, 1891-01-25

Beginning to Make Up the TeAms-A
Great struggle in 81.
John NJ Ward just At present seems to
be very much in demand. Nearly every
club in the League and several in the
American association appear TO be anxious
TO secure his services for the playing sea.
son OF 1891. The foremost bidders for his
ability and personal popularity are the
Boston, Brooklyn and Athletic clubs. The
Athletics viii have 20 show unless the Ma
tional league clubs waive claim to Wards
services, which is not likely 70 happen.
There has been in certain quarter. and
indeed it has been the opinion OF Ward
himself, that the National league would
give him a rough deal in consequences OF
his efforts in forming the now defunct
Players league.
Judging by the competition for him now,
there does not seem to be any foundation
for such fears. Even II the League cap
~itslists were inclined TO make reprisals,
they could not afford TO do so. In fact
they haze no such desire The chances are
now that Ward will remain in Brooklyn
at least that Is the programme Of Messrs.
Byrue and Goodwin, and II is a part Of
their consolidation agreement, provided.
OF course, that John b. Day and Mr.. Ward
agree. Mr.. Day says that he wants Ward
10 play on the New York team, but this
does not seem to suit Ward.
Then there are some good reasons that
govern Ward in not desiring 10 play on
the same team with Ewing, which Is one
OF his objections 20 New York, aud no one
can well blame rim. When Ward was
captain OF the New York club ia 1850 aud
1887 the team was a remarkably strong
one, and should have won the champion
ship. At least that was the opinion Of ex-
perts The failure was generally laid at
Wards door. when. AS a matter OF fact.
Ewing was more responsible han Ward.
When he played Bucks work was exceed
ingly brilliant, but he managed somehow
to be in such shape as not to be able to 20
behind the bat when Ward wanted him
most There isn't any question that Ewing
was lukewarm, nud his apathy was a sore
spot that has ranked in Wards heart Tor
years. Yet when Ewing became captain,
aud won the championship two years with
practically the same team. Ward did his
whole duty. Indeed, without him the
chances are that the p~ennnnts would Dot
nave been won.
During the baseball war last year Ward
and Ewing were at loggerhends most Of
the time, although they kept the fact as
quiet as possible, and since the close Of the
season Ward has grown very bitter against
aNAAA o. lac NNAA7AHANAH NANH Twink AANA "a
good deal TO do with persuading the New
York capitalists Of the Players league to
quit Be this al IL may, one thing Is sure
that the two men could never again play Ia
harmony on the same tenn where one hndn an
opportunity to boss the other, 50 IL may be
settled hat the chances are only about one
in a hundred that Ward will be found with
the Giants Of 1891. Il would be a master
stroke, however, 70 have him play ~ cap
and manager for the Brooklyn club,
as the rivalry between the two clubs, al
ways great, would be intensified, and the
result would ave an influence on the gate
not TO be despisvd.
The terms Of consolidation ia Brooklyn
TO Increase the capital stock OF the
club 70 S2JO,OOO, Of which the National
people will hold sl2j,O)O. For their
share the late Players league capitalists
will pay Mr.. ByTne and Lis partners SlO.
600 tn cash. and the club will move to
Eastern park. bag and baggage. The con
solidAtion has been delayed by Que oh
structing stockholder, wh1 has got m in
junction restraining the Players league
people from carrying out the deal until it
has been ratified by the stookholdene, but
the Injunction merely acts to delay, rs Mr..
Goodwin holds control Of 70 per cent 81
the stock, and will have no trouble Ia vot
ing TO ratify the arrangements made in
due time.
The various conference committees and
the League and Association are finishing
up their deals this week, and within n few
days the circuits will be definitely fixed
and the baseball capitalists will know just
how they stand. There is some doubt
about the Association securing clubs In
Boston aud Chicago, but the Impression IL
they will II they are willing to accept
the conditions demanded
The circuits once Ike the question OF
will be taken up, and the teams for
1891 will begin 70 assume definite form.
There will no doubt be some trouble over
the players, bat the League will really have
little difficulty In securing such OF their
old men as they desire. The players gener-
ally ave accepted the situation, and are
prepared to make the Lest OF it,
The clever way in which Ir. SpAlding
secured to his old players the salaries they
thought were lost for good, aud got them
a fair price for their Brotherhood stock,
had a good effect on all the players.
and barring a few who object to playing
with the men who remained loyal to the
National league In their extremity, there
viii be no heartburnings. The malcou
tents the League Will not worry itself
about, Those OF them who are good play
ers will receive offers OF good salaries to
play ball, and II they refuse the League
will not chase them very long.
There will not be quite so many changes
among the teams as has generally been
expected. Ptetfer Il more than likely to
remain in Chicago, and most Of the popu.
lar favorites will play with their old Clubs
Nearly all the Association players in the
late Players league will be returned TO
the Association clubs from which they
were taken unless deals are made to retain
them in the League. This will be done in
a few cases, notably those Of Stovey, Bier.
bauer, weighing aud Orr.
The public interest in the game is greater
now than was generally expected, after the
apathy which grew up out Of the fierce
struggle OF last season, and the renewed
interest is a healthy indication that with a
restoration Of local pride in Que club and "a
cessation OF strife the game will once more
assume the prominent place it held in 1855
and 1859. In a few weeks we can begin to
speculate on the P%enuant chances for 1891.
the teams viii then be pretty well made
Enough is known Of their complexion
to justify the assertion that the con
test for first hOnors will be the greatest in
the history Of the game
W. l. HARRIS
Xavier S~chRrwcuka, a pianist Of prag,