The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-05-14
THE NATIONAL GAME.
THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE LEAGUE
AND THE BROTHERHOOD.

| in Many Cities IL Has Caused Lack of
| Interest and Enthusiasm - Tho Injury
| Thought 10 lie Not Permanent-Editor
CayIor ON Base Ball Club Expenses.
! lcHICAGo CORRESPONDENCE
| The second week of the Brotherhood
and League fight has ended and still there
II no break along the line. 1t is true that
the transfer of the games from Pittsburg
to Chicago started the rumor that the
League had weakened on its fight, but
there seems to have been no foundation
no disposition or intention of changing
the schedule to avoid conflicting dates,
and it is probable that the fight will be
kept up for some time.
-'here has been marked falling off in
attendance in some places and some peo-
pie have raised the cry that the game is
| on the down grade and is losing its popu-
larity. While there can be no question
that in some places there is lamentable
lack of interest and enthusiasm, it does not
follow that the game has been permanent
| ly injured. 1t is probable that the pub
lie is simply waiting until the situation
settles before swearing allegiance to one
side or another. The Brotherhood move
ment has turned the baseball world topsy
turvy, and it will take some time to re-
sumo its equilibrium. AS the season pro-
crosses and the contest grows hot those
who have kept aloof will gradually return,
and the game will be restored TO all its
wonted popularity. Tie national pastime
is too popular with the American people
to receive Ony permanent injury by
movement such o. the brotherh God made.
The only thing that could kill the game
| would be for it to fall into disrepuable
hands and thus let the public lose conf
| dence in IL. Such n stage will probably
never be reached in its history.
One OF the remarkable things this
season has been the rough handling the
| pitchers have received at the hands of
the batters. Many people have asked if
any rules have been made TO handicap the
pitchers. The answer is. NO" The
same rules rs last season prevail, and
| last year the pitchers as a rule had the
best of it. There is bat one explanation
for the heavy batting, and that is that the
pitchers are not yet conditioned. The
spring was so backward that the cham
pionship season was here before the clubs
had any practice at ALL The result was
that the pitchers went into the field half
| conditioned and unable to hold their
own. When the hot weather comes
they will no doubt assert them
| selves. There can be no question that
all the leagues opened their champion
ship season too early. All of April
should be given up to practice and the
J championship season should not be
started until May | OF each year. Last
week the weather was entirely too cold
for ball-playing except one day, and
} those who had the temerity to go to the
games are now no doubt eloping colds.
Then, too, the effect is bad on the play
ers. Cold weather does not affect them
in the fall as in the spring. as they are
seas oned and able to stand it. In the
spring, however, they are unable to with
stand cold weather. and soreness is the
result, which is oftentimes not gotten
| rid of until the summer Is well advanced.
During the week the two Chicago clubs
have done very creditable work. Ansons
young men, by profitable series with the
Pittsburg Leaguers, raised themselves
from the third place on the list to the
top of the whole League crowd. It may
seem remarkable that a team of colts
should lead the old veterans of the Brook
| Ign, Boston, Cincinnati, and New York
teams, but the fact is less strange
when the playing of these colts is
examined. Arson, In his rambles over
the country, has found some wonder
luliy pIOmIslHp lult NJ SUING Oh us young
players would have figured as stars of the
League in the League best days. Young
Cooney, KittridRe, Nagle, Andrews, and
O Brien are players whose equals are not
TO be found every day. The start in the
National League has been not only en-
couraging to themselves but highly sat
isfactory to their managers and their
friends as we'll On the whole, the local
League men play game of ball which, If
continued, insures them a good place in
the percentage column at the general
roundup next fall.
o. p. Caylor, the well-known base
ball writer. has taken a tab and pencil
and figured out that the Players League
is sure to fail financially The following
table gives one clubs expenses for the
season, as studied out by Caylor, who
explains his method of arriving at each
total in a lengthy article. These are his
figures