Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-18

VIII week-that there was
~ no one who regarded
!: !: :: =: : !: !:
N(S the twelve-club league
A~Iy,. as q failure. In view Of
IA WI the limited attendance
NAV - on occasions there has
No been a disposition to
cry down the new league
and to assert that the
ONLY way to draw the people is to return to the
old eight-club league. Several disgruntled New
York papers have asserted that the old league
clubs were tired Of CARRYING the four e1-associ-
alton clubs and that there would be no great
grief il the four clubs were frozen out One
paper even went to the length Of suggesting
how the thing could be done--the league clubs
could resign and then organize again as q sepa-
rate league
The meeting Of the league promptly disposed
of all such talk. It was not the ex-association
clubs that we're in trouble, but the great city of
New York that appealing for aid. Through
the parsimony Of the New York managers they
failed to sign a strong team last fall and now
they are beseeching the other clubs, Boston in
particular. to help them. They say that the
committee on players treated them outrage
ously, while they gave Boston the plums. They
seem to overlook the fact that while they were
signing a weak team and haggling with Connor
and Richardson the Boston management WAS
going ahead getting a first-class team together.
The Boston people had a frst-class team to
start with, but they were not content and got
Stivetts and Mccarthy from st. Louis and in
duced Kelly to sign for three years at big
salary.
The committee on players simply left each
club what players il Aad under contract on De-
cember 5. That New York did not have Stivetts
and Kelly is fanlt No s1se Ia To
blame. That they did not have Dan Richardson
is also their own fault. They didn't sign him.
Other clubs needed Boston's association play
ers. Louisville got Tom Brown and Pittsburg
Charley Farrell To have given them both to
New York would have made those two clubs even
poorer attraction than they now are and would
have hurt the receipts in every league city.
of course this Is threshing over very old and
moldy straw. bat it Is timely in view of the
recently published assertions by New York
papers that the reason the giants no higher
in the race is because they have not been treated
justly in the assignment Of players.
1t is interesting fact that in all those cities
where the club standing has been disappoint-
ment there has been gross mismanagement.
Take our sister city. Baltimore. There Van
Halrren started in as captain and manager, and
al those who had observed that players ability
in charge of the team last year predicted
failure From the start he professed to be
Baltimore, SAW that it was weak President
Nonderhorst expressed himself satisfied.
Van Haltren soon showed that he
could enforce no discipline. There were
those on the team lone at lesst) who were GER
tain to be kept in any event. As a consequence
managerial displeasure amounted to nothing
and soon the team was demoralized. They got
to drinking. and their repeated defeats made
them indifferent and sullen. There was good
material in the team and a strong hand, prop
erly supported, could have brought something
out OF il. Then Vice President Waltz tried his
hand At last, when all other hope was gone,
in despair they got Ed Hanlon from Pittsburg
But it was too late. Hanlon, even if he were
the man for the place, and he was not, could
not do anything.
ST. Louis is another instance A laugh went
through the base ball world when il was
learned that Won der Ahes infield was to in
clude Werden, Crooks and Glasscock. and that
the latter was to captain and manage the club
Glasseock showed when in New York that he
had about outlived his brilliancy. His reputa-
ton has not been such as to lead one to suppose
that he would make capable manager. Then
too, Won der Abe has the reputation of being
merciless critic. Hot headed and impulsive
men will not stand unsparing denunciation. As
soon AS a few games were lost then came the
deluge- Glasscock was replaced as captain by
Stricken, and Won der Abe concluded TO be his
own manager. This did not work much better
and another shake-up took place. and Crooks
went on second in Stricker's place. This has
been the worst change of all The other play
ers dislike Crooks, and there is no harmony or
good fellowship IN the team Crooks disgusts
not only the spectators by his boorishness but
his comrades also.
Then there Is Louisville-Fred Pfetfer was
engaged at high salary and great things were
expected of him, but Chapman was retained as
manager and with divided authority a clash
was inevitable. Ii came over the question Of
pitcher. Chapman said that he and not the
captain should decide who was TO go into the
box Pfefer dissented. but the directors sus-
tanned Chapman Naturally Pfeffer became
disgruntled- shortly after he was severely hurt
In sliding 10 a base. He was laid off and in his
absence the club went TO pieces. From leading
the league 1t has gone down to tenth place and
II would go lower were IL not that two misman-
aged clubs are bound to lose even more games
Powers was unable to enforce discipline over
the New iorsers, and notwithstanding the pos
session Of good material the club PLAYED a very
sposty game. Then. too Powers seemed capri
In getting Hardie Richardson when Irwin de-
cided that be was not good enough for Wash
tngton. but he has been PLAYING Hsrdie in all
sorts Of positions. He put HIM at second then
at hrst. then in right field. then in center and
nov ne has got him back on second OF course
all this is ruinous 20 team work. That New
York has done well is a wonder
Pittsburg has been a cause for disappoint-
ment 70 the cranks Of the smoky city, and here
again there have been changes in manage
ment and In players. As in all the other clubs
there has been no fixed idea in running the
teams. Caprice and not Judgment has ruled
II player played a couple OF poor games he
was booked for release. II he batted well one
d&y no amount Of stupid work afterward would
Offset it, The players positions were fre-
qusntly shifted The pitchers were not used
tntelligently. In q word they were misman-
aged.
The Washingtons art the only other team that
- been disappointing. We all looked for a
position among the first six for our team. 1t is
useless TO point out the causes. The club
owners will not heed criticism, and claiming
that Il IL their own money that IL at stake say
that they viii manage affairs to suit themselves.
They have done 30. and the present rank Of the
club Il the result. The experience OF the other
clubs h but repeated here. The general feeling
In bsse ball circles IN one Of great disappoint-
nenf, not a. the players 30 much ~ at the man
sgement
IL rs pleasant to know that there are clubs that