The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-27
The BASE BALL OUTLOOK.
Not Far From the Playing Season
and Much Work Yet to
Be Done.
The Feeling In Cincinnati Seems
to Be Drifting To ward
the League.
III a Fight Must Come the Association IL
Likely to Suffer-Basc
Hall NOtcA

base ball situation the Evening Post says:
If the proposed peace conference is not
hurried the playing season of base ball will
be on and no compromise can be made by
the National league and the American asso-
citation. The latter organization Is going
on with its work in Cincinnati despite its
poor prospects there and the long odds it
will be fighting against. "Cincinnatians,"
comments Harry Weldon, who, by the way
is an association sympathizer. will likely
have a chance the coming season to see
: every prominent bali player in America.
That the Queen City will have representa-
tive clubs in the two major leagues seems
to be a r~ock-ribbed. copper-b ottomed fact.
The American association won't leave Gin
cinnati and the National league dare not
give it mp without inviting the suspicion
that they have surrendered it to the enemy.
The league has contracted to pay $4,000 to
get q foothold in Cincinnati, and no one for
a moment will believe that men of the cali
Der of Spalding, Soden, Reach, Robinson,
OiNeill ct al. have invested such a sum to
throw away.
IA fight seems inevitable. TIL league has
the best of the American association in To-
cation; in fact, the site selected by the
younger body for its park could not we'll be
worse. BY a critical measurement it is
three and three-tenths miles from the Lit
tie Miami depot. and not less than four
miles from Fifth and Vine streets. This
would not be so bad if there were any con-
7enient way of reaching it, but one line
of horse cars passes the park. 1t is to be
made an electric railway, and ia expected
Ao ha ooroplafoH hv rho middle nf NAV. A
station will also be built on the Little
Miami railroad, but steam cars afford a very
unsatisfactory means of base ball travel.
Neither of the parks under lease to the
Cincinnati league club is half as far out,
and either can be reached by four lines OF
horse cars and one electric road. There may
be room and patronage in Cincinnati for
two frst-class teams. but past experience
has shown the reverse to be the case. Both
the league M association have a following
in this atty. The 6rst-class article of ball
played here last season by the leaRe, which
made league ball here very popular. 1t
also has q large following among certain
classes who object to Sunday bali and the
peddling of drinks in the seats. The asso-
citation has a great many friends by reason
of its popular price feature and Sunday
games. A great many lovers of the game
who can only get off on the first day OF the
week are pulling hard for the association.
If the Sunday games are not stopped there
is no doubt but that they will be literally
patronized."
1t has been finally decided by the man
both parks for its games the coming season.
This was generally understood but it was
not until Saturday that official information
was obtainable, The games will be divided
evenly between both parks.
1t looks as if the worlds championship
.--,.1l -~L L~ nil, -r kh, mi oJl H..
any games this spring. Still Louisville
could claim the title, for Brooklyn would
not accept a challenge to play. 1t will be
remembered that each club won three
games in the series last fall. Mr.. Byrne
says that Louisville is welcome to the
honor.
A dispatch from st. Louis says 1t is likely
that the st. Louis club will this season be
minus the services of pitcher Charles King.
who it is conceded even by President Won
der Abe has signed with the Pitssburg club,
despite the fact that President Won der Abe
has in his possession an ironclad contract
signed by the silver-haired twirler and
drawn up by that players own attorney.
An odd story is told in the north about
Sam Morton, formerly manager of the Chi I
cago Maroons. Whenever the Maroons
played at home, which wasn't very often, |
especially during the latter part of the sea-
son, Sam would make it a point to be out
eAA"SAS s0o PSPuAeh DOA ~ l
When he met an acquaintance the follow
ing is a fair spmple of the conversation en-
suing:
"Game to-day, Sam?'
"Yes; good one, too. Can you come out?"
Don't know, Sam; I'll try to-
"Re sure and get out. I'll be on the
gate.'
The fact that Sam said he'd be on the
gate would bring out perhaps two or three
Hundred who wouldn't nave crossed the
street to see the game if they knew they'd
have to settle. When they'd get to the ball
park, about q mile and a half out, no Sam
would they find on the gate. OF course
they'd go to the game after coming so far.
Sam would lay low for about five innings.
Then he would go to his friends in the
grand stand, his invited guests, and the
conversation would 60 on for a few minutes
as follows:
did you get it all right"
Eyes. by settling"
Zone of my players got on his high horse
and l had to call him down. That's how ]
happened to leave the gate. Awful sorry,
old man. Come out tomorrow and I'll fix
you all right.
If the friend went out the next day he
bought another ticket. About the fifth in
ming Sam would show up again and perhaps
jolly his friend into coming the third day.
Other managers have worked this, but
few succeeded so nicely.
A BLOWING BRITIsHER.