Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-15
Why There Has Been disappointment Here
and in Other Cities.

and in Other Cities.
The base ball season of 1882 ends today, and
with the beginning of the new week will come
countless articles on what will be done next
season. The season has not been such failure
as those who have opposed the consolidation Of
the two great associations have been declaring
it to have been. Mere people saw this years
ball games than did last year. Just as more peo-
pie saw the game in 1890, the year of the
brotherhood fight, than in 1889. The magnates
very likely did not make the money they ex-
pected, but in most cases they are alone TO
blame. 1t is claimed that only Pittsburg and
Cleve land made money. Baltimore is said
York is said to have lost S33, 1000
How accurate either of these reports
is the public can only guess. New York started
the season with weak team with which exper-
lments were made all the season. and only the
possession OF excellent pitching talent brought
1t out as well as it finally emerged from the
struggle. That it did not have a stronger team
Is owing to the penuriousness of its manage
mont last fall. A strong team is promised for
next year. and the management sees that only in
such team Is there any profit in base ball at
the metropolis.
order to effect the consolidation Of the old
league and association has done moro TO wipe
out the profits than anything else. Then too
the war of the two old organizations caused
contracts at high salaries, which had to be
assumed. To be sure, these contracts were not
all faithfully observed b. the magnates but
they caused higher salaries to be paid than
would have been the case otherwise. In base
ball the magnates are q law unto themselves
The player has no redress for broken contracts.
1t Is take what you are offered or get out"
The season has been especially disappointing
In Saif.- haF
of a winning team SO bright as they were last
April With popular manager and with men
OF established regulations it seemed as though
Washington had nine that would at least win
half of the games played. But a series of
blunders in management handicapped tine team
all the year. They may be briefly recounted
First Hardy Richardson was taken off third
base, which he had acceptably filled at Boston
the year before, and put in the fed. Instead
Of keeping George Shoch, who would have
made good third and who was good hitter, he
and Wood were reeased without a trial. Dowd
was put on third base just as the team was get
ting to play well together and winning so many
games that they stood fifth in the race, Robin
Son, with very poor record for the previous
year, was engaged for third base. but did so
poorly that he was allowed to practice before
being played any more. and n Young PLAYER
named ulrich was engaged. The infield was
now pretty well denoralized and the club
dropped in rank to tenth place. Then Kilroy
was released after pitching an excellent game
and released for no reason that any enc could
see. Donovan's fielding poor and be WIS
released. His batting also was not what was
expected. The great majority of games lost
was through weakness at third base and shor.
stop. Finally Richardson suggested that he 60
to short field, Dowd TO second and Radford in
the field. Robinson had been doing faithful
practice and he went on third. Lost ground
was now made up. The team and especially
Of
nence and the club went up the list, closing the
first season in seventh place.
One would think that a lesson had been
learned, but it had not. Instead Of keeping
the same team, with perhaps a new pitcher, an
other shake-up took place. Robinson was
deemed unsuitable. Cooney. whom Chicago had
discarded. was engaged for short, Richardson
went on second and Dowd on third. The result
was seen In poor team work again. Abbey, q
college pitcher Of no reputation. and Duryea
were engaged to strengthen tho box, but they
did little but to lose games by their wildness.
Few hits were made, SO the management con-
cluded that the games were lost because the
home team was not hitting. As matter Of fact
they were making as many hits as the majority
Of the teams. The reason games were lost was
Then hit would follow and it would
score couple of runs. As the
runs were not earned the home team
WIS charged with poor fielding. The manage
ment finally became convinced that Cooney
wouldn't do, and another change took place.
Radford was brought in from the field and put
on third. Dowd returned to second and Rich
ardson to short. Radford, although an excel
lent fielder, is not third baseman and the fact
soon became evident. After a vain effort was
made to get Joe Mulvey for third base things
drifted on until Milligan was released. About
this same time Mcclure was injured. This was
largely responsible for the loss Of three games.
WIN general interest in the struggle 10 get
out Of last place a lot Of weak players we're en-
gagged and more games were thrown away
Utterly demoralized the team gave up the fght
and ended the season in last place.
The league clubs rank as follows: