ever got beyond the
hearing OF their own diamonds were the At
lantlcs Of Brooklyn, the first and most IA
nous, and the Athletics OF Philadelphia
They met but three times year to present
the then highest known beauties OF their
sport, and to satisfy the national and nat
ural public longing to see square fight for
an undisputed championship. In those days
two wins out OF three decided it for year.
1t was the inspiration from these contests
that brought the New York Mutuals, the
Washington Nationals, the Morrisanla
Unions. the Trojan Haymakers. the Cleve-
land Forest Cities the Chicago Excelsiors.
the Lowell Trimountains, the Buffalo Mag
aras, the Lansing Kekiongas the Cincinnati
Red Stockings. and other clubs piling to-
gether 30 thickly and ambltiously that be-
fore long the necessity was seen Of bringing
the best Of the national game under q sys-
tenn that would make 1t permanent insti-
tuition OF great size, commanding vast pub
lie patronage and interest focused upon
the determination Of a final championship.
Under the incentive OF the unparalleled
chance for rivalry offered by the league plan.
professional mines multiplied with wonder
full rapidity. The number Of leagues very
1nI ba plap nf
clubs OF a few years back and for the better
regulation Of their individual affairs, and to
insure the preservation OF general inter-
est in their doings. they arrived at GER
tain understanding between themselves
whereby they could work in harmony. That
was the national agreement.
1t Is at this that the new organization Is
aiming Whatever motives may have led
the members OF the Brotherhood away from
their former employers, there is no ques-
ton that the body In which they are now
enrolled, the Players League, are bent on
stopping the old Leagues business. There
Is no live and let live in their programme.
They hope to drive their rivals off the
field, to take possession in their own name,
and to bring the minor leagues into associa-
ton with themselves. One OF the first
efforts on their part, beyond their own es-
Enlistment was to get the league next in
importance to the National League. the |
American Association TO come into partner
ship with them. Considering 1t safe to say |
that the country to-day has all the base ball
1t wants, there need be no expectation Of |
seeing the race which Is now on between the |
National and Players Lea CUES last indeh- |
nltely. We do not, however look for the /
outcome suggested By "a large number Of
stanch supporters OF the game " who have |,
been interviewed by the Indianapolis Senti- |
mel Their verdict was that III the double !
deal continued 1t would result In nothing
but the ruin Of the national game" The |
national game has been hurt. undoubtedly, |
but before 1t Is ruined the so-called double ,
deal will come To an end One OF the great
leagues must bring the other to stop. |
aud each hopes 10 be the ono TO continue
alone. The monopolstlc warnings IN each
are about equal. We do not mean by this
that the original secession Of the Brother
hood was not effected with som" idea Of
charging the rights and importance
u the employed IA against tho employers.
md OF putting them under less rIgor-
Gus restraints In carrying on their pro-
iession But the idea Of making any serious
change In this respect seems 10 b. de-
lusiOn. H. indeed, II In any longer thought
~. Tho rules that hay" governed leagues
hitherto viii substantially govern them
hereafter II base ball j. 10 regain and Z" Keep
the importance Il had a year ago, We have
little doubt tnht the brotherhood themselves
know th!s and certainly the sly capitalists
behind them know u. II fortune should DE.
eide that tho iinanclrr, Of tho movement
should De bOrun thereby a. hrill greater
wealth. they will be- very lucky tliow-, but
IN that caso We 80 not bollrvc that one Of
them vii! close hls we.l.nllcd purse AZ tho
end 81 the saHsnn without also slightly clos.
INK ono csc, There Wac too much numlaIH
worked into III" h"gnHluH ~ the uow
hehem" not " make ~ pATnpunrGhlA
II capitalists take their subsequent win.
hinge With u grin II ~" dHy r. final.
IS thelfs and they suc"ard ~ k.llug N
10. I'll