, 1891-11-22


of Death.
To the dyed in the wool baseball en-
thusiast the official averages are of as
great import as are the returns of an cleo
tion to a patriot h has laid himself up
on the altar of political promise. For the
first time in the history of the National
league a small man has carried off the
smuggling honors. Will Hamilton's stature
surely brings him into that category. In
his case the old adage that GOOD goods
come in small packages" is once more ex-
empliied. No other batting leader in the
League ever combined the qualities that
Hamilton possesses. Not only does he
loom up with the best average in safe hits
-.33S is the figure-but he excels in two
other valuable departments of play.
He a three times champion-batter, run
getter and base runner. That is a record
of which he is doubtless proud. He is not
the best fielder in the world, neither is he
the worst, and twenty-seven leaguers with
averages below his-.92l-is good evidence
in support of that assertion. There was a
time when Hamilton was outclassed in the
field by nearly all the occupants of the
Association gardens. He was a Kansas
City man then, but he persevered, and ex-
perience has added good judgment to fleet
ness.
Ideal teams are seldom winning ones.
Ninety per cent. of the race of prophets
gave Chicago a rating at the top in the
Players league, but fourth place was the
best that team could do. Counting on
past pe-rformances-an oft repeated folly
it did not seem possible for any team to
lead it, and yet only a few points separated
Chicago from the second division. Thus,
in the last championship race in the League.
Boston has but one N in three ideal
teams selected from the averages Tor their
hitting, fielding and base running. That
exception was Walter Brodie, who was the
best right fielde in the outfit.
Selected for hitting alone, Gumbert,
pitcher; Shriver. catcher; Anson, first base;
Childs, second base; Ward. shortstop;
Pinkney, third base; and Hamilton, Holli-
day and H%alligan in the field would make
the most terrorizing team of assailants of
the horse hide. OF this array Holiday il
the only one to "hold over" in the model
fielding team. His associates would be
Buckley. catcher; Brown. first base; Nc
Phee, second base; Bassett, third base;
Cooney, shortstop; Darby O'Brien, left
field, and Brodie, right field. Mercury's
devotees in the mode base running assort-
ment include Lovett. pitcher; Miller,
catcher; Foutz, first base; Pfeffer, second
base, Ward, shortstop; Latham, third base,
and Hamilton, Griffin and Herman In left,
Illudlt hllu Tlkul, TtsDtCIlNtly.
The era of revolution is still on, and be-
fore one can speak with certainty about
the coming conflicts the complexion of the
several League and Association teams is
likely to experience startling changes. The
Association folks claims Rusie, Pfeffer,
Richardson, Common, Wilmot, Dahlen and
Kittredge, while 1t is asserted that Hall
man, Brouthers, Joyce, Boyle, Stivetts,
Mccarthy, Tip O'Neill and Captain
Comiskey will move into the League camp.
Like a price list on horseshoe nails this
directory is subject to changes without
notice. Frank Hough, the Quaker City
philosopher, has neatly summed up the
whole sit He says, I'm these days
of baseball imitation the player is wisely
taking advantage of the situation and
playing both ends against the middle to
his own profit and the anguish OF the pro-
Queer"
In all sections OF Uncle Sans domain
save one the baseball championships have
been settled. That exception is the Golden
State. San Jose and San Francisco are
having n nip and tuck struggle for the
pennant of the California league, with
Sacramento just about far enough behind
to be rated as mot too dangerous" Oak-
land trails far in the rear, with no hope of
improving her position. The race will not
end for several weeks and many of the par
Elephants are well known east of the Rocky
mountains. This year there was quite an
exodus of talent from the wrecked Texas
league. Manager McCloskey, of the Sacra-
mentos, gathered about him half a dozen
of the boys who played with him in the
Lone Star State. Tom McGuirk and
Catcher Spies are among them. Frank
Ward, who came east and was with PITTS
burg for n short time, has drifted back,
and Fred Carroll is once more playing ball
in his native state. He is a backstop on
Oakland's roll and is catching George
Borchers.
This club made room for Johnny Cedar,
the Cincinnati boy who was such a favor
lite in 1890 hat he was called ''the Jerry
Denny of the Pacific coast" He had been
playing with Cedar Rapids, but i'll health
compelled him to surrender his post at
third. Ned Cartwright and kid"
Peoples are on the San Francisco's roll,
while San Jose harbors Stallings, the re-
ceiving end of the old battery of Wehrle
and Stallings, and McVey. who has played
in the field in both Southern and Tristate
leagues. The abandonment OF the tour Of
the st. Louis team to the coast was prin-
cipally due to the failure OF the San Fran
ciscos to give a guarantee. The California
leaders had another string to their bow,
and the P~ortlands,~ champions of the North
Pacific league, are on the ground for a
series of games.
Florida and Cubs are now looked upon
as modern Meccas for the ball player in
search of an honest penny easily earned.
Ted Sullivan has been in st. Louis organ
izing a team for winter play In Jackson
Vile, and young McGraw. the Oriole short
stop, is credited with an intention of du-
plicating the feat. AL Lawson will invade
Cuba with a team of northern tossers.
That snug little isle is said to be the home
of at least seventy-five organized baseball
teams.
Another famous player is nearing etor-
nity's brink. Frank Flint, "Old Silvern
was one OF the best catchers that ever
stood behind the plate 1t seems strange
that Larry Corcoran's death should be so
closely followed by the announcement of
the fatal illness of his old comrade in the
days they were both members OF Captain
Anson's Chicago family. "Old Silver's'
hands are simply punches of knots, relics
OF broken fingers sustained in conflicts be-
fore boxing gloves were introduced in be-
half of that suffering portion of humanity
compelled to face inshoots and curves.
Rem MILFORD, JR
In Connecticut the League of American
Nheelmen has a membership of 9 100