Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-04
Pittsburg's Players League Team
Playing Better Ball Than for
Some Time Past.
no HEART In A LOSING CONTEST.
Average Ball Player Becomes Nervous, and
is Apt to Make Errors at
Critical Points.
NOISY CROWDS ON THE BLEACHERS.
Even Old Jim Calvin Rsasted and the Umpie's Life is
Very BurdensOme.

The local P. L. team won three games
last week, and it looks as though they were
on the road to better times. It is true that
one Of their games was won on the hard luck
of the opposite team, but that doesn't
fgger +" when compared with the great
number that Hanlon's beauties have lost
for this same reason. Individually the
boys have been playing good ball, but at
times an error at a critical point will cost
game. Many such errors are excusable,
and at such times many men become ner-
vous and let the easiest kind of chance
slip when IL their side had been ahead in the
SCORE they would be able to handle the hottest
kind OF balls and play brilliantly
THEY LOSE HEART.
The want of "heart" has proSed the ruin Of
many good ball player. 1t requires a great
nerve for a man to play well in a losing game,
and those who can't do it greatly overshsdow
the few who can. For instance, watch the
work of Johnny Wards men in the two games
they lost. The minute the score went against
them they began to pile up errors. When the
score was tied they took a brace, but after the
local men had bstted out few more runs they
went 70 pieces again and the home team won
with ease
That is one reason why ball game often be-
comes monotonous in the latter part. Very
in the last two or three innings. Anson's men
and the Philadelphia Players League team
seem to be the best uphill workers, and the
game against them is not won until the last
man is out in the last inning.
MAKE IT INTERESTING.
While the local National League team is not
noted for its winning qualities they make
game interesting, even if it is going against
them. On the field they act like so many colts
just turned out. and play with vim, make
errors and try again. They 60 for everything
and don't seem to be after brilliant fielding
records. This is better style of work than If
only probable chances are taken, even If the
errors are not quite so numerous.
For some time it has appeared as though
Billy Keuhne, of the local Players League
team, was record player, as he failed to cover
great amount of territory But In the last
work has justified the claims of his friends
that something has been wrong" He is
hitting the ball hard, and is q good man at bat
when men are on bases.
WENT BACK ON jim.
The fckleness of baseball crowds was never
more aptly illustrated than last week. When
Jimmy Calvin went into the box there were eI-
clamstions of We've got 'em sure, to-dayr'
But after run after run was filed onto the score
mostly the fault of the ielders-the tide
turned and there were yells of Put Morris in
the boxr' and sundry other exclamations not
calculated TO encourage the old war horse Old
Jeems is all right, but q cast-iron man would
not work as well when his support was Of the
worst sort.
But the crowd don't stop at anything and
Pittsburg is getting quite q reputation for
noisy crowds. No umpire can get justice on
the grounds It seems, even when the home team
is winning. 1t is wrong to think that these men
would maliciously rob Hanlon of a game.
EVERYBODY Is becoming disguised with the con-
tinuai cries of "thief," but there seems no
remedy for 1t. Unless the umpire gives the
home team the best of it the bleachers will
roast him.