The Washington critic., 1890-05-24
GOSSIP OF THE SPORTS.
NEWS OF THE BALL FIELD, RACE
TRACK AND PRIZE RING.

The Washington team recovered its
lost ground yesterday and by defeating
the Hartford Club managed to retain
Its lead on first place. AT the same
time New Haven was treating the Bal
timores to the same kind of ball play
ing that made it so interesting for us
on the occasion of our recent visit, and
Barnie's opportunity for leadirg the
Association, at least for this week, was
gone.
The local club played In something
like its old form, for it made only
few hits, but these. together with good
sacrifice hitting and base running and
the errors of Its opponents, enabled IL
10 pile up the majority of the runs.
Phillips pitched splendid game and
was particularly effective when men
were on the bases. He received ex-
cellent support in the field, Gleason's
work at short being brilliant.
Only small crowd witnessed the
game, owing to threatening weather.
The local team punched its hits in the
fifth inning, making three Of Its four
hits, and assisted by two bases ON balls
and three errors, made five runs.
Thereafter neither side was able to
score, and the game ended 8 to 9. Ma
honey's umpiring was condemned and
he had to ask the protection of the
police to preserve order.
The Work OF the Week.
The local club has finished its first
week away from home and the result
has been somewhat of surprise to
those who expected to see the club win
larger proportion of its games than 1t
has. Five games have been played thus
far, and of these the club lost three
one to the Newarks and two to New
Haven. To offset these defeats II won
one each from New Haven and Hart
ford. To-day the club plays in Jersey
City, and 1t is probable 1t will win
again, thus splitting even on the week,
with three victories and three defeats.
Altogether the record made by the
club during the week has not been so
bad when the crippled condition of the
team is taken into consideration, and
the only wonder is that 1t did not lose
first place.
Next week five games are scheduled,
two with Jersey City and three with
Worcester. Monday and Thursday are
vacant days, and 1t is probable that
games will be advanced from later in
the season.
While the home team has been play
ing badly during the week, two of the
other clubs have been putting up an ex-
cellent quality of ball, and are now
nearly neck and neck with the leaders.
Baltimore managed to close the gap be.
tween it and the Washingtons during
the week, and for one day was tied for
first honors. By losing yesterday it
dropped into second place, although
there is only the difference of gamein
the number lost and won. New Haven
also pulled up remarkably well, and is
now only two games in games won be-
hind the leaders and one in games lost
Should Baltimore lose to New Haven
to-day the latter will step into second
place. The three clubs are so close to.
gether that the playing of one days
game may be sufficient to change
the positions of the leaders. The race
is getting close and exciting, and, if it
can be maintained to the close of the
season, the clubs will prosper finau.
Cially. There is but little interest in a
race where one club outcasses the
others and has walkover for the pen
nant. Az nls. it looked as If this were
Washington's position, but the events
of the past week have demonstrated
that there are other teams In the Asso-
citation equally as strong, and that, to
win the pennant, the Washingtons will
have TO do the liveliest kind of hustling
throughout the remainder of the season.
Yesterday Pitcher Mccoy was given
his release by the home management.
He did not come up to expectations and
the club could not afford to carry him
until later in the season, In the hope
that he would improve. Young Under.
wood will take his place and will prob
ably be given trial to-day. Sullivan
also has his eye on several other men
whom he will secure If they are needed,
but at present he wants to get along
with the men he has, as he believes
changes of any kind are detrimental tc
the interests of the club.
The Petit Case.
Just before time to call the game al
New Haven yesterday afternoon Presi
dent Braden telegraphed Manager Burn
ham instructing him not to play Petit
In the morning Mr.. Braden had tele
graphed that President Young hat
asked for the evidence in writing which
the New Haven Club wished to presen
in reference to the case. On top of tha
came dispatch from Presi lent Youps
saying that the evidence presented by
New laven had been carefully con
siderJd. and that the decision would
stand. Manager Burnham was very in
dignant at the turn affairs had taken
but was obliged to abide by the ia
.. structions of Mr.. Braden. He attributes
the action of the board to the influenc,
of Secretary Phelps, and thinks tha
the American Association president ha
overstepped his authority as an office
of the board of arbitration. The Petit
case will not be given up by any means
and the New Haven Club will insis
upon the new consideration which /
has asked fo,S
Manager Barnie said on the sub
ject "The Petit decision is the creates
piece of injustice ever saw In baseball
and i think the whole cause of 1t is tha
Baltimore jumped the American Asso
citation. Ever since joined the Allan
tic Association the American Associa
ton has been trying to kill Baltimor
and our league. don't think the Ma
tional League members of the boar
had anything TO do with the decisio
except to agree to the decision of tn
American Association members"
This is all folderol, and the Associs
tion may as well accept the result an
pay the required fee for admission t
the qualified articles of the nations
agreement. 1t has nothing TO gain b
fighting over a player and everythin
TO lose. Naturally the New Have
people are sore over the matter, br
they cannot consistently ask the AssC