, 1890-05-27

~cIaIly-Hov the Different Teams Are
Playing-work of individuals.
The week ending Saturday, May 10, was
afruitful one in baseball, II rumors are to
be credited, but when reduced to facts
there were few happenings Of Importance.
The one thing that attracted over much at
tention was the conference held by the
committee on the welfare Of the National
league, Messrs. S~palding, Day and Byme.
This committee was called together to con-
suit with the officials Of the Pittsburg club
as TO the crisis in its affairs. The Smoky
City people, it is alleged, were behind with
their rent and salaries and the small at
tendAnoe-only about 1000 people to six
games-had discouraged them. It WIS as
serted that they wanted to quit. The facts
are that the club is not wrecked or any
thing like It. Nimick Is well of and
O'Neill is rich. There is plenty OF money
hack of the club-indecd more money than
courage.
It is true that Nimiek and o'NsirI were
disheartened by the lack OF appreciation OF
the Pittsburg League team by Pittsburg
people, and 1t is true that they were behind
in their rent. This was due to lack of
money in the club treasury. Personally
the club owners have It, and have since
paid the rent and the players salaries.
They were encouraged by the committee,
and enough sand as il Is eNpressively
termed among sporting men, was talked
into them 20 make them return home
shouting TINT they never had the least no
ton Of getting out or of transferring their
team. 1t is generally believed that the
League will aid the club II it gets into real
financial straits. Meanwhile the League
magnates go on regardless OF the meager
attendance IN some grounds, seemingly
satisfied that they will get their share Of
the patronage in the end.
The attendance figures for the week show
that the situation in New York remains
unchanged. The Brotherhood team has
all the best Of 1t, although Saturdays at
tendance showsa slight gain forthe League.
The game Of Friday at brotherhood park,
New York, should not count, as the admis-
sion. owing to a peculiar phnse OF news
paper advertising, was practically free.
At Philadelphia the League made u
marked gain. For the first week the figures
were; Brotherhood, three games, 2o,496,
League, four games, 1889. The first four
games last week drew 1911 people to the
Brotherhood grounds and 6,l03 to the
League grounds. And on the last two days
the League had the most people by "A small
margin.
The opening clash at Chicago shows the
League in a decided minority. Mr.. Spald-
ing's team played four games to $50 PEG
pie without opposition, At four games
with opposition he got l,277, against 1895
for the Brotherhood team, a ratio OF five
and three-quarters to one. This would in
dictate that both teams might draw well
with non-conflicting dates.
AT Cleveland the League team drew 400
people to three games without opposition.
Then came three conflicts. The Players
team got 5,0l6 people, against LEGO. The
League then had one day alone and drew
465. For the first days OF the next week
the weather permitted play the Brother
hood games attracted l,2JO people. and the
League games 1850. The announced at
tendance must have been padded at the
start, or else the League has made a gain at
Cleveland.
The first five days Of the conhict at
Brooklyn resulted: Brotherhood, 1900;
League, 1917. At the two conflicting
games played there during the week the
League drew 2,2l9 and the brotherhood
1921. The latter played one game on II
cherries day. with Boston for an oppo-
nent, with no opposition, and the attend
ance was 25l.
All the cities have now been heard from.
and there is abundant evidence to show
that the public feeling is with the Players
league in all Of them except Brooklyn and
Cincinnati, and in the latter there is no
conflict TO test the feeling. In New York
and Chicago and Pittsburg the League has
so far hardly been in IL. At Philadelphia
and Cleveland the attendance has reached
a basis of equal division, and in Boston the
League, while in a minority, has done well
enough to more han pay expenses.
The months of Mny and June will settle
pretty definitely just what each league is
to expect il the contest continues. 1t is al
ready a generally admitted fact TINT very
few teams will clear expenses under the
present system Of conflicting dates. II
looks very much as IL il was now a cues.
tion Of the longest purse. The Players are
having the best of 1t and show no signs Of
weakening. The League, while flying sig
mails of distress, declares that II will play
out its schedule and wage war to the bitter
end.
Now as to ball playing. The Brother
hood teams, whose work during the first
two weeks was very poor, taken rs a
whole, are beginning to get into shape and
are now playing pretty fair ball. even
though the scores are for the most
part very long. and many of the games
very uresome because OF their one sided
nature.
The Boston team is still a little weak In
He box, but it is winning right along.
first, because the other teams are but little
better of for pitching talent, and second,
because Mix Kelly is getting good team
work out Of his men, which, added to their
heavy hitting and the base running OF
Stovey, Kelly and Tom Brown, has kept
them in front Of the procession. Chicago,
so far, is well up to expectations, but it has
been playing against the weaker teams
and has hard work to stay in the place 1t
has generally been credited with as its due.
When Comiskey and his men run up
against Boston. Brooklyn and Philadelphia
1t will be seen that the team has been
somewhat overrated. II Kelly and his
men can play with equal luck and skill
against the western teams as they have
against the eastern and hold the gait, they
ought to win the Players league p~enuant.
The New York team has sadly disap-
pointed its admirers. The men are batting
hard, but the loss OF Herman, Ward and
WEIGH has made a big hole. Wards place
will not soon be filled. The main trouble
is with the pitchers. O'Day, Crane and
keefe have each pitched one good game,
but their other games have been more or
less a Then again, the team work
which wa, once so characteristic of the
nine has almost vanished. Every man
for himself seems TO be the present motto
Of the team. Capt. Ewing says tina he
will soon have the team in shape, and that
it will be a winner yet.
The National league race has been a