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

Bookmakers Caught.
Washington retained its lead In the
Atlantic Association by defeating the
weak Wilmington team on Saturday in
very one,sided contest. The game
was especially distinguished for the fine
pitching of Maloney, who held the
Delaware boys down to three scattering
hits The Washingtons put up nearly
perfect fielding game, and they seem
at last TO have struck their gait in this ]
respect
The Newarks are Just behind the
local team in the championship race,
and Washington will have to play
some excellent ball during the re-
mainder of the week If It expects to
come home in the lead. Hill is the
only man on the team who is not com.
ing up TO expectations, but he is gradu-
ally coming around all right and will
soon be himself again. He has not
been the same man since he was struck :
in the head with the ball several weeks
ago, and, from the manner in which he
has acted, some of his friends are in
clined to think that he sustained some
internal injury He seemed dull and
lethargic in his play and desired to
shun his companions without any ap.
parent cause. Within the last few
days, however he has frightened up
considerably and is soon expected to be
all right.
There is considerable indignation in
Atlantic Association circles over the
Lawson case, and the action of the Bos-
ton League Club is being severely criti-
cised. Lawson was crack pitcher on
the Wilmington team, and this spring
while in the South pitched excellent
ball. AS soon as the championship sea-
son opened, however, he began to play
carelessly and was suspended for indif-
ferent playing AS soon as Lew Sim
mons was put in charge of the team he
restored Lawson to duty, and that gen.
tleman showed his appreciation by play
ing more indifferently than ever. There
upon he was released, and the very same
day the Boston League Club signed him.
The whole scheme was so transparent
that the minor clubs Immediately kicked
against II, and Lawson is In fair way
to be deservedly punished for his trick
cry. Until the expiration of ten days he
belongs to the Atlantic Association and
any club in it can claim his services.
This will probably be done and the
astute Lawson, who was carrying out
the orders of the League team, will find
that he will be deprived of his salary for
month or SO, If every Atlantic Associa-
tion team concludes to claim his servi-
ces in rotation. 1t would serve him
right and also be lesson to other good
players who are tempted from their clubs
to major leagues by offers of higher
salaries
Just at present the weaker member of
the Atlantic Association seems to be the
Wilmington Club, and there seems to
be pretty well defined impression that
II will not play out the season. This
contingency was provided for at the re.
cent meeting, and in the event of VIII
mington going out Providence will come
in. This change would make the cir
cult considerably better one than 1t is
at present and equalize the Eastern and
Western sections. While it is to be
hoped that no club in the Association
will fail, yet if any should, there is con-
siderable satisfaction in knowing that
another team stands ready to take its
place the moment the transfer is sane
toned by the other clubs.
A small number of sporting men left
JuC City tulo lOl DOlub Juot
beyond the District line to witness a
prize fight between Null Miller, white
lightweight, and colored man whose
name is not known. There was con
siderable interest displayed in the
match, which will be for purse of
$500. Considerable money has been
wagered on the result of the mill, and
as both men are in good condition and
the weights are nearly even, long and
hard battle was anticipated.
The Bowen.Myers fight at New Or
leans has been postponed two weeks in
order to allow the Illinois man to get
In trim.
Jack Hopper is still in the city, aud
is endeavoring to get on match with
some of the local pugilists. 1t is not
likely to succeed. however, as there is
hardly man among them who Is any
where near the New Workers. weight
that Is match for him.
Between now and the time the Pearl
Murgen affair is settled, which will be
in three weeks, there will be some in
terestiDg fights arranged among the
top sawyers of the profession in this
locality.
When the bookmakers began to com.
pare their sheets on their way home
from Elizabeth on Saturday they dis
covered that the cleverest coup of the
year had been successfully carried out
AD unknown mare Of Mike Daly's ran
on Friday at long odds, and finished
back in the ruck, The bookmakers
laid ridiculous odds against her. They
took in unsuspectingly many little St
bets at 80 and 40 to l. When the de
spised outsider galloped in an easy
winner they found that they were many
thousand dollars losers. E0le lost SO,
600; Johns, 81 900; Carroll, $1,000, and
so on. Not bOokmaker escaped. Ii
is estimated that $40, 900 was taken ou
of the ring. Jockey Fitzpatrick wor
nearly 81 900 with $15. DAILY himself
must have won a CARLOAD of money.
Betting on the spring handicaps goes
on steadily. For the Brooklyn the booh
has been filled on Kingston, Loantaka
Lopgstreet and Major Domo. Badge
and Sir Dixon are backed down to th,
position Of favorites, with Fides clost
second. Raceland remains at stand
still, as there seems to be doubt as t
whether he will start. A rush has beer
California mare has risen to 10 to /.
AS to the Suburban, the importan
changes are that Fides, Ofalece, ant
TenDy have all been backed for full
book. Raceland has not moved peg
FirenI has come up and is now at 6 t,
!. Salvador has gone back, so has Long
street OF course, the Ofalece busines
is absurd, The mare has only 81 pounds
TO be sure, but the. idea of backing he
at that to beat the class of horses sh
will be likely to meet seems ridiculous