Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
4 REVIEW Of SPORTS.
HoW Honest and Intelligent Criticism
Does Good to the National
Game.
GENERAL BASEBALL PROSPECTS.
Efforts Of Local Gun Shooters to Establish
Leading Gun Club in
This City.
GENERAL BASEBALL PROSPECTS.
MORE LEOUT SIkrlN AND SULLIVAN.
Grifins Desire to Fight Andy DOwen and Other
Leading TGpica

It is to some extent with fear and trem-
bling that I venture to say a few words
about the affairs OF the national game to-
day. All the harmony that we all thought
had been established at that famous Indian
apolis meeting seems to have been Knocked
into Oblivion, and as a result no matter
what any one of us says ii is sure TO rTff!e
the serenity of somebody's mind. None of
MS are above criticism by any means, but
there ought always to be little of the gen.
tleman at least in our fault-6nding, and
when insult is intended there is absolute
evidence of lack of intelligence and knowl-
edge of the subject under discussion. For
instance, day or two ago my friend, J. B.
Foster, of Cleveland, and myself were
abused and grumbled at by man who
knows so much about baseball that he really
cannot score game. 1t really is people of
that class who cause all the trouble and
Misunderstanding, because, being devoid of
aknowiedce and the question at issue, they
only try to keep themselves before the pub
lie by species of blackguardism.
If there has been one thing more than sn-
other that has done the national game good,
that has planted it deep in the public seRti
ment and that has purged 1t OF all its most
Objectionable features, it has been public
criticism. Men of intelligence, who have
taken, from their boyhood up, natural in
terest in the game, have pointed defect
here and defect there. Methods that for
the time being were considered good have
been improved upon by real outsiders.
Why, within my own personal expert
ence, have known in Pittsburg, lawyers,
business men and newspaper men who have
expressed original ideas regarding the bet
terment of the game at a time when nobody
thought the ideas were worth listening to-
Some of these ideas are now in operation
and are the good features of the game to-
DAY. But il the utterance OF these new
thoughts there has always been gentle
maaliness that demanded attention. l,
therefore, repeat that man who has an in
telligence worthy the name and new idea
to express never expresses it 5v blackguard-
ing everybody else who has different idea
Let US have all the intelligent criticism pos.
sible, but one doesn't need badinage, insult
ing talk and poll parrot utterances
Disputed Claims.
On Friday last I received letter from
very prominent official of the-I was going
TO say National League, but it is the new
League. l am not at liberty to make the
letter or the writer public, but I can say
that in the letter the writer said that a few
Pittsburgers have done very much harm to
the interests Of their club By foolish. frothy
and wild talk The writer mentions two
cases, viz, those Of Lyons and Grimm, and
goes on to say that where there was great
chance OF favors being granted to Pittsburg
these chances are now small, simply be-
cause one or two irresponsible people have
made it their business to class everybody in
the new League, except few Plttsburg
officials. 'rogues and rascals." Unfor-
tunately it is true that there is
reason for an opinion of this kind,
but the people who know Pittsburgers
know that they are not vendors of
biliingsgate talk and that we estimate the
gentlemen Of the new League as men who
are beyond rogue-y and ia>cality. After
all it is the ''frecracher' individuals who
do the harm. They want to be busy and
they haven't any original ideas that can
produce good.
Well, now, regarding the claims Pitts
burg and other clubs have on Lyons and
Grimm little can be said. In accordance
with a rule Of this paper, we never pro-
nounce until both sides are heard. As far
as known Pittsburg's claims for Lyons are
strong, although President Young has
within the last few davs talked about an
understanding" that was agreed 10 among
the magnates at indianapolis. Ii may seem
trivial, blst really this matter o. au under !
standing" may cut a very great figure when |
the final hearing otthe question takes place. |
1 am inclined TO think it will. But |
lust as sure as we live Secretary Scandrett |
is honestly positive that no such "undcr- |
standing" was made. All that we can do, |
therefore, is to credit everybody with |
honesty of purpose and believe that the &C. |
sire to do right will guide then.
There is apparently no claim al &li be- !
longing to the Louisville club for Grimm. |
True, Louisville may have something of |
which We IN Pittsburg know nothing, but |
as far as known there is not the shadow of q |
reason why Grimm should not stay in Pitts |
burg and live up to his contract Likely |
enough there would not have been any |
trouble at all about Grimm if one or two |
people has not publicly abused everybody |
regarding the Lyons case.
The Years Baseball Prospects.
Il is not 100 early to form an opinion as |
to what the baseball prospects of this year |
ere. In all directions there are indications |
bnaE the season VIII De very bright and /
busy one The very fact of clubs all around
fighting for this player and that player
shows how lively the interest in the busi-
ness is All these contentious now going
on will have good results as well as bad |
ones. They will certainly arouse public
curiosity reg riding the players in question
and VIII cause many people to read about |
baseball matters who otherwise wonld hardly
pay any attention to the game at all for
long time.
II this interest is sustained the year will
certainly be a profitable one to those who
have money invested in the business and
this fact in turn will have its general good
effects on baseball. To me, the great and
only danger there is, seems TO be, the ex-
pertinent of 12-clu5s. The new organza-
tion's own weight may kill it. Thai fact
that everybody connected with it is so much
II earnest about making it a success may go
long way toward smoothing down MANY
difficulties that are sure 10 appear, but If
ever tactIonal warfare OF contentious crop
into the l2-club league we can rest assured
that 1t Will soon be rent asunder.
Each club is now rapidly completing its
quantity or players Here and there :;
player is needed, but the various lists have
al been so well filled mp that we can form
good estimate as to the makeup of each
team 1t does rot require the second glance
10 find that he Boston team are by lar a
more powerful looking lot than any other.
Beyond all doubt the Bostons have as strong
team as there were ever gotten together
In every position they are strong, that is,
taking past records for it. But as we all