Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-10
Arthur Whitney's Very Foolish Con-
duct Toward the Local
Baseball Club.
The MAKEUP OF THE HOME TEAM.
Corhetts Reasons Regarding How lie Will
Eefeat John L. Sullivan
Next Fall.
PRITCHIRD'S OFFER TO MITCHELL
Ire Local Cricket League and Bicycle Prospects for
This Season.

There is only one day between us and the
ra1guration of the championship season of
.is year. To be sure, cranks, fans and
syerybody interested in the game are wait
g for Tuesday, and the opening games
agght to be very interesting ones all round.
TIE officials of the home club have started
20 get their players down to the requisite
lumber, and are using very great caution in
doing so. The players who have to make
u0 the team have been working hard during
tie week, but there are still two or three
who can and need be in better condition
than they are at present.
But there is one event of the week that
has eclipsed all others of local nature.
A-thur Whitney has caused quite surprise
tv threatening to sue the clab for his years
.ary. To do this he intends to remain
here and report for duty every day. This
n be quite a task for Arthur, and even
stter he has done this it may be safe to say
tHat he will be no further forward than he
is at present.
But there is much significance in Whit
rey's threat and refusal to accept his re-
lease. If there is anything at all in his
claim, then the baseball business is simply
built on a ouicksand foundation. 1t is
hardly necessary to say anything about the
irgratitude and the unmanliness of Whit
nev Doubtless everybody interested in
the game will have very strong opinions on
that point, as a more ungrateful act couldn't
well be done. Whitney was given $500 ad-
vance money by the local club. All along
GOOD authorities have shown that he was
not class enough for team that aspires to a
good position in the League, and where
here were better men signed to fill
tre place he was to occupy. But he comes
nfre and fails TO impress people favorably.
He is released, won't go way aud invokes
rze law. 4 man who has been made
resent of $500 does this. What do you
mink of it? Still, further, the man wants
stav here and force himself upon en-
overs and public who don't want him.
" here is the spirit of manliness in man
or hat kind?
Does Mr.. Whitney ever think of the posi-
ION he is putting himself into by his very
sflbborn conduct? He cannot for one mo-
-aat ever expect to be recognized in an i'm
-Hrtan; baseball league again. Even il the
rrnJract is legally defective the conditions
81 which he objects have been in vogue so
L0ng thai everybody understands what they
mean or are intended to mean. Nobody
knows better than Arthur whitney, and
most aSsuredlv he would have PLAYED more
honorable part if he had objected 10 what
he calls TIE unequal conditions before he
signed the contract. By all means Whit
Iey's actions are censurable to the
extreme. Of course he may and may not
have had a verbal contract with Mr.. Nc
Ggunigle.
About the Local Club.
There is every indication that the local
team will report at Cincinnati on Tuesday
in good trim. According to present inten-
lions the team who are to take part in the
opening of the argument are: Baldwin,
Miller, Beckley, Bierbauer, Shugart, Far
rsll, Smith, Hanlon and Swartwood. On
1aper they are capital team, and if they
can get into their average form they will
AXE scme beating. During the last few
days Elmer Smith has made a very good
impression as an outfelder and / suppose
,nat will be his regular position, but it is
likely that he will rot be a success as
pitcher True, his throwing has not been
Of the highest order. but he will improve in
this respect.
So far, the greatest defect of the team has
been at third base. Farrell has been and is
vet sadly out OF form, and it is no use shut
ting our ewes to the fact. When once he
gets into good trim 1 expect 10 see him do
some very brilliant PLAYING, and if he does
not he Will compare very badly with the
balance of the infield, because they are GER
tainly giving promise of some very gilt
edged work this season. All of US will be
glad that Baldwin is showing up in such
good form thus early in the year. If he
keeps all right be viii be a winner this
wear, and so will Calvin. Ehret is rapidly
getting into first-class fettle, and when he
reaches that point he ought to be a very
effective pitcher. Swartwood and Hanlon
are also al right, SO lar, and altogether it
seems to me as il we had better team than
many OF us think. One thing IS sure, that
when they once get their ''eye on the BALI
there Will be some tremendous hitting, be-
cause, as a team, they are certainly very
hard hi;ters. Manager Buckenberger eN-
poets the team TO win tour out of the seven
games that are to be played on the teams
lrst trip. If his expectations are realized l
JLink all OF US will be content.
Tie County League.
Everything is now in proper shape in
the County League, and the members of
that organization are awaiting the opening
Of their season with very pleasureable feel
ngs. The schedule is apparently satistac-
tory to all concerned, and the teams are all
made up. l. is generally considered that
the teams are stronger this year than they
we're last year, and we may expect to find
some very good playing. The East End
Gyms have demonstrated already this sea-
son that they are good team. They have
IN Gumbert and Thompson two excellent
pitchers, and it is not easy TO say who is the
hotter OF the two. And they have a good
-Ijfeld and one or two good infielders.
#htv are a little weak behind the bat, but
liking evervt hing into consideration they
fppear to be the strongest team in the
County League.
The Williamsburg team are a stronger lot
Of PLAYERS than they appeared to be at E1-
position Park last Monday; indeed 1
wouldn't be surprised if they were to give
he Gyms an exceedingly hot argument
iUung the season. Gardiner is not bad
pitcher, and l expect him TO be very effective
In the County League. The Tarentums
hansGelds. Altogether there will be a
lively time among our amateurs. But
one thing ought TO be fully recognized this
year. and that is the authority Of the umpire.
He has very great power now, and umpires
TOrlhy their positions will assert that
power in the furtherance Of order and re-
spectability. This is a point that must be
attended to if the County League is to have
the public's respect.
Tho New Cricket League.
1t is pleasing 20 note that local cricket
league has at last been definitely organized,
and it now remains for the next few mouths
10 tell as to whether or not it is to be su,-