Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-27


many respects an exceptional year for the
Pittsburg club. Before q team of any prom
ise or almost worthy the name of n team,
could be secured a very large amount OF
money had to be spent A number Of very
costly men were secured regardless of price;
indeed this was the only way that popular
players could be induced to come to
Pittsburg. But some of the costly
men were failures, and then other
new players had to be secured, which
cost more money. All this added to the eN-
penses of the club and was to very great
extent an outlay with no return. Added to
this was the fact that the team was most OF
the time at the tail end. and when VIC con-
slider these things we will wonder how the
club has managed to get out about even. IL
the club does escape any loss on the season
feel sure We'll be all very glad OF It,, be-
cause the directors of the club have done
everything in their power to make things
successful. They have been stinted in
nothing where labor or expense were con-
cerned and they deserve to be rewarded.
But while the club may not have been
money-maker this year there is no denying
the fact that there is better organized
team now than we have ever had at the end
OF a season before. The team is in such
condition now that very little would
strengthen up its weak points and make 1t
one of the strongest in the land. If Manager
McGunnigle rs to be with US nexc year, and
have a money making team in this city.
Why on his last Eastern trip with the team,
tail-enders as they were. he cleared s., 200 for
the club. This shows that if we could once
get near the top and keep there this
team would be the most profitable in
the country. There may be some diff
Guilty in signing one or two of the present
players. Already the trouble with King has
commenced, and L anticipate much trouble
with Calvin. The latter wants an increase
of salary, and, from what l hear, the club
cannot afford to pay it. Regarding Kings
case all that have to say is that he has a
perfect right to get all the money he can,
but the directors are in duty bound to look
after their own interests also. Really,
don't think they can afford to pay King or
anybody else any such salary as IS 900, and
to remain another season here at the same
figure being paid Baldwin. No doubt King
is good pitcher but it requires an extraor-
dinary man to be worth S. coo for six or seven
months. Old Calvin has been a real bread
winner during the season, and he is only
getting one-half OF 5000. Players may con-
ask for extraol dinary salaries, but
they should not stubbornly hold out for
sums that clubs cannot possibly afford to
pay.
The Amateur Season.
The meeting OF the County League the
other night waEa reminder that the amateur
season of 1891 is also about over. The little
League mes and wound up their affairs for
the season. The Pratt pennant wes awarded
to the East End Gyms, and they were
worthy OF it. Some time ago1 stated that in
my opinion the Gyms were the best amateur
team in Western Pennsylvania and one OF
the best in the country. have not had oc-
casion to change that opinion, but their
work since expressed the opinion has been
such that my opinion is stronger than. it
was. The Gyms have done much to popu-
larize what is termed amateur baseball and
they have of course been well assisted by
other teams. There are some very promis-
ing players in the County League winners,
young men who give promise of being great
hitters and excellent fielders. l trust that
the team will stick together, and that when
next year comes they will be better than
ever. But the amateur season generally in
this section has been good At the recent
County League meeting it was stated that
every club in the League had made more or
less money during the season. This Is in
deed, encouraging, and indicates that anna
teUr playing will get better hereabouts. Il
is worth while pointing out that every team
in the League has been more expensive
than formerly, and this fact makes the
sta tement that all have cleared money more
interesting and pleasing still. Well, the
success OF the season ought to prompt the
League o1l'cials to try ana do better next
year. The League is under capital manage
ment, and don't see why even
greater things cannot be done
neXS year than have been done this.
Trouble Among the Amateurs
During the last few days there has been
like CONSERVATION thrown into
the ranks of the local amateur athletes. The
A. A .. has thrown o little bombshell out
in the way of informing its members that
they must not take part in the contest of
N hS TeUiStorPd n fha A
must they allow members of clubs not regis
tered in the A. A. Z. to contest in the sports
Of registered clubs. This, of course, with
put special decrees to the contrary, means
that there can be no reciprocity between
my of the local athletic clubs and the Alle-
yheny Athletic Association, because the
after is a member of the A A U. Time
and time again 1 have upheld the good
qualities of the A. a u, and the useful mis-
sion it performs in the way of developing
athletic sports, but its rule, the one now in
question, has many bad qualities. To me
there does not seem to be sufficient reason
for it, and on the face Of it the arid boycott
Is stamped. In many respects it is an en-
barge on amateurisln, because of its narrow
ness. The A. A. Q. SAYS to the Allegheny
Athletic A sociation: Now, none of your
must compete in the contests of
the East End Gyms, and You must by no
neal.s allow any of the East End Gyms to
tpulpCUS III your COnLtSbS. lDlS veto Is
simply because the Allegheny Athletic
Association is q member of the 4. A. u. and
and the East End Gyms are not. The line is
not drawn, mark you, because of non
amateurism: bat only because the A. A. U.
thing and everybody that is not
part and parcel of itself. The A. A.
U, has not by any means monopoly OF
bona fide amateurism. Those of us who
know anything at all about athletics know
this full well know amateur athletes who
are IN no way connected with the A. A. u.
whose amateurisr1 is of the Simon pure
kind, and yet if the A. A. U. had its way
those amateurs would never be allowed to
except they Joined the A A. U.
That is getting things down selfshly fine to
say the least OF it. But l would like to
know what injury there is done the A. A. u,
Or what harm is done to amGteurism il a
club nos reg istered in the A. A. U. has a field
day and the contests all regulated by the 4.
a. u rules and all the contestants genuine
amateurs is patroniZcd by contestants who
are members of registered clubs know of
no harm or injury, and until the contrary is
pointed out to me l cannot come to any
other conclusion than deeming the rule q
very bad ono. When talking on this subject
want to say a few words about the East
End Gyms. Probably that club is one of the
most active in the State, and if there are
1ot some good athletes on its roll of men,
Dership it won't be fo- lack of energy. /
know of no better athletic organization for
young man to be conr ected with. The
Hub has an excellent building and depend
Ipon 1t everybody connected with the club
S a hustler. 1t is sure to be successful or
-anization.
Young Mitchell and Gallagher.
During the week there have been two
,ugilistic encounters of more or less inter-
st. refer to the battle between Billy
v oods and Jack Davis and young MITCHELL
nd Reddy Gallagher. The contest between
he two last named was the most important
nd it may be interesting to say few words
bout it. have several times of late dis
m mill lr,nrn1r tlnsE