Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-03
National and Local Aspect of the
Baseball Season Just
Commencing.
PLAYERS AND THEIR CLUB RULES.
Probabilities Of the Success of the Newly
Organized Amateur Ath-
ietic League.
PUGILIsTIC FEATURES OF THE WEEK.
Jim Eall Has the Worst Of the Argument With Bob
Fitzsimmons


not vet begun a start has been made in base
ball playing all over the country for the
year 1892, Ammo Domini. To use the phrase,
we are on the threshold OF very i'm
portant season in very many respects, and
those who are interested in the national
game most doubtless will be anticipating
results with considerable anxiety. There is
much, indeed. for some people to gain and
lose in the season just now making its ad-
vent, and of course we'll all be wiser about
seven or eight months from now. At this
time there are two important features
worthy of some attention, viz, the local and
national aspect of the new venture. 1 use
the word venture because the 12-club
League is a venture just as much as the new
system of the Western League is a venture.
To be sure there has been a 12-club League
before, but not amid the surroundings and
general conditions that are to be found ex-
listing now.
1t is very pleasing, looking at the ques-
tion from national standpoint, to find that
those who have charge of the II clubs in the
new League are all extremely sanguine. 1
have not been able to find an exception.
Everybody is brimful of hope and appar-
emily well contented with their respective
teams This is a very significant element,
and one which ought to go a great way
toward realizing success. When one is
satisfied with ones share or allotment work
can be done in a much more cheerful and
effective way than were it otherwise. This
self-satisfaction then ought to be the means
of making the season open under the most
auspicious circumstances. "All this is
theory" L fancy 1 hear somebody say, 'but
what about the practical?"
Well, the practical has to come yet and it
is on this point that so many of us differ 1t
is regarding the practical working of the 12-
club system that we are all so much con-
cerned. have my fears about it and 1 am
inclined to be one of those who think that
when next October comes the desire to con-
tinue 12-club League will cease. As at
present organized it is huge baseball mo-
nopoly. 1 have said this before, of course,
but repeat, and if there is one thing that
cannot for any reasonable length of time
exist it is a monopoly in baseball playing.
Everybody directly and indirectly concerned
in baseball cannot get fair treatment in mon
opolistic system and this particularly refers
to the ball player. 1 fear that the practical
operation of this system will so forcibly
prove this contention that the monop-
oily will be exploded before 1892 has fin
ished.
The Local Aspect
But what is more interesting to rs is the
local aspect of the situation at this time
the dawn of the season. So far have re-
Trained from conjectures as to our team be-
cause there are so many things connected
with the question that are not definitely
settled vet And it will be several days, 1
presume, before the rulers of the club
make up their minds on some very impor-
tant points.
The selection of the team is probably the
most important of all local matters That
will be no easy task, depend upon it. True,
1t is as Prof Blackie once said, that it is
easier to prune redundancy than force ab-
solute barrenness, but it is not easy to
select about IA ball PLAYERS from 10 or 90
who are almost all very good players There
is consolation in the fact that so many
good men are signed; thanks TO the presi.
dent, directors and manager of the club for
this consolation. But the tact remains that
some Of these men must be released, and
who they are to be is the question that is
the minds of the club directorate.
Not for one moment would l presume to
say who shall be kent and who shall not
That is not within my province, but as part
Of the public l may be allowed to urge that
all the men be given fair trial. 1 know
one man than whom there is not better
fielder and a more faithful player in the
Ii
tried II anybody is. l refer to John Cork
hill His playing is of that high order and
Of that reliable kind that in itself demands
careful thought before it is dispensed with
Cor&hill is beyond doubt too good man to
be cast aside until it is thoroughly proven
his superior can be kept. This is not a
but decidedly practical matter.
Ii he secures a iair trial and is found want
ing then he cannot complain nor can his
many friends among the public.
But there are some very shrewd people in
charge of the club, and without doubt they
will proceed carefully and fairly. As
result anticipate that we will have an ex-
cellent team OF PLAYERS For many years
Pittsburg in such splendid condition as the
present players did during the week Just
ended. Some of them are probably a little
heavy, but week or two's lively work will
reduce them. With team such as can be
selected from the IS or 19 men signed by the
local club / fail to see why they should
rot rank among the first six during the
entire season. If they can do that the club
will be a success. But when the team is
selected it will be soon enough to
figure on results At any rate, it is safe to
say that Smith, Calvin, Baldwin, Ehret,
Camp. Beckiey, Mack, Bierbauer. Shugart,
Farrell, Hanlon, Swartwood, Miller, Earle
and RAYMOND will be retained to start with.
Tie Clubs Moral Code.
Last Sunday the rules for the discipline
Of the local players were published in The
DISPATCH. During the week 1 have had
several conversations with players regard
ing them, and L have not found an objector.
The code, as code submitted by gentlemen
Eho have much money and reputation at
stake, is not too rigid by any means. The
directors of the club are in earnest, and the
code submitted by President Temple and
Manager Buckenberger Simply means that
they wish the players also to be in earnest
and let me say that il ever there was or
is ANYBODY in the baseball business who |
should be in earnest from April to October |
il is the ball PLAYER.
Have Won ball players ever devoted seri- |
,us thought to this question? If you
haven't it's time you did. Does the fact |
never strike you that those whom we call |
naEnates are mostly in baseball as a side |
ssue in their business life, while you are in |
1 empnatically and entirely for bread and |
1utter? This is the way to look at it. A |
borough earnestness on your part will |
Keep these magnates riding their hobby and |
paying your salaries. Carelessness aud