Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-16

to the manv that have gone to make che
history of the national game of this country.
Some peculiar chapters are found In
baseball annals, but there will be no chap
ter more peculiar than that relating to the
story of the season of 1892, which ended
YESTERDAY. 1t has been experimental, dis
appointing and q decided failure. II any
thing, it has left the national game worse
than when it found it.
We can easily glance and scan the burial
aisle of the past and notice how different
the baseball season of 1892 has been to any
other season. A distinguishing feature of
the season Just gone is the hvdra-that huge
monopoly that was connected with 1t, and
TO that 1 attribute most of its miserable
shortcomings and its wretched financial
failures
The season was begun amid great enthu-
siasm, because ali the magnates of import
snce had Joined hands and had resolved to
dwell in harmony and run baseball as one
powerful machine A monopoly was formed,
and there was no opposition, because the
very simple people of the National League
agreed to pay some very shrewd people VINO
were bankrupt and could not under any
circumstances remain in the business SlS2,-
600 to leave the business alone. This was
looked upon as q wonderful move by some
people. 1t was one of the worst in the his
tory of baseball, and many of the magnates
lre now aware of 1t.
The 12-club League got started aud de-
spite its monopoly which was to do so much
and despite the declaration of harmony
among the magnates and everybody else
connected with the League has been one of
the most signal failures ever known. At
no time have good business transactions
characterized it and long before the season
had expired the 12-club notion had lost its
attraction for the public. 1t was soon found
that to get together eight clubs from eight
good cities was one thing and to get II
clubs from IL good cities was another. This
could not be done, and as a result the good
quality of baseball that had been developed
hy the National League was spoiled by tine
infusion of the inferior quality from the
Association. Now this is plain enough to
understand and to see. If we take one of
our best dramatic companies made up OF
thorough going actors and put among them
a number of mere song and dance per-
formers who shall be placed on equality
with the really good actors why the whole
thing will be spoiled simply because the
standard of quality established by
the good actors will be lowered by
their incorporation with inferior talent
The more water We put into gallon OF
milk the worse quality of milk we get and
the more bad we mix with good the less
prominent the good becomes. Well, then,
during the season of 1892 baseball has been
spoiled bv the demolition of the National
League and its ideal, and the blending of ]
Of bad clubs snd bad cities with good clubs |
and good cities.
The Seasons Worst Feature.
But the season Just ended has been char |
acterized by the introduction of a policy |
that has never been equaied for injustice and |
tyranny. and. indeed, | will be greatly sur
Tfised, and hapIily so, if the evil results of
this policy do not cause a greater ruin
ltion than ever next year.
Baseball capitalists and magnates who |
have excellent knowledge and generous \
impulses have allowed men of the Won der |
Ahe type to shape and run the policy of |
The present League. As a result we have !
system in operation bv which baseball |
players are released by the wholesale; their |
salaries stopped and no possible chance for |
hem TO play in any other recognized |
League.
Let us thoroughly understand this most
pernicious compact. Suppose, nv gentle
reader, you are employed by business !
firm and they discharge you. That might |
not be calamity il YOU were permitted to
obtain similar employment elsewhere. But |
he people who discharge you nave made an
arrangement with other firms not to engage |
you and as result YOU either nave to re-
maine idle or leave the business. That is |
he new policy of baseball, that is Won der |
A heisn, was there ever anything more
iespotic? And vet the magnates expect |
success. They are cheered bv that senti- |
rent OF the immortal Tennyson:
ovet we trust that somehow good
VIII be the final goal of ill.
That they will be deceived am confident
except there is change of policy. Public
sentiment will resent these uni ust methods
Ind there will once more be factions next
ipring just as sure as we live. When there
ire factions there is discomfort and when
his is present profitable crowds cannot be
expected. We have seen this before. There
Ire more storms in store for the baseball
raft without the Jonah is thrown over
,oard. 1t is easy to find the Jonah and
uch clubs as Pittsburg and Boston and
cleveland should insist on getting rid of
he Jonah at all hazards.
There is a very singular feature connected
With the new baseball policy, viz, the peo-
lie who are defending it. When the
layers made their revolt, and under most
conditions, certain people de-
ended the players. The revolt at the time
ras unjustifable, because the players
LII |
lied agreements. But, strange to say,
hese very people who defended the play
rs revolt are now defending the unjust
olicy of the magnates. And yet this is
ot strange, because some people naturally
efend in every instance that which is un-
lst, illogical and stupid.
One plea urged in behalf of the magnates
that the players when they had the power
ealt harshly with the magnates. This
lea is so solidly wicked and SO exclusively
n argument for the continuation of trouble,
nj for the success of the injustice of might
yer right, that it is unworthy of serious
office. 1t is something like the statement
lade BY writer last week. He urged
How everything to go urchallenged. This
awful. Just think of it; a public that
n amusement entirely supports a system
nd to shut its eyes to all the despotism
nd Injustice that NAV make that system |
famous. Why, the thing is preposterous.
baseball is pure game and splendid rec
,ation. Ii can be carried on purely and
ith Justice to all. In its purest and fair
It dayg il was most prosperous When
ernicious principles we're infused into it
recess left it. There is moral here, ye
sgrates and your defenders
The Teams lin General.
The double season novelty makes it still
lcertain as to what team shall be looked |
ron as the best in the League. So far we |