Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-07
THE PART ANSON ACTED.
A Few Features of the Contest for
the Leagues Second Pennant.
NYER AND McAULIFFE BATTLE.
The Merits and Demerits Of the Two Men
and Their Chances of Victory.
SUSPENSION OF LOCAL AMATEURS

been the going into court BY Ihomas burns
against the local club. Thomas, according
10 reports from Chicago, wants S13, 900, and
he has given the world to understand
that be has what Guttenburg patrons would
call lead pipe cinch on getting it.
The case, if it ever reaches an argument
In court, will be of more than local interest.
1t will once more, to more or less extent,
bring the question of the validity of base
ball contracts before the public. In the
Brotherhood revolt we had PLAYERS contend
ing that their contracts were not binding,
and their contentious were upheld, but now
Burns is arguing in an opposite direction
because he wants just what the magnates
wanted in 1890. that is, his contract to be
binding for the length OF time indicated on
the face OF it
Baseball contracts are almost as uncertain
as soap bubbles, and for that matter are
Just as easily demolished. This very season
we have seen that ball player has no
guarantee of getting what he contracts for,
no matter what kind Of work be may per-
form. He has to implicitly rely on the
taithfulness of his employers, and once
more repeat that the method of trampling
contracts under foot is a disgrace to base
ball, and it will have its evil results, just
as sure rs we live.
But the Burns matter is of quite another
nature Burns signed for quite princely
salary, and the officials of the club were
quite content to pay it him if everything
had gone along according to contract.
Everything did not go along in that way,
Il IL
In the estimation of the club officials, Burns
fell far short of what he contracted to do;
in fact he was a complete failure, and it be-
came a question of either keeping Burns and
losing the club entirely, or keeping the club
and releasing Burns This is not at all ex-
aggerating the case,
1t is charged, and with great force, that
Burns not only lacked Judgment, but that
he grossly violated the club rules and en-
couraged the players to do the same. Poker
PLAYING until the "wee sma' hours with
the PLAYERS is one of the lightest of these
charges Now even that is very serious
matter. 1t is just this kind OF gambling,
that is, being out OF bed until early morning,
that prompts dissipation, and it was the lat
Ter and everything that tended to it that
Burns was in duty bound to prevent If
there is any truth at all in the charges, and
l am told they are true the whole business
Is of the most shameful kind, and Burns
NAV be lucky that he is not sued for dam
ages
Captain Anson's Questionable Part.
Bat If ever there was anything in base
ball that demanded the most emphatic GEN.
sure il was the methods used to toist Burns
on the Pittsburg club. He was a kind of
white elephant on the hands of the Chicago
club. Arson could not use him because, in
baseball parlance, he, Burns, had become
an old stiff But Anson got himself to
work and made the most untrue representa-
tions about Burns to the Pittsburg club
Anson assured the local club officials that
Burns was still one OF the best third base
men in the world, and that although his
,rm was ''little off, it would be all right
in eight or ten dayS The highest en-
comiums were paid to Burns by Anson; in
deed his praises were sung to such an ex-
traor9inarv extent that the local officials
thought Anson was entirely running all
chances OF success of his own team Ey part
ing with Burns.
Now, Anson was an experienced man
and he was talking to gentlemen who were
innocent OF the netarious scheming, the un-
blushing fraud and the uni mited fslsehood
that characterize the operations of baseball
These gentlemen had the utmost faith in
what Captain Anson said, and naturally
they believed him Why, man like A c.
Anson could not make any misrepresenta-
tions to get rid of an undesirable player,
certainly not.
Anson's panegyrics had their effect
Burns was signed, and nothing that Anson
had said came true. Burns couldn't play at
third base or anv other base, and apparent
ly never will; he couldn't manage ;he team,
and had as much Judgment in handling the
players as donkey has in tuning piano.
do not say Mr.. Anson deliberately mis-
represented Burns to the local club; do not
ssv that Anson knew that Burns was no use
whatever, but do contend that if anybody
on earth knew the facts OF the case Anson
did, and 1 do contend that if Burns had
been the jewel that Anson held him up TO
be, Tommy Burns would not have been re-
leased by Anson. The fact is that the local
officials were grossly imposed upon. They
have tried fairly to rid themselves of that
imposition, an imposition that was entirely
running their club and it is, indeed, yery
small work on the part of those who are en-
couraging Burns to cause the club more
trouble.
Let any of us look fairly at the matter
and we will see that Burns has been a mis-
cradle failure as manager of the local club
Under his guidance the team were simply
little disorganized mob, and when 1 say
trip East of the team was disgraceful one
to say the least OF it. Now, in all fairness,
should state of things like that continue?
Is it manly on the part of anybody to try
and have them continued? The success OF
baseball generally demands that discipline
and morality be well guarded all round.
About the Teams In General.
The pennant contest continues to be ex-
ceedingly interesting in very many re-
spects. The fight TOR first place, 1 am sure,
is d good one, and 10 all appearances will
be so until the end. Everybody who takes
an interest in the national game cannot but
be very much gratifed at the good showing
of the Cleveland team. There is something
about that team that makes almost every
body admire them. Take them one by one
and tuey are a very unattractive lot, and
even take them as whole on paper and
they don't impress one very much. There
is nothing brilliant and costly about them
that dazzles ones eyes; bTt they can play a
ball game, and no mistake.
Does it not strike you that the earnest
ness of the players from Manager Tebeau
down has lot to do with their success? 1t
does me. They are just as earnest set of
fellows as ever went onto ball field. Their
aim is not to startle spectators occasionally
bv sensational teats, but to win games by
regular, steady work, by doing their very
hest every day they go on the field, whether
that best be brilliant or mediocre That's
the kind OF a team TO have, aud it is because
OF the unassuming character of the Cleve-
land cam and their esrnestness that wish
them every success.
To be sure, we are all glad at the very
good showing the team of Ned Hanlon are
making. He deserves success as much as