Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-07

| is simply encouraging all the acts and con-
sequences of drunkenness that have dis
graced the game in the past. If Brown de-
sires TO get drunk and act disgracefully, the
probability of being released by his club
has little or no influence because he knows
that another club in the opposing camp will
take him. 1t is to be hoped that amid all
the efforts of one organisation to down
another there will be a general desire tc
keep players OF the kind spoken Of out Of
| the business.
The Local Natieual League Club.
During the last few days there have been
mauv very harsh things said about the un-
fortunate National League club of this city.
Everybody who has at all taken an interest
in the national game has been more or less
disgruntled about that club. As result
there have been many things said and writ
ten about the club that in calmer moments
would hardly have been thought about. A
mother in temper will say many cross words
to her troublesome child that she never
| dreams of at other times. Well, all these
outbursts of feeling about this unfortunate
club goes to show that there is great base
ball interest in this city and that 1t is the
general desire to have a team here Just as
good as the teams at other places. It would,
indeed, be a discouraging sign if nobody
was to grumbe and "kick" at the poor work
of either of our clubs. If public indiffer-
ence got to that degree 1 would give up all
hope of baseball in this city. Doubtless
the local National League club has had a
remarkable career so far this season, and
one of the chief causes OF all its mislortunes
was the unprepared way in which it started
the season. Had the club officials followed
the example of Anson and others and gone
out and tested the young players before the
real struggle commenced, things would
have been better. But the sitting and test
| ing has all had to be done while the contest
has been going on. No doubt the manage
ment of the club has done its best under the
circumstances, but the circumstances
have been against success; in
deed it would have been extremely
remarkable if the club had been a success
under the conditions that have existed. But
in calm moments there is one feature of the
club in question that we should ever re-
member and that is: Gentlemen connected
with it have invested many thousands of
dollars in it and have stood by it Tor many
years. If any of us would put ourselves in
the places OF the stockholders depend upon
it we would see things quite different to
what we see them looking from the outside.
1 am quite ready to admit that there are
many eXtenuating circumstances surround
ing the local National League club, but its
officials seem to me to have depended more
for success on the breaking down of the
Players League than on the good quality OF
their own players. There is reason for
thinking that the local n. L. club officials
only or at least chief desire has been to
maintain u club of any kind in this city,
fully believing that the new club would last
only short time. The Players League
has fooled many people and the Pittsburg
n. L. officials are among the number.
But to oust the n. L. club from Pitts
burg would be one of the unfairest
transactions that know OF; that is to oust
the team out without compensation to the
stockholders. The club has as much right
here as any other, and I dare say more in
many respects, but !or club to be retained
or maintained by city there is always one
condition at least necessary, viz: That it is
reasonably good. There is no reason that
know of, moral or otherwise, why the pub
lie should patronize ball team that num-
bers among the worst in the country, and We
may even rest assured that clubs success
will always rest upon the quality of its
players. IF there is only to be one club In
Pittsburg want the best club we can get.
Sentiment and rotten eggs will never make
a meal no more than sentiment and bad ball
players will make good and successful team.
The Players Team.
Friends of the local Players team must
admit that they have been more or less dis
appointed by that team. 1 am free 10 con-
fess that have, although at this juncture
do not intend to point out the causes OF that
disappointment. But, to make a general
statement, say the team has come far short
Of doing what l expected it would do. and it
seems to me that to make good team of it
many changes will be necessary for next
year. There is time yet this season for the
team to make respectable showing, but
fear that the players generally will not be
equal to the task. At the beginning of the
season 1 expressed a fear regarding the
pitching power of the team, and my fear
was we'll grounded. But about next seasonl
According to all rumors, the great question
with the club is: To be, or not to be? One
condition in every rumored baseball deal is
that Pittsburg is to be dropped from the
am prepared to place credence in deal of
this kind only on one condition.: That is, if
the deal is general one and one in which
the National League will participate. If a
general deal of this kind were made would |
not be surprised to find only National
League club here; but if limited deal is
made, that is, deal between the
Players League and some other or
ganization outside the National League,
see no reason for thinking that the |
True, as L have just intimated, 1t has not
been the success that its friends expected it
would be, and what is more, many visiting |
clubs have an idea that Pittsburg is not a |
successful baseball town. This idea has |
originated from the patronage bestowed this |
season; but it would be wrong to come to |
any permanent conclusion regarding Pitts
burg from what it has done this year.
However, there may be outside influences |
at work to have Pittsburg dropped from the |
list. Manager Hanlon aud others emphat- |
icslly deny that there are. But if there is q |
PLAYERS League team here next season we |
may expect to see many changes in it. I |
have it from a trustworthy source that some.
important changes are contemplated, and |
they are necessary. Some Of the players |
have not been as true to Manager Hanlon |
as they ought to have been. This fact has |
not been overlooked by the officials of
the club. and there are other players |
who are not clean enough for the team. If re- |
ports are true there will be many changes in
various P. L. clubs and I have it on good |
authority that Larkin will not be found |
with the Cleveland club. II is stated that
AL. johnson and others are not favorably
inclined toward Larkin. Manager Hanlon,
however, declines to say anything definite
any changes, but he emphatically
contends that neither Kelly, Ewing, Ryan
or any other leading player in the Players
League has made any engagement with the
National League officials for next year. I