Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-20

w. ~ ~ surprising OI tue
many surprises
which turn up in professional baseball
playing. Three other clubs at least were
considered much stronger candidates for
first honors than the Clevelands by eleven
Of every twelve baseball cranks-namely,
the Bostons, Brooklyns and Philadelphias.
But the Cleveland entry-as they say at
the race track-cut out the pace from the
fall of the flag, and, making all the run
ming, were never headed.
Just what excuse can be made for the
three favorites is hard to decide. 1t may
be that the Bostons were bumped against
the rail at the far turn. Possibly the Phil
lies got into pocket and failed to get
through their field. The Brooklyns may
have swerved in the stretch. At any rate
the three stale horses were ingloriously
beaten by the Cleveland selling platter.
There will probably be no series of finals
between the Bostons, winners of the first
season, and the Clevelands, winners of the
second race. The Bostons are not dead anX-
ious" to face their western rivals. In the
first place there would be no money in a se-
ries between the two. Cleveland and Boston
in the latter part of October have climates
not at all calculated to draw out much
patronage to the baseball grounds, and with
the present low stage of interest in the game
the chance for a financial fzzle is too
great. Besides the old precedent set by
former worlds series" of giving part of
the proceeds of such games to the players
of the two clubs still holds, and there is
certainly no inducement to the managers
in Boston and Cleveland to share with
their men any part of the money which the
games might bring in.
The Clevelands would be willing, but
The Bostons have not been anxious, and
for good reasons. The latter's pitchers are
in weak condition, and only one catcher is
able to do his reputation justice-namely,
Camel. The impression is that the Cleve.
lands would walk away with the Bostons
IN such contest The former would go
into the series flushed with recent success,
and with the prestige and confidence of
fresh victors to back them up, whereas. as
showed once before, the Bostons would
still be afflicted with the weak - sses which
led to their defeat in the sod season.
Therefore do not expect any series of finals
between these two teams this fall, no mat
ter what noisy challenges may pass be
tween them.
There are more serious considerations
facing the magnates than the question of
superiority between the Bostons and
Clevclands. The very latest secretly called
meeting Of the League "bosses'' in New
York city is a disclosure of disaster more
astonishing than any which have preceded
it a I'd knocks the hot air out of President
Nick Ycung's August prosperity balloon,
which went sailing up so grandly.
First, the 10 per cent. sinking fund taken
off was raised to 121s per cent Then it
was 'fattened" to 1915 Now it is an as
sessment to meet Indianapolis obliga-
tions. This is the year when the owners of
huge blocks of baseball stock are not
classed with the Vanderbilts, Goulds
Astors and Rockefellers. Every one of the
holders has been touched" heavily, more
or less, by the financial disappointments Of
the year.
Naturally they are asking each other,
What shall we do to be saved? That ques-
tion will furnish them with mental worry
during the long, cold, weary winter AS
said month ago / will say again, with
still more emphasis, The chances are that
some steps backward toward abandoned
principles will be taken. There will be
but one championship season next year,
aud nobody need be surprised if the old
eight club League circuit shall be restored
In spite of denials which will be made it
is almost certain that two of the four old
Association clubs are willing to head an
other and separate strong circuit, built
upon old American association principles.
The other two would not require large
sum of cash to consent to go out of bust
ness altogether.
Salaries will come down. Yes, that is
necessity. 1t will be in many cases s
troublesome task to force the reduction al.
along the line, but | think it will be ac-
complished. The reasonable player, who
looks into the future, knows that his in
terests demand paying basis for profes-
sional baseball Receipts at presen> do not
justify this years salaries. Baseball is
business like any other vocation, and n'her
it doesn't pay and can't be made to pa, il
goes out of existence.
Harry Wright says there may be trouble
with some CT the old stars, but that "young
blood" will be tried instead unless the old
stars come to very liberal terms. Harry
has said that for effect. Old stars cannot
be spared in any large number. If the
Philadelphias have to let Connor, Thomp-
son, Keefe, Clements Hallman and Ham
ilton go next year and replace them with
new and untried men, they might as well
close their gates and save what little money
in salaries they would pay out.
This is Cleveland's first Twin" after
many weary years in baseball and several
close races in which their team either
held lead awhile or ended we'll up among
the leaders. Naturally all northern Ohio
is rejoicing, and there is plan on foot to
give the team a public reception and bene-
fit, at which the mayor of the city will
preside.
am told that the Rochester and Provi-
dence clubs, of the Eastern league, made
money this season, and that several South
ern league clubs bore balance on the
profit side of their books. These are few
stray bits of encouragement for the profess
sion--a few crumbs in famine. 1t is
strange that clubs made money which
were expected to disband before August,
and that the two promising organizations
met with such an astounding failure.
In baseball we are no sooner done with
one season than the talk about next season
becomes general. 1t will be long, cold
winter, and yet too short for all that will
be said about the national game and it's
Wonderful prospects. o. P. CAyLoR
Pound,