Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-01-15
SOUTHERN BALL.
Why the Game Degenerated in
the Sunny Land.
SALARIES BIGGER THAN RECEIPTS

The Result of Extravaganza Was Disas-
ter-Many Player. Waiting for some-
thing to Turn Up-Radbourn and His
War Time Experience-Two Pennant
Races Practically Ended.
II old Father Time keeps "notching up"
the baseball tizzles his stick must resemble
the business end Of a swordish. Depart
ing magnates have left behind them foot
prints and depleted purses. The south is
the greatest Of all the morgues, but al
though professional ball is dead in the
laEd Of cotton and cane the amateurs keep
interest in the game there alive. There is
whisper that with the coming Of peace
and a Thanksgiving dinner in the national
agreement family the Southern league
will be revived next spring. There was
always too much enthusiasm about the
control Of baseball affairs in the south.
Salaries were always far above reason
able limit, and that Is what killed the
game In Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta,
Charleston, Chattanooga, Mobile, Birm-
ingham and New Orleans. The percent
age Of home talent in southern leagues Of
the past was very small, and many of the
players were veterans who had outlived
their usefulness in other leagues, but who
demanded kings ransoms before they
would degn to accept positions.
recall one incident Of the extravaganza
which prevailed in Memphis latter days
Kirby was one of the old League twirlers
whose arm had lost its cunning. After the
oil
Cleveland picked him up and gave him a
chance Ia pitch for his life against Cincin-
natl. The game was commenced but never
finished. Hits ratified off the Reds bats
like acorns from an oak durir<ran October
blow The runs soon reached double fig
urcS but before five innings were COM
pletcd storm stopped the slaughter
Memphis eagerly snapped Kirby up and
paid him 800 month Contracts like that
Slapped the financial life Of the Bluff City's
club and their diamond Is covered with
moss and black eyed Susans. 1t was such
follies AS that which encompassed the ruin
of the game In the south. The players are
not to lie blamed for working the angels
for all they could, but it was poor way
to perpetuate the game.
From J. Walker Ross, one of the erst-
IT,
have received this message: Baseball is
recovering slightly in New Orleans, and
YOU may be surprised IL tell you that
there Is some little talk Of a league next
season. There must be big change in
baseball government, however, before we
can hope to make success OF the game
professionally in these parts"
There are several states In the land Of
the sun that have never had representa-
tive In any professional league, and North
Carolina, Florida and Mississippi are all
In that class. The Texas league was the
healthiest state organization that ever sur
vived several campaigns, but it, too, fell
upon evil days when salaries larger than
the gate receipts were demanded. Then II
was that the Sand Crabs and other Lone
Star celebrities Joined the Pelicans and Sea
Gulls as baseball extincts."
There are but few southerners now in
League and Association company. Will
Nash, OF the Boston leaguers, is q native
Nirginian, and he served his apprenticeship
with Richmond when that club spent sew
eral months in the Association. Uncle
Arson found John p. Luby down in Gal
vcstoh. where he was known as 1.-The Texas
Steer" Mr.. Luby came from the earth
quaka city, Charleston. Little Duffee, Of
the Columbus team. is from Mobile, and
Sanders, Of the Athletics, is Tennesseean
These are about all who are very promi-
neBt.
There are enough players emulating the
example Of Mr.. Misunderstanding for
something to turn up-to provide talent
fer a fine southern league, not to mention
ssjuvenated western and eastern associ-
Stions. Never in the history Of the game
we're there so many players with reputa-
tions warbling, I'm sitting on the STYLE
Mary" Many OF them have been waiting
for months, and they will wait a good
while longer if the baseball factionists
agree to longer disagree. Some well known
men have gone into possible final retire