Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-08-24
They SEE DOUBLE
Both Leagues Give Out False
Attendance Figures.
HARRIS CONDEMNS THE TRICK.


Gossip.
There is now no indicator by which the
public can form a definite idea OF the prog.
ress OF the baseball wal from day to day.
The attendance thermometer has been ex-
ploded. To be palmer both sides are now
lying so abominably about their attend
ance that no reliance whatever can he
placed in official figures. II is surprising
that the newspapers so generally print the
figures given them when their reporters
well know how unreliable they are. II is
noticeable. however, that many papers
queer" the official figures by giving in
addition rcporrorial estimates of the
crowds. 1t is difficult to say when this sys.
TEN of fals,lioation of figures was adopted.
There has always been more or less exag.
geration from the beginning. but IL may
be accepted that prior 10 July I the figures
given out by the clubs showed about the
proportion existing between the attend
snce at both leagues, although there were
numerous occasions when the totals were
swelled enormously. The National league
people say that they were compelled to
whoop their figures to keep pace with the
Misrepresentation of the PLAYERS league
in that regard. The latter reply hy coun-
ter charges of the same kind. aud say that
they have increased their figure, simply to
maintain the proper proportion between
the W leagues.
IL il one of those cases where YOU paw
your money and take your choice. The
exaggeration in the city of Sew York,
where | visit both parks every day. has
been something ride llous. The official
figures for Aug. Q, II and IL AT the Polo
grounds were 2a,05a, l0i and l.Sa6: total.
4,sS9, At Brotherhood park thcy were
3.+45, l,a,5 and l,7!3: total, ;.li.. The
actual attendance b. the National games
was not over $50 and at the Players
games IL did not exceed 5000. On Aug. IL,
for INSTANCE, the League private count of
the Brotherhood crowd was G3l. The
Brotherhood private count of the League
crowd WAS $40. The Leagues actual at
tendance, shown by their book. was "a.
The Brotherhoud's actual attendance,
shown by their looks, was SD. The latter
gave out ,,93. and the former l.s96.
The official Players leaguel figures of
the three games between New FORK and
Brooklyn were 9,Sj4. There were actually
present very few over 400. \; the Ma.
tional lie, que games between Philadelphia
and New York the official figures were
2,3iO. The actual attendance WAS about
1900. And this system If seeing double
may be expected to obtain for the balance
of the season. In other cities | an told by
reliable correspondents that the same state
II affairs exists.
The Players league champion in fight
Is certainly n great race with al least live
CLUBS having a chance TO finish first. Bos-
ton, New York and Brooklyn will, I think,
justify my spring estimate of their
strength by heating Comiskey's men out
in the race, C~omiskey's hold Oh second
place il very feeble, aud when his team
come east during the next three weeks
they will have a large sized contract on
hand ia their attempt 10 stay at the top.
They wont do IL because the eastern clubs
are playing better hall now they are
playing far stronger clubs. inasmuch as
they are stacked up against each other.
The winning Of ten games from Pittsburg,
Cleveland and Buffalo doesn't prove any
thing more than that Comiskcy has by far
the best of the western teams. lie will find
Il different In the east.
As to the final champions, il seems to me
thai the fight is between Boston aud New
York. The latter, on account Of the in
creasing efficiency of it's pitchers, may
win it out, but ! still hold to my first choice.
Boston, by reason Of its great hitting and
base running team, should win the prize,
and will unless Radbourn and Gumhert 20
TO pieces. Still, 1t will bc a pretty fight,
and IL Is of course on the cards that Brook
Ign or Chicago may strike a terrific pace
on the home stretch and knock out all cal
culations.
We have recently been counting Gin
cinnati out OF the National league race.
So far As first place Is concerned this may
be correct, but the Reds are going to make
q hot Fight with Philadelphia for third
place. II doesn't look as IL either team
could do any better. The Phillies had a
grand chance, but the absence Of Myers
from the team and the inability Of Viekery
TO hold his end up In the box have about
settled their chances. There is little prob
ability that the Phillies can regain their
place in the remaining forty games OF the
season.
The fight for first place will narrow down
before long to Boston and Brooklyn.
Judging by their recent successes az linst
Boston, the Brooklyn team would win the
pennant IL the balance Of their games were
against that club, but their slight lead Is
hardly sufficient TO Withstand the shock Of
the final western trip. Both teams will be
II home now for the rest Of the month,
and Brooklyn ought to hold its lead. The
chances are in favor Of Brooklyn, but II
Boston should succeed in going west on
the final trip in first place the odds are
that IL will return home in the same
position. Boston's pitchers may not be
effective against the Brooklyns, but they
appear to be more effective against other
clubs than the Brooklyn pitchers are.
1 have eaten my dish Of crow on the
failure of my prediction that Mutrie's
team would finish first, but it was not so
unpalatable rs it might have been, as the
cook made due allowance for the long
string OF disastrous accidents met with by
Mutrie's players. The splendid game the
team played prior to May 30, and the great
work il has done since Aug. o, suggest that
but for the accidents referred to there
would have been no crow for me 10 mastl-
cate.
TrtyGs THAT ARE SAID.
That when indianapolis retired from the
League TINT organization bought the
franchise and the New York club pur-
chased the ~.leases Of the players.
That the attempt 10 show that the Ma
tioaal leArup owns an interest In the New