The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-13
Eagle
NATIONAL GAME.
w. l. Harris Discusses the
Winter Baseball Situation.
THE JOHNsON.BRUNELL LETTER.

He Thinks 1t Has Failed in Its Object.
The Boston and Brooklyn TanGles-In-
door Baseball in New YOrk-LacrOsse
Teams Would Pay.
The recent private and contdentlai'
baseball circular, signed by A l.. johnson
snd F. H. Brunell, to the ex-players OF the
late Players league has, think, entirely
failed to fit its intention. johnson, who has
sworn to avenge himself on the Nationa.
league for its alleged bad treatment OF him,
inspired Brunell to get up the circular. Both
johnson and Brunell observed with grow
ing alarm and exceeding soreness that the
players were gradually falling into line,
and they felt that they must do something
70 worry the League, and stop the general
feeling of cordiality slowly but surely as
sorting itself among the Brotherhood play
ers toward their old employers.
The circular in question contained some
vague talk about capitalists having been
found who would embark in resurrected
Players league; some alleged i'll treat
ment which they insisted the League would
visit on the players; an effort to prove that
the p. L. could, if started again, be profit
ably conducted; request that each player
name the lowest guaranteed salary which
he would play for, and request that the
circular be kept a close secret. This docu-
ment was kept dark just five days, when
The Sporting Times printed it exclusively,
and it is now public property. In my
opinion ball players generally will pay lit
tie attention to it.
Johnson's grievance is that the League
"threw him down" The story of the other
side is that he refused to settle for GA per
cent. of his losses, and in his attempt TO
squeeze the League for more he got
squeezed himself Meanwhile the players
continue to show their desire to cure all
disagreements, as witness the sensible let
tiers of James O'Rourke and others. The
late Players league cannot be resurrected,
think.
The situation has not changed materially
during the last few weeks. The Boston
triumvirs show no disposition TO agree
that the Association can establish itself in
Boston, and even the eloquence of Spalding
appears to have been wasted on the desert
air From what / can learn the Boston
league people are trying to buy out their
late opponents, but are finding it difficult
Job.
OF course under the national agreement
the question of an Association club in Bos-
ton remains absolutely in the hands Of the
Boston club, and the National league will
ynot force the triumvirs TO agree to l.
against their will. The unsettled condi-
zion OF this matter is the only drawback to
The meeting of the general conference com
nittee, the settlement of the Association
ircuit, and the disposition of the players
not under contract.
There are rumors that if Boston cannot
be got the Association will turn its atten-
tion TO Brooklyn, where Messrs. Byrne and
Goodwin cannot come to an agreement.
Unless the late Players league club comes
off the very high perch on which it has
been roosting, the League is likely to make
no arrangements with Byrne at all. 1t re-
fuses to buy him out, and he refuses to sell
cut. he will not consolidate unless East
ern park is used for the games, and he is
aot willing TO pay the League people for
she tremendous sacrifices they must make
to go out TO East New York, where the
chances are that no club, however good,
could make money enough to pay fair
interest on the big capital invested.
If the matter continues to be a question
after awhile and let the Players league
capitalists hustle. think that if he was
to consent to the American association
putting a club at Eastern park it would
not detract from the attendance at the
League grounds.
Indoor lacrosse and football in New York
would do well financially, judging from
The enthusiasm shown in the games played
L..
sent entertainment of the Staten Island
Athletic club. They were well fought by
amateurs, who hustled each other from
the word 60 The attempt to introduce
indoor baseball at the same place, played
by professionals, was tried last week. 1t
Is too early, perhaps, TO say what the
financial result will be if the sport is con
tinued, but from all appearances the pub
lie is not likely to take TO professional
iiSloor baseball as a steady diet.
The trouble is that the games are sure to
be more or less of a hippodrome, in that
the players cannot develop any great per
sonal interest in such an insipid substitute
for the regular thing. 1t is pretty difficult
for a crank to get enthusiastic over game
where player weighing 200 pounds uses a
stick made largely Of cork against a ball
l3) would discard with scorn on account Of
its softness. As there is no accounting for
public TASTE the thing may go with boom,
but the chances are about even that it will
not. If the magnates want winter snap
let them organize teams of lacrosse players
among the professionals, and some great
sport would be seen.
NOTES OF INTEREST.
D Is. ,,l
to go to Minneapolis
John Ward still hopes 10 so to Philadel-
phia to play ball for the Wagners, and the
Wagners want him badly
j. Palmer O'Neil il still on top in Pitts
burg, bat he is riding very high horse,
and one that may kick under him before
next season.
willie Billp McGunnigle is trying TO
get together New England league.
Mike Leblanc thinks there is no place
like New York. On his Columbus record
he would have been failure in New York
last season.
Glasscock and Denny will play on the
New York team, all reports 10 the contrary
notwithstanding
The dickey birds are singing in Brook
Ign, but Charley Byrne does not hear
them.
Charley Ebbits will retain his position Of
secretary. Of the Brooklyn club, and will
not be the manager, as has been limited.
He is too valuable man TO be changed.
strong pressure is being brought to
bear to have Crane on the New York team
next year.
Consolidation in New York Is now COM
plete. ]. b. Day, J. W. Spalding and L.
r. Talcott viii run the club. The PLAYERS
will not lose their stock, but the stock will
lose in value, as ten shares in a $4,000 cor