, 1890-06-21
A MINOR LEAGUE.
The Atlantic Association Is
Strong and Healthy.
1T DOESN'T ESCAPE THE BIG WAR.

The Fight Between the brotherhood
md the National League Affects Every
Professional BAH Club in the Land.
Prospects in the Pennant Race.
There have been many attempts made
during the past ten years to establish n
minor league in the east that should be
permanent, but all rave 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 1t
that may make il a permanent feature of
u baseball family of leagues. There
would not be doubt of this were it not for
the baseball war occasioned by the revolt
of the players of the National league and
the s~tagnation Of general interest, which
ali are now compelled to admit is likely to
continue as long as the war exists. This
matter affects the Atlantic association as
1t Affects all leagues, and II the Atlantic
association goes under the baseball conflict
between the two big leagues will be solely
responsible for it.
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 n.
Braden, of Jersey City; Walter W Burn
ham, OF New Haven; F. j. Lang, Of Hart
ford; William Barnie, of Baltimore; James
A C~udworthy, Of Worcester, and John
Burdock, OF Jersey City. OF these Mr..
Shoemaker and the three Bs-Braden,
Durham and Barnie-have done the prin-
cipal work in putting the association on a
sound basis, and to their Individual efforts
Ia really due its present existence, because
they held things together when the situA-
NN.- - .-sNtz.l - - -. -A-- -
skillful steering managed to avoid the rocks
of disaster against which the association
seemed to be sure to go.
These four men rescued the association
from shallow waters, smashed up an or
ganization which was seeking 10 dismem-
Der 1t, and patching up the damaged cir
cult started out 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 1t was al.
most the last to come In, and the club
must needs struggle along until 1t gets a
team and experience. Some club must be
last in the race, and it is only natural that
the weakest team should go to the wall.
After a season, II the Wilmington people
stick, they will get a fair team together,
and with a good manager oan expect to
make a showing that will be more salts
factory.
am not in n position 60 know anything
very definite as to the financial success OF
the League this season. From general In
formation 1t is my impression that the
New Haven, Baltimore. Newark and
Washington clubs Rrp not losing any
money, and that the former club has lone
very well financially. At Hartford, Worces-
ter and Jersey City thIre has been very
little profit, but the gentlemen connected
with the clubs appear TO be satisfied, so 1
presum the deficit Is not large. The VIII
mington club Is large loser, mainly be-
cause OF the poor playing of It's team.
The pennAnt race has been a most inter
esting one. The flrst six clubs are very
evenly matched and the fight between
them has been hot. At the start the Wash
ington team cut out a terrific pace and
seemed to have a runaway race of 1t, but
after a while the other clubs got their
speed and have succeeded in pulling How
tits team down to fifth place, but the team
Is too good a one to remain contented with
that position 1t ought to finish at least
fourth or better.
The fight at present is between Burn
hams New Haven team and BARNES
Orioles. These teams, with Worcester and
Newark, will probably run up and down
the gamut from now TO October, but 1t
seems to me that the final struggle will DO
Sa1 - AARhaktAAthh AaAAAN NAAhh lthIlt
and that it will come between Burnham
and Barnie on the end of the season. 1t
VIII be n toss up between the two II they
keep their toams 10 the front until the
close. OF course allowance must be made
for accidents; either New Haven or Balti-
more u apt to have some OF their most TO
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 u winner. There is a
chance, however, that the ~fayorite 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 DO no good reason why their
Organization should not become a perma-
nsnt one. That 1t will be / have no doubt,
II they can keep It going until the fight be
tween the two great leagues has been fin,
ished or a truce called. Secretary J. n.
Braden, Who Is the right man In the right
place. says that the association is solid
financially and sure TO go ahead. This
scheme OF Messrs- Barnio and Burnham
to get the Athletic club into the associa-
ton has not been abandoned by any means,
but is only sleeping. From present ap-
pe~arances, however, 1t Is doomed to u long
sleep. as the American association seems
likely 10 hold together. II, however, such
a deal could be arranged the Atlantic asso-
citation would be a fixture surely.
There is a general impression that the
American association ousclasses the Allan
tic to a great extent. This is principally
because under the National agreement the
American is recognized as a major league.
As a matter Of fact the Atlantic association
is rich in playing material, INC willis the
American teams as a rule are better, the
difference is not so great as Is generally
supposed. The New Ravens, Baltimorea,
Washingtons and Newarks would all hus-
tie the best club in the American associa-
ton, and on the whole the class of ball
playing furnished by the Atlantic teams Is
quite as interesting and enjoyable as that
put up by the American teams as at present
constituted W. l. HARRIS.