Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-13

three years ago Locally speaking, do not
think there is person In Allegheny county
who thought two years ago that there would
be such intense interest in the sport today.
And let me Nv that The DISPATCH has
played very prominent part in popular
izing this winter game. For about three
years this paper has urged the good quail
ties of the game, and did so for long time
single handed 1t is, therefore, highly salts
factory TO find the patrons of the sport now
so numerous
Football can afford its surprises as well as
baseball, and only a week ago we had a real
surprise in the defeat of the Princeton team
by the University of PENNSYLVANIA team.
The result of that contest has occasioned
more talk and comment than any other foot
ball event for years The result was so
unexpected because the Princetons were
looked upon as a very powerful lot. A week
or two ago 1 said that the Princeton team
were probably not as strong as many people
thought, and in this I was right 1t seems
to me that the Tigers are little short of
expectations, and that the University of
Pennsylvania are a little beyond expecta-
tions
There is strong reason TO believe that the
{. of P. team were lucky to defeat the
Princetons Some very fragrant fumbling
on the part of the Princetons gave the q.
of 7. their score and had that fumbling not
taken place the Pennsylvania team would
Snot have tailed at all But that fumbling
MAS mistake that is not likely 10 happen
again. Certainly the q. of P. team are
powerful lot OF players, and when they
scored thIy did nothing but try to prevent
the Princetons from scoring. This, of
course, was in their favor. Altogether 1
cannot believe that the U. of P. team are
as good as the Tigers
And Harvard a few days ago gave US a
surprise, although she wasn't beaten. The
Harvard team only defeated the Boston A.
a. team by 16 to u. This was a very
narrow escape and goes to show that our
crack college teams are not up to their
standard, because it is not reasonable 10 ex-
pect that the Boston team are so much
better now than what they were last year.
1t is difficult to name the winner OF the
championship now as there arc sure to be
many changes in the leading teams. Yale,
of course, seems to be the best team at
resent, but she has two or three games to
wrS to capture the leading honors and Har-
varA only has one. This is about the greatest
inconsistency that know Of 1t is decidedly
unfair to Yale, and if under the circum-
stances the>Harvard lot do win the cham
pionship there will be comparatively little
glory attached to it.
There is one more feature of footballs in
creasing popularity. just as the game be-
comes more popular We may expect teams
outside of colleges to improve IN quality,
and as they do that they will threaten lead
ing @llege teams for first honors; in fact
anticipate time when the college teams
will not be the very best we'll have.
A Very Bold Baseball Scheme.
During the week Just ended baseball has
been brought to the front by a report from
ST. Louis stating that a capitalist there is
willing to put up 100000 toward re-
establishing the American Association.
l confess that this was somewhat of
startler to me and OF its veracity l have
very little to say. There are SO many rea-
sons why man should not at present put
up the sum of S100, 600 in baseball that
hardly believe there is a man in st. Louis
who is willing to do any such thing.
But the rumor suggests one thing, viz,
that there is spirit existing favorable to
the reorganization of the American Asso-
>ciation, and also that the opinion prevails
TO the effect that an arrangement could be
made whereby the 12-club League could be
split up and every club now in 1t pay its
share of the present debt 1t is unnecessary
for ME TO repeat arguments showing why q
12-cub League is too big for the good of
baseball, but l may be allowed to say that
believers in these arguments are increasing
every Gsy.
Before next Sunday comes the magnates
will definitely have decided on their course
Of action for next year. If we are TO be-
lieve what President Young tells us, there
is no fear OF those magnates paying any at
tention to the ST. Louis capitalist and his
500, 900. We are told very plainly that
the 12-club League cannot be altered at
present. This is q pity if it is true and if
such is the case then it NAV be matter of
duty to make the best of it we can. OF one
thing 1 feel certain and that is the 12-club
arrangement is doomed, if not for next sea-
son, most certainly in the next following.
Among the questions to be decided at the
annual meeting this week are those forfeit
ed games of Washington and Cleveland to
the Pittsburg club. The forfeiture of the
games are of comparatively little import
auce, but each club is charged with fine of
81, ,OOO The local officials claim they have
a clear case against each club and if thev
have then by all means the fines should be
enforced. This thing of e team leaving the
field or refusing to go on to it should be
stopped by all means 1t is true that the
Cleveland teams action lost the local club
q large amount of money and if in declin-
ing to play off the tie game they violated a
rule they should suffer the consequences.
The Washington team violated the rule be-
vopd all doubt and it is difficult to see why
that club should not be fined.
ul,o Corract Thiup tn Do
Epglishmen who do not want amateurism
tainted in any way are also graphing with
the matter OF having paid men in the anna
teur ranks. BY paid men ! mean athletes
who are paid for their services The Brit
ishers mean to deal with the matter effec-
tively. and the following resolution will be
submitted by E b. Turner to the March
meeting of the Cyclists Union.
That no club. association or individual
,,ro,noting any competition whatsoever for
riders OF cycles shall be permitted to accept
the entry of any person VINO Is at the time
or within six months has Deen connected
Nyitb the trade of making, selling or letting
Tor hire cycles of any sort, unless such per-
son he the holder of a license permitting
him TO compete with amateurs, which
license must De gIanteo ~ specia. com.
mittee appointed py ING oouncii Oh 'he n.
The committee above mentioned shall
consist OF one representative re from each CEN
ter and one from ortions nnT o tie Rin1So%
nj nnd1r the government of any center,
and ali the members must De absolutely un-
conuected with the trade. The committee
shall have mower TO form sub-committees
TO- nnrnoses of investigation, and may
S,yont Licenses either full or conditional.
Enbs and bodies promoting meetings are
recommended to gi' = one race open only TO
unlicensed memDe, - the trade
Il "a ~