Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-08
Doings Of the Local Baseball Mag
mates and the Prospects of the
Club for Next Year.
MANAGER N'GUNNIGLE'S EFFORTS.
Ruinous Effects of the Actions of Baseball
Capitalists and the
Players.
PETER MAHER AND ]. J. C0RBETT.
sulliTans Latest Declaration About Fighting -GcssiI
About the Pugilists

None Of Us can grumble much about the
doings of the local baseball magnates this
week They are still in state of uncer-
tainty about one or two important things,
and whisper in the air tells me so. They
should iinger no longer, as lingering is ruin
ing more than one good ball club to-day.
When freebooting system is going on we
must all be freebooters or we'll get left. If
We cannot catch another mans bullock
somebody will catch ours and there it goes.
That simply means that our directors should
put good hitch OF rope around the players
we have, and then they stand happily and
watch how things 20.
There is little in baseball at this time of
year for waiting. Manager McGunnigle is
Rrdently of the opinion, as he sent word
Friday, that ne had signed one of the best
pitchers in the country. McGunnigle
knows as many PLAYERS as anybody, and if
he does not sign those who are available it is
because they are not good enough or that
they do not want to come to Pittsburg. 1t
Is too soon yet 10 say anything about what
players will be on the local team. We
know whom we have, of course, but we don't
know who we are to get There may be
rUmors, but we must wait fer facts.
A Sure Road to Ruin.
A casual survey of the baseball situation
viii impress all of US with one important
fact, viz, that things cannot go on as they
are now going. To a very great extent ball
PLAYERS are masters of the situation, and
they are, at least some of them are, forcing
matters in way that will sooner or later
bring about general ruin if halt is not
called. What l definitely refer to is the
fact of PLAYERS demanding such exorbitant
salaries, and if their demands are not
granted by the clubs that have paid them
well for years they go over to the opposing
side. The opposing side, of course, holds
ont stronger inducements in the way of
bigger salaries. In many respects do not
blame the PLAYER for this, although the
policy, in my estimation, is Lot good one
even for the PLAYER because. as Mr.. Hanion
remarked the other dav. q reaction will take
place. But the people who will suffer most
E-e those who agree TO pay these enormous
salaries as a means Of inducing players to
desert their clubs. Depend upon it, those
Uho pay the salaries will be the sufferers,
because they are dealing with men vino
have no gratitude, no reliability and in
Inanv respects verv little conscience. am
firmly of opinion that in the long run the
CeserGion of Connor and Richardson, of the
New York club and their joining the Ath-
leLics will not be as disastrous to the former
Es TO the latter.
The question is: Will the New York Club
get along better financially without Richard
son and Connor with Joint salary of S9,-
GOO than VIII the Athletics with these play
srS and who are to receive that amonnt of
money? / think New York will get along
much better BY conceding the extravagant
demands Of the two players, the Athletic
Club magnates have set pace that they
cannot possibly keep up. They cannot
afford to pay their players anything like
$4,000 piece for the season. A very great
distinction of salaries must exist. and this
IN itself is continual source of discomfort
among tie PLAYERS in q team, and expert
ence has shown that it has always had very
bad results Certainly. if the Athletic Club
directors can get along by paying Connor
and Richardson, and all their other players
FOR that matter 81, 900 each, let them do it.
But they cannot, and they know it.
The Gratitude of Ball Players.
During the last few days much has been
gaid about The gratitude of ball PLAYERS
Some people contend they have none, but
admit they have some, though it may not go
out toward the magnates. never think of
the question without one very important
feature lmpresslng me, viz, that every
baseball PLAYER to-day who is receiving
$500 or more per season is almost entirely
indebted to the men who have put up the
money, who have racked their brains and
who have labored so hard to make the ma
tional game a successful business The
popularity of PLAYERS now and again may
hgrH rrfr~f 20 hn ne h.
business but most assuredly if the money
end genius OF management had not been
forthcoming there would not have been the
star players to take into consideration.
But II is unfortunately true that as q rule
PLAYERS who are best dealt with are
those who have least gratitude TO show
in return. This may be because so many of
these PLAYERS make such big and sudden
Jumps from poverty to at1uence that they
think they own the world and that baseball
canno. get along without them. 1t is safe
to bet 10 to l that Richardson and Connor
signed with the Athletics fully believing
that the New York club would be ruined
by their absence. They will be mistaken.
l am not arguing against ball player
making the best Of his condition, but l do
contend that it would be much better II he
would be little more grateful to those who
have aided him to be what he is, and even
at much expense. Nor do 1 see any unfair |
ness in 4 player who last year was working |
forS1 day II an iron mill, asking for S., 600 |
70 pitch ball fer six months next year. A |
player has perfect right to do that, and |
the fact of his working for 81 per day no |
more impairs his worth as pitcher than if |
he had worked for nothing at all. To-day |
there may be land in this vicinity not worth |
a, 600 an acre. Tomorrow oil may be dis |
covered on it, aud its value will become |
enormous Last wear a man may have only |
been useful IN carrying pig metal: but this |
year it may be discovered that he is great |
baseball pitcher. He is engaged to pitch |
ball, and his salary must be equal to the in |
dividual salaries of those with whom he |
ranks. In short, ne is now q pitcher OF
ball and not q carrier of metal There is a !
big difference. But notwithstanding this, |
ball players should be reasonable, and if
they are it will be better for them.
An Old Idea Revived.
New York baseball writers have again re-
vived the 12-club league idea; that is, to
have only one organization and il to consist
o. Il clubs This plan has been brought to
the front again because Mr.. Prince, of Bos- ]
ton. wants TO sell his club to the League,
snd, it is stated, he won't sell except the |
League magnates guarantee to take care of |
the balance Of the Association clubs Quite |
an undertaking, by the way. We are also |
told that E. II. TalcoJt thinks the scheme |
will be adopted. With due Difference to |
Mr.. Talcott, [ venture 10 say that such a |
scheme will not be in operation yet awhile. |
Wouldn't there be hilly-biIloo if the As |
sociation magnates and the League mag |
mates were all in one organization and had |
TO run one common business? Without 60 |
ing into details to show the impractlcabilitv |
lss =