The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-17
THB FIRST VEEK.
w. I. Harris Reviews the Base
bali Situation.
SOME FIGURES PRESENTED.

What the Result of the Seasons Work
| Win Be No Man Can Predict-Neither
| of the Contesting Leagues Shows Any
! Signs of Weakening Players Confident.
| Copyright by American Press Associatson-1
| The beginning of the baseball season Of
1890 has not given us much of line rs to
the comparative playing strength of the
teams Of either National or Players league,
except TO indicate that certain teams sup
| posed to be the weaker are much stronge
than generally credited to be, and although
much Of this seeming strength is due to the
fact that the really strong teams have not
got down to business yet, several alleged
weak mines have surprised every one, and
Of the alleged strong teams one, at least,
has astounded its admirers by its weakness.
Take the games TO April 26-twenty
games by each League We find that the
runs, hits, errors and earned runs compare
thus:
Players .................. 329 Bf 176 1aS
National. ...-........... 235 345 1G 50
From this it viii be observed that the
Players have done the most batting and
ahe poorest fielding. The question as to
which has played the best ball is a matter
OF individual opiaieR and liking. Those
who like plenty ef slugging and big scores
will decide for the Players league; those
who ike small scores, close games and
good pitching win decide that the National
league has played the best ball
THE PLAYERS LEAGUE.
In the Players league Buffalo, Boston
and Chicago have wen the most games,
while the Boston and Brooklyn teams have
played the best ball. The strength of the
Buffalos at the bat has astonished many
people and demonstrated that the pitchers
of the Cleveland team are either no good or
out OF condition, probably the latter. The
Pittsbnrgs have played better ball than
was expected, winning two out of four
games from the Chicagos, who are popu-
larly considered sure pennsnt winners.
The Clevelands lost four straight games
before they won one, and from the present
outlook are liable to prove tailenders.
The New York pitchers, with the excep-
ton of O'Day, have shown very little more
speed than the Cleveland pitchers, and the
two games won by the team were due
entirely to terrific batting. At this time it is
safe to predict that the first months battle
will be between Chicago, Boston and
Brooklyn, with Philadelphia, Buffalo and
New York hustling for fourth place. The
New York team is liable to come with
rush when Keefe and Crane get into shape,
but at present the outlook that Ewing's
men will take a commanding place at the
start is not very encouraging.
The Boston team has made good start,
and is batting terrihcaily. If its pitchers,
Radbourn, Kilroy, Daley, Madden and
Gumbert, can hold the Chicago batters aud
maintain discipline il, the team, Capt. Kelly
and his men can by their stick work soon
crawl to the top, and perhaps stay there.
Viewed in the light of the Rrst week and
the past records Of the men, | should say
that the chances were about three to one
that the first of September will find Chi
cago, Boston and Brooklyn battling for
first place, with New York and Philadel-
phia coming fast and furious after them.
THE EATIOEAL LEAGUE.
It is hard to form any conclusions about
the National league race because of the
changes in the teams and new men engaged
on them. 1t is my impression that the
team with the best pitchers will win the
League championship if it can hit little
better than the average. The Phillies and
the Bostons have played the best ball so
far, but do not look to see the former
stay in front very long after the New York,
Cincinnati and Brooklyn teams get down
TO work. 1t seems to me that the New
York team has the strongest pitching talent
in the League, and this fact leads me to ex-
pect the team to soon forge to the front.
Boston got a good start and would keep
well up but for the accident to Clarkson,
which is liable to keep them back.
The Pittsburgs have done fairly well
against Cleveland, but they are not liable
to be much OF a factor in the face, except
as sort Of Jonah TO some one of the leading
clubs About the only thing demonstrated
by these early games in the playing line is
that Philadelphia has a great fielding team,
that Boston has a wonder in Short Stop
Long, and that Rusie, Welch and Sharrott
are in grand condition, and that no other
club has a trio of pitchers in any such form
"a form that ought to give the New Y York
team a great start in the race.
THE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK.
Now as to the turnstile or financial part
of the game. Before drawing any COM
PARSONS, here are the attendance figures in
the different cities for the first twenty
games:
NEW YoRR--i---PT -PTTTsBURG--
Broth bsrhood TAso7,a Rrotherhogi Iear1Ja