Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-06-15
A MINOR LEAGUE.
The Atlantic Association Is
Strong and Healthy.
1T DOESN'T ESCAPE THE BIG WAR.
The Fight Between the brotherhood
and the National League Affects Every
Professional Hall Club In the Land.
Prospects In the Pennant Race.

Prospects In the Pennant Race.
There have been many attempts made
during the past ten years to establish a
minor league in the east that should he
permanent, but all nave been failures for
reasons hardly worth recalling now. The
latest attempt, however, which resulted IN
the organization OF the Atlantic associa-
ton. seems TO me to have "A stability to il
that may make IL a permanent feature Of
our baseball family Of leagues. There
would not be doubt of this were il not for
the baseball war occasioned by the revolt
of the players Of the National league and
the ~stagnation Of general interest, which
all are now compelled u admit is likely to
continue as long as the war exists. This
matter affects the Atlantic association as
IL affects all leagues, and II the Atlantic
association goes under the baseball conflict
between the two big leagues will he solely
responsible for il.
There are some very strong men in the
association, men who never quit and who
never know when they are beaten. The
main props Of the organization are John
w. Shoemaker, OF Newark; James y.
Braden. of Jersey City. Walter W. Burn
ham, Of New Haven; +. !. Lang. Of Hart
ford, William Barnie. Of Baltimore: James
A. Cudworthy, of Worcester, and John
Burdock, Of Jersey City. OF these Mr..
Shoemaker and thc three Bs-Braden,
Burnham and Barn e-have done the prin-
cipal work in putting the association on a
sound basis, and 20 their individual efforts
is really due its pr sent existence. because
they held things { l.ether when the situa-
ton was critical and by wise moves and
skillful steering y anaged toavoid the rocks
Of disaster agai st which the association
seemedNo be su'c To 90.
These four IN "A rescued the association
from shallow waters, smashed up an or
ganization which was seeking % dismem-
Der it, and patching up the damaged cir
cult started cat with better prospects than
ever. The circuit at present has only one
really weak member, the Wilmington club,
and that is weak of necessity, as il was al
most the last to come in, and the club
must needs struggle along until IL gets a
team and experience. Some club must be
last in the race, and il is only natural that
the weakest team should go TO the wall.
After a season, If the Wilmington people
stick. they will get a fair team together,
and with a good anage can expect to
make a showing that will be more salts
factory.
am not in a position to know anything
very definite as TO the financial success Of
the League this season. From general in
formation ii il my impression that the
New Haven, Baltimore, Newark and
Washington clubs are not losing any
money, and that the former club has done
very well financially. AT Hartford, Worces-
ter and Jersey City there has been very
little profit, but the gentlemen connected
with the clubs appear to he satisfied, so /
presume the deficit is not large. The Will
mington club Isl large loser, mainly be-
cause Of the poor playing of its team.
The pennant race has been a most inter
esting one. The first six clubs are very
evenly matched and the fight between
them has been hot. At the start the Wash
ington team cut out q terrific pace and
seemed to have a runaway race Of ii, but
after a while the other clubs got their
speed and have succeeded in pulling Hew-
tits team down to fifth place, but the team
is too good a one to remain contented with
that position. II ought to finish at least
fourth or better.
The fight ut present is between Burn
hams New Haven team and Barnie's
Orioles. These teams, with Worcester and
Newark, will probably run up and down
the gamut from 10Y TO October, but IL
seems to me that the final struggle will be
Que Of management rather than teams,
and that IL will come between Burnham
and Barnie on the end of the season. II
will be a toss up between the two if they
keep their teams TO the front until the
close. or course allowance must be made
for accidents: either New Haven or Balti
more is apt To have some of their most re-
liable players injured, which will, Of course,
make a great difference. The general i'm
preston, except at New Haven, is that
Baltimore will land a winner. There is a
chance, however, that the ~favorite will slip
up. Personally ] pin my faith to New
Haven, with Baltimore TO finish second.
The managers of the Atlantic Associa.
ton are ambitious As well as able men, and
there seems TO he no good reason why their
organization should not become a permar
nent one. That il will be | have no doubt,
II they can keep IL going until the fight be
tween the two great leagues has been fin
ished or a truce called. Secretary J. N.
praden, who il the right man in the right
place, says that the association is solid
financially and sure to 20 ahead. The
scheme Of Messrs. Barnie and Burnham
10 get the Athletic club into the associa-
ton has not been abandoned by any means,
but is only sleeping. From present APP
pesrances, however, it In doomed to a long
sleep, as the American association seems
likely to hold together. II, however, such
a deal could be arranged the Atlantic asso-
citation would be a fixture surely.
There il a general impression that the
American association o~utclasses the Allan
tic TO a great extent. This is principally
because under the National agreement the
American is recognized as n major league.
As a matter Of fact the Atlantic association
is rich In playing material, and while the
American teams as a rule are better, the
difference Is not 40 great as IL generally
supposed. The New Ravens, B~altimores,
Washingtons and Newarks would all hus-
tie the best club In the American ~associar
ton, and on the whole the class Of ball
playing furnished by the Atlantic teamsi In
quite as interesting and enjoyable rs that
put up by the American teams "a at present
constituted. w. l. HARRIS.