Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-13

fes sional ball PLAYERS are made up of men
who have not very lucrative trade at
their fingers enGs, or al least they have not
a trade as profitable as baseball playing. If
they are average players they will receive
salary ont of which in four or five years
they can save good sum of money, sut-
ficient to start them in business or profit
ably invest when their baseball career is
over. And this is just what a sensible young
man would do and when l say this am not
preaching a rigid or Puritanic doctrine.
Even with the amonnt of thrift that am
suggesting baseball players would be Well
able to enjoy all the pleasures in life ration
ally; certainly more than their fellows whom
they left in their previous grades OF en-
ployment. And by exercising the thrift of
which speak ball players would be doing
just the thing to keep themselves in good
condition. 1t is the reckless spending OF
money that leads the player to excess
in dissipation and deteriorates his
abilities and werth as player. by
exercising thrift his conduct is that
tally and physically. Probably. one of the
thriftiest baseball players in this respect is
Pitcher King. Some time ago L had con-
versation with him on the matter ana ne
frankly told me that his objecb at present
was to save every dollar he could after
living reasonably well. For SAID he, u
will not always be able to be pltche" ana
then my opportunity for commanding
good salary will be gone. 1 will then nave
my extra money, that which am now put
ting away, to fall back on, and may In the
meantime be able to devote it to some proht-
able use" Now, this is just the way that
every ball player in the business should
look at the matter. II they would for once
begin to reflect on the question they would
/ am sure see the wisdom, nay the necessity,
of being more careful with the enormous
amount of money that is annually trans
ferred from the public to themselves. The
question is a very vital one and while L nave
introduced it 1 have only done SO on
purely business grounds, and DON'T want
to be understood as preaching sermon.
The Football Season.
In a few weeks we'll have the football
kickers in full swing in our midst. There is
every indication that the season will be
busy one for our kfckers in this section for
don't remember the time when there were
so many football teams in and about Pitts
burg as there are now. This means that the
famous old winter sport is becoming ex-
ceedingly popular, and am very glad of it.
In my way OF thinking there is nc better
sport than a good and hotly contested foot
bal. match game, whether it be under
Rugby or under Association rules. or
course we'll have both styles here this year,
but the indications are tn3t thers VIII oe
more of the Association kind than anything
else. l don't propose to pass an opinion on
the comparative merits of the rules, but L
do say that they are both good enough to
produce an exciting and interesting contest,
and that is what we all want The Associa-
tion adherents are more active than the
followers of the American-Rugby rules, and
suppose this will mean that we will see
more Association games than games under
Rugby rules. There is another reason
why we should expect this, viz: That the
Association clubs are sure to form n league
and compete for prize. This Will sustain
the Interest to the end of the season. Re-
garding the principle on which the league
will be organized, L have nothing to say, but
l trust that care will be taken to keep clear
of any quarreling or trouble among the
club. 1 know that it is the desire of Secre-
tary Macpherson to give every club an equal
show, and when this is the case every club
should go into the struggle with desire to
do right and not to set up ridiculous charges
when things are going against them. The
trouble in this league often is caused by
the unreasonableneSS of tie clubs that are
being defeated; Very often the most scnooi-
boy charges will be preferred by them, and
any amount of trouble will result; whereas,
if the defeat or defeats had been borne man
fully, everything would have gone along
as merrily as wedding bells trust that
this year good feeling all round will pre-
vail among all the clubs that join the league.
II this is the case ali will be well.
The Professional SculIers.
A friend of mine told me the other day
that Hanlan is rowing as well to-6ay as
ever he did in his life, and it is, 1 think,
needless for me to say that the statement
surprised me. The truth is, did hot be-
lieve it and don't believe it now, although
nv friend said he had the information from
the very best authority. If it were true that
Hanlan is as good to-day as he ever was, 1
don't hesitate to say that it would be good
thing TO back him against anybody in the
world. If Hanlan is the same Hanlan who
defeated Elliott on the Tyne and Trickett
on the Thames, depend upon it, he is cham
pion of the world to-day, and when l say
this am quite mindful of the existence of
StanSbury. But don't believe that Hanlan
l,s cod
Why, were he to appear on the course in
the same form as he was in when he de-
feated the champions of dozen years ago.
Gaudaur would never be in the race
with him. / am convinced that neither
Canada nor the United States or any other
ever produced the equal of Hanlan
as a rover. And, although his best days
have passed away, he may be able to defeat
Gaudaur yet. They are matched to row,
but as to the genuineness of the race
know nothing. Nowadays, l have little
faith in our professional rowerS, and until a
new generation springs up l think my mis-
trust will continue. l, therefore, have moth
ing to say about the probable result of the
Hanlan and Gaudamr race There have al
ready been many shady features connected
with it. But there is another race pending
in which l have a mucn greater interest
than in the Gaudaur-Hanlan race. refer to
the proposed double scull contest between
HanIan and O'Connor end Stansbury and
Kemp. OF course, the event is too far off yet
to discuss in detail, but at present am in
clineG to think the Australians will be
little "too good' for Hanlan and his partner
on its merits, but of that have not much
to say just now.
In the Fistic Arena.
What 1 have to say regarding the Nc
Auliffe and Gibbons fight will be said next
week, when 1 propose to deal freely with the
affair. Outside of that there has been al
most nothing in the pugilistic world to
cause comment. Nothing definite has been
done between Corbett and Mitchell and
don't think there is much chance of any
thing definite resulting. But If Slav1n and
Mitchell come to this country during the
fall, while Mitchell may not be inclined to
face Corbett in a contest under Queensberry
rules, Slavin will, and If all is well Corbett
will be given to understand what fighting is.
1t may be that Slavin and Corbett will never
meet, but If they do l will be awfu!ly mis-
taken if Corbett is not made to feel wearied
Of the fighting business. But whoever the
fighters will be, it seems certain that there
will be one or two big contests this fall and
winter. The California Club proposes to
offer at least two very big prizes
for a heavyweight battle and middle
least trust, will be between Pritcnurd and
There is every promise that
the Englishman and the Australian will
meet this winter and if they do there will be
a battle. Fitzsimlnons when he faces
Pritchard will discover that he is not in
front OF Dempsey, for firmly believe that
Pritchard as middle weight is the equal OF
two Dempseys. And at present l am in
clined to think very well OF Pritchards
chances against Fitzsimmons. Should these
two men meet the contest between them
will be exceedingly interesting, because of
the fact that SO many people seem to think
that FitZSimmons is invinciDle simply be-
cause he is a tall man. Tall and wiry pugil-
lists as a rule have been of little account
when pitted againIt real fighters of shorter
stature.
A Coming Event.
OF the coming events among the pugilists
49,, Dad