Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-21

versation verbatim, with the exception OF
Cleary's curses. 1t is possible, as some
scotfers suggest, that Jere Dunn was so
moved by the pleadings of his friends who
had bet hundreds of dollars that Kilrain
would not be knocked out that he tempered
justice with mercy on their account?
Something About Baseball Affairs.
Those of my readers who are interested
in the national game will observe
the reason why 1 have comparatively
little to say about baseball matters. have
talked so long about the glove contest that
for once there is little room to deal with
other matters to any lengthy extent. OF
course, we are all aware that the Eastern
trip of the Western teams is over, and that
our band of sluggers have returned home
without 'bringing their sheaves with them"
The trip has, indeed, been disastrous one
for the local team. True, it was financial
success, but the defeats that have character
lied the trip have certainly brought the
team into considerable disrepute among the
cranks whose enthusiasm demands victory
at all times. I am no apologist for short
comings, and never have been, but when
there are causes for these shortcomings or
defects, it becomes duty to point then out.
When they are pointed out they
speak for themselves. Well, then,
it is only fair to say that there
is 10 ball team in the country that has suf-
fered more because of sickness and injuries
as has our team of late. need not re-
capitulate the many misfortunes that have
befallen the players and to great extent
broken the team up. Misfortunes of this
kind surely ought to have some weight with
those who make it their business to con-
denim the team. There is reason in many
things, but there is certainly no reason in
anybody who rails against an injured man
who does not perform as well as sound
one. To add to the bitter effects of all these
misfortHnes players and officials are coming
in for very large amount of abuse from
the cranks. Again I contend that this is
not fair. I know of no body of men who
have put up their cash more pluckily or
have worked more energetically to get
first-class team than have the directors Of
the Pittsburg club. And they did get
great team, and they proved
they had a great team, as
long as that team were in form. Now that
misfortune has o.vertaken them it is hardly
fair, under the circumstances, to heap abuse
on their heads. Depend upon it they are
more anxious than the public to have
winning team. To them 1t is dollars; to
the public it is pleasure. What I would
like to ask those people who won't look at
matters impartial y is: Who would you take
out of the team and who would you put
in? 1t is all very easy to say and even
prove that this player or that player is not
playing first-class, but where will you get q
better? is the rub. There is another feature,
viz, that abuse will do no good, that is, if
our wish is to make the team better. 1 dis
tinguish, of course, between criticism
and abuse, and while the former often
3ha 1o+f lx
leads to bad results. But there
is another thing in this connection worthy
of note The officials of the club have
probably been humbugged more than tongue
can tell with people who want this player
and that player released. Neither Mr..
O'Neil nor any other sensible official of a
club can be expected to give ear to all these
wild requests. There is no sense in any
body recommending the release of player
without showing clearly how and where
better man can be secured. Were this as
surance not given the officials would be very
foolish indeed to pay any attention to the
ture to make experiments bad as the present
team may be.
Blacklisting the Ball Players.
During the week President Young has
issued an order blacklisting at least for five
who have deserted the Western League and
Joined the American Association. And by
the way, those people who have been shout
ing so loudly about the contract jumpers of
Pittsburg will have new material to deal
with in their own organization, the Associa-
tion. But what want to point out is the
very dangerous step ball players are making
in getting themselves on the black list. Of
course some people may jeer at the mention
of the consequences, but it is serious mat
ter for ball players, and if little common
sense were exercised the probable effects
would be plainly seen. Let us take the case
of Meekin and Raymond. These players, by
their dishonorable desertion of the national
agreement territory, have entirely confined
themselves to the narrow limits of the
American Association. A decree has been
issued to the effect that these players can
not again play in any organization within the
jurisdiction of the national agreement. Well,
now, if the clubs of the American Associa-
tion come to the conclusion that they do not
need Meekin or Raymond what will they
do? And it is quite probable that either or
both may be released just as scores of other
players are released. But men like Meekin-
and Raymond could not find refuge in any
of the minor leagues because OF the black
list. In this respect, then, a ball player who
pldCcS ulmScll VII buC DldCA 1lSl udTIOWS LIS
field of work; in fact he places himself en-
tirely at the mercy of the American Asso-
citation, the magnates of which can simply
do almost anything they choose with the
players. MeeGn and Raymond, no matter
how ill-treated, could have no redress, nor
could they secure employment elsewhere as
baseball players. Surely the baseball player
to place himself in such fix as this would
be extremely foolish. Ball players will do
well to bear in mind that the national
agreement will stand, no matter how preju-
diced people may rant and rave about it. 1t
must also not be forgotten that Just as soon
as the officials of an Association club come
to the conclusion that blacklisted player
is not filling the bill for them that player
will be cast adrift regardless of these very
officials being the cause of the players
blacklisting himself In all respects, a
player who shuts himself off from the bene-
fits of the national agreement makes a very
big mistake. The Reilly case at Cincinnati
recently plainly showed that the only real
protection a. player has is in the national
agreement. Under the latter he can refer all
of his grievances to q proper tribunal made
up of representatives. of various organiza-
tions. There is no such appeal outside the
national agreement. These are very i'm
portant features for professional ball play
ers to consider. PRINGLk
FERDINAND WARD AGAIH.