Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-19
A AREv|EW OF SPORTS.
Changes in the Local Team
and Opinions Regarding
Their Worth.
THE RELEASE OF CALVIN.
Some Leading Features of the Recent
Meeting of League Magnates.
VERY BAD FINANCIAL REPORTS.
Fred JOhnson's Training Methods Different
to the American Style.
THE RELEASE OF CALVIN.
VERY BAD FINANCIAL REPORTS.
Fred Johnson's Training Methods Different
to the American Style.
BOB FTTZSIMM0NS AND CH0YNSKI

Ifever anybody was between the ''devil
and the deep sea" the officials of the local
baseball club are. If they turn to the right
they are assaulted; If they turn to the left
they are kicked; if they go forward fear
full fate awaits them; if they go backward
they are jumped on, and if they stand still
they are deemed too cowardly to live. Now
what are they to do? Their individuality
even in their own business is not acknowl-
edged, and all the factions of cranks above
referred to presume to run their business
for them. Surely their lot is not happy
one.
Not many days ago everybody who took
anv interest in the club at all were clamor-
ing for changes; that is, change of play
ers. "Why don't YOU release some of your
old plaved-outs and get new men?" was the
general cry, both among the public and
writer's. The club officials did this, and just
as soon as they did it up went howl be-
cause it was done.
Another faction for months has been cry
ing: "Why don't you get man to take
sole charge of the team and let him sign
and release whom he please? Too much
management has ruined your club"
This crv, too, was responded, to and
lust as soon as the man in charge begins
to exercise his Judgment up goes the howl
again. In truth, it is only fair to state that
there has been more. outside interference
with the management of the Pittsburg
Baseball Club than with any other club in
the country. True, this shows keen in
tcrest in the game, but it can be carried to
an unreasonable limit.
The management of the club was bound
TO make changes of some kind, and changes
cannot be made without releasing some
body Who is to be the Judge as to the
nlavers to be released? The public or the
management? If it is the latter then
surely credit must be given for honesty of
purpose and desire to make things better
Ii We look at matters this way, then as
suredIv we'll not be disposed to say so
many harsh things, no matter how our
favorites may fare.
The Release OF Ola Sport Calvin.
In the general shakeup. and a shakeup
tina. public opinion has clamored for for
long time, our dear old friend Calvin has
been released and has gone to St Louis.
There is not person in Allegheny county
REGRETS the departure of Jimmy more than
/ do. He has certainly been one of the
most faithful and one of the best workers
the club has ever had. While scores of
Younger PLAYERS have fallen by the
wavside unable to bear the brunt of
battle. Jimmy, like the sturdy old oak, mas
successiully< weathered all the storm and
withstood all the onslaughts that have been
made on him. a more honest player or
more generous worker never set foot in the
diamond than Jimmy Calvin. But he has
been released and what can we do about it?
Nothing illegal has been done, and it would
be unreasonable to say that anything unfair
has been transacted. Calvin has bettered
himself financially, and the local club
helped him to do this. Doubtless Captain
Burns is working with the object of getting
a good team together for the second season
OF the wear, and it is only tair to await re-
suits before we deal out censure all round.
At anv rate I'm sure we can all wish Gal
vim the best possible success in st. Louis.
There is a deal of good work in Jimmy yet,
and 1 Will be surprised if many teams do
not find it out
If the club gets Terry, Donovan and
Genins and if Ehret is all right this week
we viii have almost new team. AS to
what these players will do I have nothing
10 sar. Terry has been a good man and is
vet capable of pitching a very effective
game Of ball but whether he will maintain
his form or not is another matter. Taking
both men at their best it would seem diff
cult to choose between Terry and Calvin.
I am inclined to favor the chances OF the
latter but both of them have been SO long
before the public that it is problematical as
TO what they will do.
The best of reports are current regarding
Doi4ovan, and ii he is the player that some
judges claim he is, he is Just the man for
the Pittsburg team. Genins has yet to be
-. :, I IL
needs most is pitchers and the sooner we get
them the better. Mark Baldwin is run
down" at present He tells me his arm is
all right, but that he simply cannot COM
mand Speed enough. With few days rest
he i confident of being all right again. For
three or four weeks Baldwin was worked
extremely hard. If he could regain his
form and the other pitchers get into line
depend upon it the Pittsburg team would
soon pass many teams in the race.
Meeting of the League Magnates.
There was little or nothing of the sensa-
tionaI character done at the magnates meet
ing last Monday at New York, at least as
far as is publicly known. League magnates
are proverbial tor their silence on vital mat
tiers; they are the most evasive people
under the sun, and when 1t is neces-
sary many of them do not stop at misrepre-
sentation. True, they have their business
interests at sake and often it is good busi-
ness policy for them to withhold certain
facts from the public. But in the instance
OF Mondays meeting 1 am informed by a
gentleman who was there, that nothing was
done outside what has been publicly an
nounced in the newspapers.
There was one very important fact in
dorsed by all at the meeting, viz, that base |
bail 50 lar this season has been financial |
failure. The Boston representatives |
pointed this out beyond a doubt Of course |
wet weather has had something to do with |
this failure, but l still cling to the notion |
that the l2-club League monopoly has also |
contributed to it. Once more repeat that |
the organization is founded on bad princi- |
pie and that being SO, we cannot expect |
good and lasting results. 1 have an idea /
that when the fall comes there will be more
OF financial failure than now and L also
still cling TO the notion that several mag
mates are tired of the monopolistic arrange
ment. The very people are finding fault
with 1t who have it in their power to kill it
and II Is nonsense talking about any ar
Tangement that may have been made to con-
tinue 1t for ten years. Just as sure as we
live 1t will not last ten years and that is
sure enough.
The season so far has been SO much of a
failure that the clubs have now to be levied
l21z per cent on their receipts instead of 10
per cent. This is because notes are becom-
ing due relative to the indianapolis arrange
ment, and they must be met. The general
receipts OF the League have fallen short of
expectations, hence the increased levy. 1t
is pleasurable to note that the Pittsburg
club has kept up its financial fame Had
all the clubs contributed as much to the
general fund as the Pittsburg club has done
no extra tax would have been needed. This
is one of the blessings Pittsburg receives