Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-05-17
THE NATIONAL GAME.
BANKRUPTCY STARING s0ME'e THE
CLUBS IN THE FACE.


no denying it. The attendance at the
games of both the League and Brother
hood clubs in the cities of both the East
and West has been discouragingly small.
The attendance at both the League and
Brotherhood games combined is in num-
bers far short of that which crowded the
League grounds alone during the Nav
games of last year. This thing cannot
90 on forever. Salaries and travelling
expenses, which in a professional club
of the first-class are something en-
ormous, have to be met. Either
the League or the Brotherhood is des
tined TO go to the wall. The former is
richer both in purse and experience the
latter is poor in both. AS both persist
in declaring it war to the knife, the
reader is left free to indulge his own
VACCINATIONS as to the final result of the
fight.
President Spalding, of the Chicago
League Club, being interviewed as to the
outlook for the national game. said
There will be no compromise-no
change of schedule. no change of circuit
in the National League. The eight clubs
that now represent the old organizat on
are in this fight to the finish. 1t is not
question of one month, one season, or
one year; it is a question that involves
the entire future of the national game
The Pittsburg Club will finish the sea-
son, at least so am assured by the di-
rectors and stockholders. The Cleveland
Club will do the same, and as for New
York 1t is in as solid financial con-
dition as Chicago 1t matters not to the
League whether it plays to empty benches
or not. For the time being, the interest
in baseball is dead, and no organization
is drawing a cent. This condition of
affairs will continue until one or the othe +
of the two organizations now fighting for
supremacy goes to the wall. From this
time out it will simply be a case of dog
eat dog, and the dog with bulldog tenden-
cies will live the longest Money will be
necessary in plenty to carry on the fight,
aud the League is prepared to go into its
pocket whenever necessary. 1t will never
miss a pay-d day, nor will its ball-players
have to clamor at any time for what is
due them. The Players League is no long
er the brotherhood. 1t is an organization
of Spectators from Wall street, who,
back of one hundred ball players, are
making an effort to win some money from
the game. The National League is not a
speculative body its hackers are con-
servative business men, who never 60 out
on flyers. Time will tell whether futures
will win against a straight out policy of
honesty. The fight is not between the
Brotherhood and the Nationel League.
1t is between the National agreement
clubs, comprising upward of 5000 play
ers, and the spectators back of the one
hundred revolving members of the erst-
while Brotherhood of Baseball Players .
Johnny Ward claims that the league
policy is to rule or ruin, said the inter-
viewer.
That is not true. it bellies all our
former conduct. We made baseball and
We would be the last to see it go down.
We fought all the hard battles during the
early struggles and no one regrets the
present trouble more than We When we
found in 1917 that gang of players in
Louisville was selling games it was a
blow that shook the National League game
to its foundations. Our club lost 81, 900
that season, and there was time when
Mr.. Hubert and myself were on paper
in the bank which would have wiped me
out entirely had been called upon to
pay. But we took the risk. We hoated
the game and it took seven years TO gain
the confidence of the people. That is only
one incident which the people forget Now
feel that We are in the right, and being
in the right, think we will win this
fight. don't believe the people will for
sake the National League. This country
will not support both the Brotherhood
and the National Leagues. 1t is a ques-
ton of the survival of the fttest, and we
think the League is the fttest. Say
what you will it is war to the knife,
One or the other must eventually 90 to
the wall. If it be possible that the PEG.
pie shall refuse to support the League
then the League will acknowlede its de-
feat and retire. But until then we will
hang together. l was in at the birth Of
the National League, and l shall stay tc
see her decently buried if such a day
come.
And I'll die with it. put in Capt. An.
son, who had sat in silence during the in.
terview.
The following incident in the career Of
Jimmy Calvin, the well-known pitcher
is related by the Chicago Tribune:
Some years ago Calvin played in {
semi professional club in ST. Louis. his
home. He would invariably take off his
shoes and pitch in his stocking feet anC
do other things which distinguished hin
from other PLAYERS. One afternoon he
was pitching when the game was close
In the last half of the ninth inning Gal.
wins team needed one run to tie and
men on second and third, and jim
at the bat. He got ball 10 his
liking and landing on it square
lifted it to extreme center 1t looked
good for home run and the crowd rose
to its feet and cheered The center
fielder, however, after a long run, turned
and pulled the ball down with one hand
Calvin no sooner saw this than, cutting
first base, he started across the diamond
after the fielder with blood in his eve
The luckless fielder saw him coming, ant
knowing his popularity waited for no ar
gument Clearing the fence with bount
he started across the country, carrying
the ball his team had won. He soon dis
tanced his pursuer and walked back 4
the city in his uniform. 1t WAS Ions
time before Calvin would forgive him.
BASEBALL NOTES.
Beekley covers first base as neatly n,
any man that ever felt of baseball.
Both the League aud Brotherhood hav,
number Of CRIPPLED men. The cole
weather Is accountable for A.
Pitcher Dovlin, formerly Of the ST
Louis club, Is pitching for Sioux City.
Ewing says he Is SONY Tor Hos Barnes
but that he veil never DO for an umpire
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