The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-01

THEY Want Ward.
He Is the Subject of Rivalry
Among the Clubs.
HIS FALLING OUT WITH EWING.
1t All Comes, W. i. Harris Says, from
Bucks" Apathy When Under ward.
Beginning to Make Up the Teams-A
Great Struggle in '91.


Great Struggle in '91.
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 will have no show unless the Ma /
tional league clubs waive claim to Wards !
services, which is not likely to happen. |
There has been in certain quarters, and !
indeed it has been the opinion of Ward !
himself, that the National league would
give him a rough deal in consequence 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 If the League cap
italists were inclined to make reprisals,
they could not afford to do so. In fact
they have no such desire. The chances are
now that Ward will remain in Brooklyn
at least that is the programme of Messrs.
Byrne and Goodwin, and it is part or
their consolidation agreement, provided.
of course, that John B. Day and Mr.. Ward
agree Mr.. Day says that he wants ward
to 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 to play on
the same team with Ewing, which is one
of his objections to New York, and no one
can well blame him. When Ward was
captain Of the New York club in 1856 and
1887 the team was remarkably strong
ebo the channniOn-
ship. At least that was the opinion of ex-
perts. The failure was generally laid at
Wards door, when, as matter of fact,
Ewing was more responsible than 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 go
behind the bat when Ward wanted him
most. There isn't any question that Ewing
was lukewarm and his apathy was sore
spot that has ranked in Wards heart for
wears Yet when Ewing became captain,
and won the championship two years with
practically the same team, Ward did his
whole duty. Indeed, without him the
chances are that the remnants would not
have been won.
During the baseball war last year Ward
and Ewing were at loggerheads 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
Ewing, as he considers that Ewing had
good deal to do with persIlading the New
York capitalists of the Players league to
cult. Be this as it may, one thing is sure
that the two men could never again play In
harmony on the same team where one had an
opportunity to boss the other, so it may be
settled that the chances are only about one
in hundred that Ward will be found with
the Giants of 1891. 1t would be master
stroke. however. to have him play as cap
tain and manager for the Brooklyn club,
as the rivalry between the two clubs, al
ways great, would he intensified, and the
result would have an influence on the gate
not to be despised.
The terms of consolidation in Brooklyn
are to increase the capital stock OF the
club to S2500O0, Of which the National
league people will hold Sl26, 900. For their
share the late Players league capitalists
will pay Mr.. Byrne and his partners s4O,-
900 In cash, and the club will move TO
Eastern park, bag and baggage. The coz
solidation has been delayed by one OBJ
structing stakeholder, who has got an In
junction restraining the Players league
people from carrying out the deal until II
has been ratified by the stockholders, but
the injunction merely acts to delay, as Mr.
Goodwin holds control of 20 per cent. OF
the stock, and will have no trouble III vot
ing to ratify the arrangements made II
due time.
The various conference committees anc
the League and Association are finishing
up their deals this week, and withlL a few
DAYS the circuits will be definitely fixed
~ Of will know 81
how they stand There is some doubt
about the Association securing clubs IL
Boston and Chicago, but the impression /:
that they will if they are willing to accept
the conditions demanded.
The circuits once fixed the question o
players will be taken up, and the teams 70
1891 will begin to assume definite form
There will no doubt be some trouble ovel
the players. but the League will really hav
little difficulty ia securing such OF thei
old men as they desire. The players gener
ally have accepted the situation, and ar
prepared to make the best of it.
The clever WAY in which Mr.. Spaldln!
secured TO his old players the salaries the.
thought were lost for good, and got then
q fair price for their Brotherhood stock
has had good effect on all the players
and barring a few who object To playing
with the men who remained loyal 10 tn
National league in their extremity, ther
will be no heartburnings. The malcon
tents the League will not worry ltsei
about. Those of them who are good play
ers will receive offers of good salaries t
play ball, and if they refuse the Leagu
will not chase them very long.
There VIII not be quite so many change
among the teams as has generally bee
expected. Pfeffer is more than likely t
remain in Chicago, and most Of the popr
lar favorites viii play with their old club:
Nearly ali the Association players IN tn
late Players league will be returned
the Association clubs from which the
were taken unless deals are made to retail
them in the League. This will be done
a few cases. notably those OF Stoyey, Biel
bauer, Weighing and Orr.
The public interest in the game is create
now than was generally expected, after IL
apathy which grew up out of the her'
struggle of last season, and the renewe
interest is a healthy indication that with
restoration of local pride IN one club aad
cessation of strife the game will once aoI
assume the promIuent place it held in is
and 1889 In few weeks we can begin {
speculate on the pennanu chances for IS9
as The teams Will then be pretty wei mad
up Enough is known Of their compleXio
now to justify the assertion that the COZ
test for first honors viii be the greatest
the history of the game.
". l. HARRIS.
Sporting Item.
Al see that they are trying to pnt
stop to all betting in New York
PPM Glad of IL Betting is peri