Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-03
Pleasing Results So Far Accom-
pIished BY the Clubs of the
National League.
SUGGESTIONS FOR TIE HONE CLUB.
Joe Hsidegert Letter From Germany
About the Nan Whs Did an Al.
legged Feat on Stills.
TIE RETIREMENT OF J. L. SULLIVAN.
Els Glass ~ . friR Fishts, savin's frssYsss and
Other Current ksttsrk


tional psstime, and as such it has been
pstronised since the baseball season opened.
Since the I'D of last month the patronage
bestowed on the various games in the Ma.
tional League has been such that most all
of us who have the success of the game al
heart feel glad. Baseball, good as it is as a
sport, can no more run without patronage
than can butchers establishment continue
without customers, and if the patronage 50
far given to the national game this season is
an indication of what we may expect, there
is great season in store. Of course the
season has not gone along far enough to
permit of any definite estimate. We can
only oDjecture on all things pertaining to
it, and presume all these conjectures will
be of a very hopeful kind. But as far as
the season has gone there is one thing that
we may with some safety accept as a fact;
that is, that the League race this year will
be a very interesting one. don't think
that any of the old-time patrons of baseball.
mean those who have stored away figures
and records of the game since the first ball
was knocked away in America, can produce
anything to show that there ever was q time
when eight clubs In any organization looked
so well, as compared on paper, as the eight
clubs in the League do now. When we
begin to examine closely each club, even
with the work done by each this season SO
far, think we'll find that any team in the
League is liable to cause trouble for the
pennant aspirants. I'm sure that if were
to receive fortune for it could not come
IN
what is the best club in the League. Like
other people / may guess aud then express
an opinion, or what may be regarded as an
opinion, but depend upon it at this stage it
is only guess work by all Of us. simply
say at present that all the teams are good,
but as to which is the best belongs 10 further
on. l am also free TO confess that have not
such high estimation of the New York
team as had few weeks ago and / have
q very much higher one of the Philadelphia
team than had. The New Yorks may
have started out badly and much below their
form, but they have performed very mod
erately since they started. The Cincinuatis
are really better than their record so far
shows and Cleveland has fully demonstrated
the fact of being good team. The Brook
lyns, too, are much better than what their
work on paper would lead us to believe,
and altogether expect that as soon as each
team gets settled down to its best work
there will be SOME exciting contests. This
will keep up the patronage.
The Home Club.
There is more interest in the home club
than have known for years. Although
the season has not progressed very far. our
teams have come in for more criticism than
they have done in the past for nearly the
hot
thusiasm on the matter has been fully
aroused, and it further means that if the
team can play as winners the directors and
stockholders of the club will not be losers.
There have been many strong complaints
made about the team bv its patrons. Com
planning, we should all bear in mind, is a
right that all patrons have, and if they
were prevented from finding fault would,
indeed, be sorry for them. There often is
great consolation in pointing out some real
or alleged shortc omings that caused the de-
feat OF our fayorites. L am acquainted with
q man who is an ardent admirer of the local
team, ard his heart is always much troubled
when they lose. But he is one of the hap
piest men on earth if he can get two or
three listeners to indorse his notions OF how
the team is defective To be able to con-
vince human being of any kind of the al
legged weak places in the team is the acme
OF happiness for nv acquaintance. Well,
there are scores, nay, thousands of baseball
cranks similar to the citizen to whom
j have just referred, and really they do as
much and it may be more than anybody
else in sustaining an interest in the game
like to find them numerous, because when
ever we do we are sure to find baseball en-
thusiasm very strong. But managers and
officials should guard against these cranks,
y - =
once shown there will be no end. Why,
there are scores of patrons of the game who
are really convinced that they can see where
Manager Hanlon and President O'Neil are
making big blunders every dav. As a re-
suit these officials are IN daily receipt of
letters of advice, instruction and warning.
Well, it is all right to read these letters, but
to act upon them Is quite another matter.
/ know that every week am receiving ad- |
vice from well-intentioned, though un-
known, friends, advising me what to write |
in the review every week. am always |
thankful for the advice, but 1 always please
myself first about my writings. I expect it |
is Just SO with the management of the local |
ball club. 1t should not be any other way. |
If it was any other wav, certain ruin would /
stare the club in the face.
Few suggestions.
But in the foregoing paragraph 1 do not |
mean that on all occasions a request or sug-
gestiou from the public should not be acted |
upon. There may be instances of sugges-
tions absolutely worthy of acceptance, both
as matter of principle and matter of |
policy. Well, there have been many sug-
gestions made already regarding the local |
team. So far it has been seen that Miller
is not success as a short stop. 1 am not
saying what he will be, but am Just deal
ing with what ne has done. George has
been failure, and none of US can deny that,
and as consequence many suggestions
have been made regarding the matter.
would not wish by any means that the cluh
dispense with Miller, because it ispossible
that he may develop into a great intieIder.
1 say it is possible, but it may not be proba-
ble Miller has been a very useful
member OF the Pittsburg team ior mapy
years, and it would not BY any means be
fair treatment to dispose of him without a
test. But 1 am inclined to think
that ii Miller is not an ont6elder he is moth
ing at all in League club. The suggestion
has neen made that Reilly be taken off third
and Miller put there, and Laroque at short.
This smacks too much of iavoritism ior Mil
Ter. Why should Reilly be taken away to
make room for Miller? The former may
not have made the most brilliant
efforts at third, but he certainly has
out-classed Miller in every particular
as an infelder and batter. But If it is fair
TO continue Miller 80 a. to give him try il
is only fair to do the same with Reilly.
The latter has given evidsnoe that he can do
some very great work, and By all means let
him have O fair chance TO do il. But there
10 another experiment that can be made.