, 1892-02-09
BAD DAYSFORP PROPHETS
The Midwinter Baseball Situa-
ton Is a Puzzling One.
PLAYERS WHO HAVE RETIRED.

ming Bases to Mix Drinks.
With twelve clubs battling for a flag in
Aseason that has suffered amputation oil
the hind quarters the field of uncertainty i,
too broad for an ordinary prophet to wan
der into without either a lantern or O
guide. There are very few Of the dozen
count 'em-with nerve enough to claim
that the pennant is theirs. That is one
strange feature of these midwinter strug.
giles about the stove. There are dark
horses-a whole drove of them-and the
entire twelve affirm a faith in being able
to maintain a rank in the first division.
THAI means that six will find their bright
hopes realized while the other six will be
crunching husks over in Cave Disappoint-
ment.
Washington imagines that there Is a
laurel wreath near the front row for the
Senators, but cruelty assigns all the other
e~x-Association teams to weak and lowly
tail end holds. The same spirit of self
confidence in the home club also exists in
St Louis and Louisville, but Baltimore
doesn't appear to be sure whether the
Orioles will roost high or not.
The gathering Of the clans will occur at
New York about March l. The ides and
the msgnates will arrive together. A
double championship season seems assured.
II 1t Is adopted the prophets had better
turn their shingles to the wall and quit
the business. The early bird will get the
worm, and the team that once stumbles
will not be In It.
Star ball players are like those who
wear shoulder straps in the service OF
Uncle Sam and rest their toes under the
mahogany in the officers quarters. They
seldom resign from their posts of duty.
There are exceptions, of course, but 1t does
not take all the fingers on one hand to
check off the knights of the pigskin who
chose to lay down the bat in the heydey CT
their popularity.
Jim McCormiok-to call him James
would necessitate the presentation of pa
pers of Observation-Disclosures the first to turn
his bach upon the diamond, but he did not
seek a quieter walk of life. He found a
path Just as sporty" and from running a
few skates" at Gutenberg, he blossomed
into the owner Of a likely stable. McCor-
mick, whose old partner, silver Flint,
was laid to rest within a stones throw of
the ground upon which he had played ball
when a boy at st. Louis, did not relish the
Idea of being allotted to Pittsburg, and he
affirmed that he would retire rather than
pitch ball there. He kept his word.
Will Sunday-one of the greatest little
helders who ever wore a uniform and a
king among base runners-was the second
player to say mo" to the offers of eager
managers, and he entered a field of mission
work. Ben Hogan abandoned the prize
ring for the pulpit, and Sunday refused
Cincinnati's ~pleadings a year ago and as
sumed the evangelical harness OF the Y.
M G. A. at Chicago.
John K. Tener left the pitchers box to
become a banker, but in truth 1t must be
said that he practically abandoned the
field in 1890, when he did more clerical
work than twirling for the unfortunate
Pittsburg brethpen.
This list Of three may be increased this
year. Fred Pfeffer, identified prominently
with two inglorious 1zzles at Chicago, is
coveted by both st. Louis and Louisville.
Uncle Arson and Mr.. Hart are twins in
the Chicago Manager, and the Windy City
bone thrown to Nicholas Frederick is not
to his liking. He has been installed as the
head Of a cafe at Louisville and threatens
to practice at the bar instead of about sec
ond base from this time forth.
Louis Rogers Browning is making the
same sort Of mouth. He is the only player
in the land who has not discovered that the
war is over. 1.-THE Gladiator" wants a sal
AIRY fatter thar the one he received at
Cleveland in the days of the initiation Of
1890, and when he gets it Colonel John
Bolts will play a clarionet solo at the
l<OulsNillt uluNlChl ltSblNhi. Oue VI Iue
many heretof re unwritten bits of history
of the campaign of last fall reveals Brown
ing In a leading role. The scene was laid
at Eastern park, and C~incinnati's Reds
were pitted against the pets OF Brooklyn.
Captain Latham was upon the lines max
ing sundry desultory remarks. "The Glad
iator" was at the bat, a redleg at third
and two men out. A good solid drive was
needed to get that run in.
Smash her, Pete" came the order from
the captain.
tnct put out his bat for a bunt, and as he
touched the ball he dashed away for first.
The sphere went foul and back he came.
What are you doingi Line her outl"
was the order given.
A second futile attempt to punt WAS The
Gladiator's" response to the instructions
given. Crestfallen he returned to the
plate Captain Latham was mad.
"It will cost you fifty dollars to bunt
want this runi"
And then Browning did let go, but the
ball did not get through the infield, and
1.-The Gladiator" was thrown out
What did you meant" demanded the
the captain after the play was over. After
your little safe hit, weren't your"
Yes, / wasi" admitted the angry sue.
cessor to Apollo. YES, i wasl I'm after
the little hits just like you're after the
little stolen basesI''
In revelations like these It doth appear
that Cincinnati earned a place in row
seven
To continue the tale Of threatened retire
ments simultaneous with the announce
ment Of the appointment OF Dan Richardson
as captain Of the Senators comes the hint
that he will remain at Elmira rather than
60 to the national capital. All of which
reads very much like rot. Washington
has not had a good club or a winner since
the days Of the Nationals.
The coming season promises to be the
most brilliant ever known in that city on
b Potomac. There will be some new
faces Of distinguished cranks in the con-
gressional boxes, not the least of which
will be that of Senate Hill. There 10
more fame and just as much coin of the
realm for Captain Dan" in Washington
as can be found in New York, where a
divided directory seems to be struggling
for the honor of playing the first violin.
The roster of the retired will be largely
swelled during the coming season, but
most Of the designations" will not be oe
tbs players own choosing.
Rem MULFoRD, JR-