Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-27
AFFAIRS OF THE LOCAL BALL CLUB.
The Question Of the directors Paving
Fancy Salaries When the Club
Cannot Afford 1t.
TROUBLES AMONG THE AMATEURS
Young nitchclrs Defeat Of Reddy eaIashsr-Ihs
Woods and Davis Battle

number of its predecessors, leaving its
record behind it, whether it be good, bad or
Indifferent. When the end of the season is
so near, it may not be out of place to say a
few words about it, although the race of the
teams is not over vet, nor can we saw with
absolute certainty what will be all the
positions at the end Of the race. But there
have been many very interesting features
Of the season Just about to close. Fin
snciaily, 1 don't think it has been such a
success as many people expected it would
be and on the other hand it has been more
Of success than many other people pre-
dicted. The disruption of last wear re-
duced the popularity Of the game to such
low ebb that there was reason for thinking
that several seasons must come and go be-
fore sll the old-time enthusiasm returned.
1t was stated that the collapse of the P. L.
would sour the public mind more than ever
against the League and its magnates. But
this statement was only made by partisans
There was another party; a sort of oI.tim-
istic party, who argued that just as soon as
the P. /. was out of the way and the old
condition of things re-established the public
enthusiasm which had only been shoulder
ing would burst forth in greater and
stronger volume than ever These were
the positions of the two parties Just before
this season commenced We have seen
that neither has been altogether correct;
but those whose feelings were little hurt
BY the downfall of the P. L. and predicted
all kinds of calamities as a consequence,
were absolutely wrong. An exceedingly
greater amount of success has characterized
the season than the party in question pre-
dicted. But while contend this am free
TO admit that the public interest in the
game has not been as great as it could have
been; indeed, it has not by far been as great
as ii has been on former occasions. And
there have been reasons for this. There is
still an element of disruption abroad. The
old spirit of rebellion agai2s5 the League
and everybody who has helped to make the
national game successful is still more or
less rampant. That spirit is fraught wish
desires 10 see the National League ruined
just because the P. L. collapsed. Well,
this spirit has prompted those who are i'm
bued with it to try all in their power
to injure baseball prospects and dampen
public enthusiasm. In very many instances
the most strenuous efforts have been made
20 sow seeds of dissatisfaction and discon-
tent with the object of causing one party to
have had greater effect than they should
have had.
Few Good Features.
Well, when We take into consideration the
above elements of strife and discomfort, we
must admit that the season has been a very
successful one as far as the National League
IS concerned. In Boston matters may not
have beeu as prosperous as were antici
pated, but they have been more successful
than might have been expected under the
circumstances. There have been two con-
tending parties there, and their contentious
have doubtless, to a very great extent
soured the public on the game. 1 cannot
avoid the conviction that matters in Boston
would never have become so unpleasant had
the efforts Of tn oSe who reDelled not been
formed and fCstered by a number of ire
BpOnsible people whose dearess wish is to
down Jhe League. Another feature Of the
sc son has been the demonstration of the
fact that the National League is still pos
sCssed OF its power and most assuredly all
OF Its former popularity will come back by
next season with increased force. L am
glad that the National League still stands
prominently ont as the power in baseball.
Under its guidance and under its shelter
ing wing the welfare of the national
game has nothing to fear. The great
minds in the baseball world and l might
add the fairest minds take part in the delib-
GRAFTON and assist in shaping the deStinieS of
the League and therefore, the national game.
This fact = z pleasant one to me, and gives
Inc assurance that eveTythlngS VIII 20 along
al. right. Another very pleasing feature of
tnc season has been the fact of the existence
OF so many good teams in the League. 1
don't think there ever was time when
there were eight as good teams in an organi-
cation as there are in the League now. This
proves 10 rs that the quality OF ball players
is improving no matter what other results
may be. And let me remark here, that am
persuaded that the quality will continue to
improve. The mis- Siortunes and necessities
OF last year have resulted in teaching club
directors very important lesson, viz, that
II Is worth while to speculate in '1 oung
blood This wear has demonstrated that
fact and We have to-day dozens of young
players who might never have been heard
tell OF. had the old 'StarS'' not risen in their
foolshness and introduced state OF
anarchy. This year has SO successfully
proven the worth of young blood, that / an
uclpate there Will not De very much de-
mand for the old luninaries nexs year.
Surely this ought to be lesson to those who
are being literally dealt with.
About the Prospects.
cannot well leave the above few remarks
about the season without saying few words
Gbout the prospects. 1t would be foolish
ness to argue that baseball can be as popu-
lar as il might be as long as there are &c
tional fights or as long as there are two par
ties trying to ruin each other. We must
conclude, therefore, that as long as the
League and Association are trying to
battle each other things wont be as
successful and as pleasant as they
could otherwise be. This being so, it would
be better for all hands if all the troubles be-
tween the two organizations were smoothed
down; in fact, obiterated. ! dare say all of
US interested il the game share this opinion;
but the question is: How can the trouble be
removed? do not intend to suggest an an
swer to this question, but 1 am inclined to
think that efforts are being made at present
60 solve the problem. Several ways have
been mentioned. We all know of the way
suggested by tie Association. That was TO
abolish the entire present order of things
and give the Association full control of the
new. Certainly tEat is one way. But there
Is another Way that have heard suggested,
and, Il mistake not. IL was very favorablv
discussed AT the recent League meet
ing. TulS way Is to consolidate the two BoS-
ton clubs and take Baltimore and st. Louis |
into the League. The Boston consolidation
could be effected by the League club direc-
tors allowing Prince one-fourth interest in |
their club. MT. Prince, understand, is |
willing to make such a deal, and so are the |
majority of League magnates. But the |
Boston triumvirs are not; these triumvirs
who ruled so long in Boston with undis- |
puted sway. In my humble Judgment the |
plan seems 10 be good one, not only for the |
LeuEue, but alsO for the tIiumvirs. To them |
tie question ought to be very simple one. !
They should ask themselves this: If we
cOncede Prince a quarter of our club will
the remaining three-quarters become Of
more value than the whole at present? Now,
If they would ask themselves that question
ana be guided by the answer the trouble
would be settled at once Certainly the
threc-q usrtsrs would after the change be
more valuable than is the whole now. 1t
may be that pride prevents the deal, but
1t must not be forgotten that more
or lees of q compromise had to be made in