Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-09
Prominent Features of the Base
ball World During the Week ;
and Leading Teams
TdEPRoBABLE PENNANT WINNERS
View York Has Quite an Argument 10 Get
Clear Of Chicago and the Bos-
tons in the Race.
DISHONESTY IN THE GRAND CIRCUIT.
Ted PrftehardS crer to Come to America and Fight
Fitzsmnons, the Australian.


orally quiet in the sporting world as they
have been during the week just ended In
no branch of sport has there been anything
o7it of the ordinary, while in many branches
there has been nothing going on at all. OF
course we have had the usual interest shown
in the race for the National League pen
nant and it is safe to say that never before
in the history of baseball has there been
such a close contest as the one now going
on. Few of us ever dreamt that the first
three teams would make such desperate
light of it as they are doing, and ii may not
be wide of the mark to say that the team of
the three who gets along with the least
number of accidents will be a winner. NY
readers will know how strongly 1 have
pinned nv faith to the New York team, and
[ dare say that many Will think me wrong
doing so. l am not at any time in
lined to keep butting my head
gainst a brick wall, but while
am ready to confess that the
chances of the Giants are not so good as
they were, l am not vet disposed to aban-
don them. There have been many great
difficulties surrounding the Giants for
long time, and of course accidents and mis-
fortunes upset all our plans at stages. But
if we could have the Giants as we had them
when the Western teams were in the East
he last time, why there would be only one
team in the race just now. When Mutrie
had Sharrott, Rusie and John Ewing pitch
ing all right he had the best team in Amer
ca, even without the aid of Buck Ewing
know this is saying a great deal, but
very word of it is true, because perform
T-1fc1 he
laS gone to the bad to very great extent,
10Th in hitting and in pitching. This has
given the teams of Chicago and Boston a
much better chance to win. Anson is
really doing wonderful things with his
,eam. and he has again proven, if any more
proof were needed, that he is one of the
most remarkable men in the baseball busi-
ness
ANSoN AS A MANAGER
1t is doubtless threadbare subject to
make any remarks about Anscn as q mana
-er, but an opinion or two on the matter in
his connection may not be out of place.
.on't think that any other manager in the
,ountry could have placed that Chicago
cam where Il is to-day than Anson. When
he season started if We took his team
singly we couldn't help thinking that he
mad very poor lot in comparison with
many other teams. But Anson was more
confident about his team than anybody else,
because he knew better than anybody else
their good points. Got them working to-
yether like piece of machinery and they
soon took a prominent place in the contest.
Well, Anson deserves all the credit
of i, for, in fact, he has made good play
ers of his men, and l may add win
uing players. As a rule, Anson is
never beaten until the last man is out, and
no matter how his team NAV be in the rear
in a contest, he is on the alert ready to en-
brace at any stage an opportunity to turn
defeat into victory. In this he has sue
eeded admirably, and l know of no man in
uasebaD business who is as ready to see a
nance to turn defeat into victory as is An
on. You never know when he is beaten
But because of his remarkable talents he
ias in all respects the Chicago team to him
self Nobody interferes with him; he has
10 President to 60 bothering around him or
10 directors to hold three or four meetings
! week TO teach him his business. He is in
the truest sense of the word his own 'boss."
Well, that is very important feature, and
L has no doubt aided materially to make
aim so successful Well, then, what want
20 say as d result of the above opinion is
that Anson will always be q dangerous op-
pOnenJ in a pennant race for ANYBODY.
He will not have team who are
not good players, and this fact con-
vinceS me that Anson's team will make
4 great struggle for the pennant this
year. l am strongly inclined to think that
If the Chicago team does not win the prize
Boston will not, because fail to see where
the Boston team are as good as the Chicago
OF. To be sure the Bostons are good
ieam and can play great game, but they
ack the steadiness of the Chicago team, and
rI.,y,f . hT,,l- 81 ho4 =
a the best of form. l have wondered
where the Boston team would have been
lad the Pittsburg club not taken pity on
hem and let them have Harry Staley.
And every time l think of the Boston team
am reminded Of the great business heads
f the Pittsburg club. Certainly if there
yer was a stupid transaction in baseball it
vas the releasing of Staley by the Pitts
urg club, and amid such stupid work we
eedn't be surprised at the team being in
asst place. The Bostons should be thankful
nd doubtless they are. If they win the
nennant Staley will have played great
art in securing the victory.
THE TEAMS IN GENERAL.
But aside from the three leading teams In
the race there is plenty to afford lots of in
crest. Cleveland and Philadelphia are
making quite fight of it for fourth place.
I have often had occasion to admire the
iluck and grit of that little band from
cleveland. How they have struggled |
tgainst any amount of difficulties far more |
ihan have ever met the Pittsburg
cam, and still they are in q very good po- |
aitlOn. The Cleveland team have all along
oeen handicapped by lack of good pitchers |
& they had been strong in the box depend |
pon 1t they would have made matters ex-
q ron alxyx ARM for he hacf in ha
league. As it is, they are quite danger
q Us element, and even though they should |
s,nish below fourth place, taking every |
hing into consideration, it will be no dis |
'-edIt to them. But one of the most dis |
pp0lntlng teams so far in the League con-
ST has been the Broollyns. They have |
ut sorry show, and for Wards sake, l |
, N sorry for this. Of course the poor |
owing Of the team will prompt the opin-
On that John is not a manager. |
..e may and he may not be a first |
Ass one, but 1 am inclined to
card the opinion that he has lot of sec
.It-rate men to deal with. AT the opening |
II the season L argued that the Broonlyn |
cam was over-estlmated, and their work has |
erUainly shown that opinion 10 be correct
II the Brooklyns finish among the tail
anders it may doom Ward as a manager,
cut no matter where they finish L am of |
opinion thai he will not be manager of the |
1rooklyns next year. The truth is, think
he will not be on the Brooklyn team at ALL
here is not a very good relationship
between Mr.. Byrne and Ward, as |
-Ic former does not hesitate to make known
Is disappointment in the manager The |
cent work of the Brooklyn team has
rused many people to think the Cincinnati
am will tBisn ahead of them. will not
surprised if this be the result The Reds