, 1891-05-10
A FAIR BEGINNING
Both Big Baseball Leagues Are
Well Under Way.
PLEASING ATTENDANCE FIGURES.

Indications Point to a Successful Season
from "A Financial standpoInt-Keuy'.
Hard Luck-somethIuG About the Much
Argued Umpire Question.
The League season opened everywhere in
a blaze OF enthusiasm. Over 5000 people
witnessed the games, and Of these 1900
saw Boston defeat New York on the Iatter's
home grounds, much to the chagrin ana
surprise of the Immense crowd. This tire
mendous attendance shows that the sport
has regained the position it held in 1855, il
not 1889. And for the three days following
the average attendance OF the four cities
punched was 10000 Il day. No other indi.
cations are needed. The season will he "A
prosperous one for the League.
Thu fight for the pennaut is to be "A hot
one from the start. There have already
been some surprises, as for instance the
winning by Cleveland of three straight
from C~inciuuati's strong team, and the de
feat of the Giants in three straight games
by the Bostons. These defeats do not
make the Giants any the less IA great team,
nor do CinciuDati's defeats put her out OF
tbs race by any means. These early game,
are hope raisers, but ranks who are elated
today will be cast down tomorrow.
There is not a doubt In my mind that
the Giants will win the flag, and they are
at present nearly tailenders. Boston is
making a good start, and will struggle
hard against New York. Brooklyn and
Chicago. BostOn's Jonah last year was
the Brooklyn team. II Boston has as hard
luck this season in the Brooklyn series as
last, in the way of players getting hurt and
the team getting beaten, Boston will have
little show for the pennant.
The American association il PLAYING its
schedule smoothly, and seems to be pros
porous. The expensive teams, however,
cannot be paying expenses if the attend
ance reports are to be relied upon. For
instance, the Boston Reds in Boston had
100, there being 10 opposition and with
the Baltimore club as an attraction. Wash
ington drew 1,45O; Columbus, LOO; Louis
Vile, LEO, 1t takes an average attend
nee of at least 800 to pay the expenses of
the Boston Reds, whose salary list alone is
S47 900, or Whereabouts. Aud this At fifty
cents admission. That is what they charge
Bostonians, who are supposed TO be will
ing to pay anything that is asked to see II
game of ball. Elsewhere the Association
plays for twenty-five cents.
The teams are playing pretty good ball,
the Louisville champions holding a lead of
two games over the Boston Reds. Balti-
more is third and st. Louis fourth. The
Athletics are t~ailenders, having won Just
three games out OF eleven. The other clubs
are not in it at present. The final fight for
the pennant will find the Boston Reds on
one side. Whether Louisville can hold her
own until the wind up is an open question,
of course, but 1t seems somewhat doubtful
to me. Either or both Baltimore and st.
Louis are more than liable to beat them
out.
Kelly has had a hard time with his team.
Hard luck and poor pitching have kept
him back, and now he has dissipation to
contend with. Two of his pitchers. Crane
and McGill, painted Louisville in old time
Pete Browning style. They ended in the
lookup, and Manager Kelly had to extri-
cate them in court next day at consider
able expense. He also fined the men $50
each. Both promised to reform. Kelly
has not played his team at home yet, so
how Cincinnati will take to another de.
feated club cannot be said. The present
series between Cincinnati and Louisville,
now being played at Louisville, were
scheduled for Cincinnati. BY transferring
games Kelly can open his new grounds
May l with st. Louis.
There have already been complaints
enough about umpires TO fill a waste bas-
ket, and a big one, too, and most of them
should go into that receptacle. The UNI
HAAN n AN0AAe aus SNNH RNNAANAF uAAAA a.
expense. 1t was given Il fair trial by the
Brotherhood, and found wanting. Owing
to the p~reponderance of other matter little
was made on it, but the players
were dissatisfied, and the public also, 50
far as could be judged. One good man is
enough in nearly all games.
The impossibility of getting eight men
Of proper stamina and Judgment is what
spoils the double umpire system. One Is
always dominated by the other, as it is in
all conditions Of life, and hence you prac-
tically have but one man You might as
well start with one. The only place where
he is apt to err is on second and third base
decisions, but Ills rs likely TO be one way
as the other.
1t is true that there are certain games
where, whether necessary or not, two UNI
pires give great satisfaction, and these are
worlds championship games and games
between strong leading clubs which may
decide the peunant or come near to do.
ing so.
In all such events | believe in two UNI
pires, because they create a feeling OF conf
~denCe-always desirable to maiutain-thAt
the game will go on its merits. Some re-
form is needed in the rules clearly defining
the exact duties of each umpire. II used
this year an understanding should be had
before the game, and Nick Young's instruc,
tious Che could write someJ be read by each
umpire. The spectacle Of one man calling
the game and another telling the players
to go on, as occurred at Boston last year,
would not disgrace the game again if the
authority Of each umpire was laid down in
black and white. Ny compliments to Mr..
Young. w. l. HARRIS.
vice President Lowell.