The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-19
HIIMPTY DUNPTY AGAIN
Points Of Resemblance Between
Baseball and Seesaw.
PREFER TAKES A GREAT FALL.

The Popular Idol of tho Colonies Topples
from tho Pedestal of Power-Statesmen
at tho Ball Game-The Western League
Losing Money-Tho Millennium Plan.
The unexpected removal Of Fred pfeffer
from the captaincy Of the Louisville club
Is the latest proof that baseball hero is
far from being immortal, even in reputa-
tion. Two months ago MIR Pfeffer was
the most talked about" man in Louis
vile. That other distinguished gentle
man, Henri Watterson, was, for the time
being, pushed into second place in the
loving estimation of the residents of Ken
tucky's metropolis. Mr. Pfeffer's name,
bis deeds and his splendor were on every
tongue a valet held his hat, coat, gloves
and cane before he donned them TO 20 out
10 the baseball grounds. a liveried coach
man in stylish dogcart drove him through
the streets. Admiring hundreds along the
way gazed at him in his glory and whis-
pered, "There goes Fred Pfeffer, the great
est ball player now living" Taking adj
vantage of his popularity, Mr.. Pfeffer
opened an Emporium" in Louisville, and
it is said men walked blocks out Of their
way for the distinguished pleasure Of buy
ing a cocktail or splitting a bottle at Pfef-
fer's bar The receipts Of the concern were
estimated by various newspapers all the
way from fifty TO ninety dollars a day.
His club was winning most of its games,
and life 10 him was a beautiful dream.
Presto, changed
Mr.. Pfeffer sprained hisleg.
Mr. Pfeffer was not rs yonng as some Of
us, and a sprained leg in middle life is more
troublesome than a similar misfortune 60
a youth.
The Louisville team began TO tumble
and Mr.. Pfeffer's leg remained stiff. Yet
he couldn't realize that even on one leg he
was not more important TO the club than
was Manager Chapman with two, and he
constituted himself pseudo manager and
was constantly interfering. The result IS
his humiliation. He is torn from his pedes-
tai, and once more Hon. Henri Watterson
is first in the hearts and minds Of his fell
low citizens.
The difference between Mr.. Watterson
and Mr. Pfeffer is this; The ones glory
lies in his brains; the others In ms ietfs
and muscles. Brains never become strained
nor "Charley Horsed." That was where
Colonel Watterson had Colonel Pfeifer
beaten on long chase.
Baseball as a means Of resting tho mind
from worry and trouble was aptly pictured
on the day before the national Republican
convention assembled at Minneapolis.
President Harrison left his mlsgivngs
and his hopes behind him at the White
House. and with two members OF his cabl-
net. Secretaries Rusk and Foster, went out
to the baseball grounds TO see the Wash
ingtons play the Cincinnatis. He saw
great game, too, and TO observers it was
evident that the sport had for the time
being drawn his attention from the cares
of his political fortunes Loyal to his resi-
Dental city, he rooted" for the Washing
tons. whereas Secretary Foster, being OF
that rara avis. an Ohio man, espOused the
Cincinnati side IL was not strange there
fore that the newspaper reporters IN the
next box heard the president and his secre-
tary of the treasury in good natured ais
pute over close decisions of the umpire and
the merits of different players. Secretary
Rusk, being neutral 10 the fortunes OF
the two teams, sat as mediator, ate pea
nuts and cast the deciding vote when ap-
pealed to.
Such incidents as the one just referred 70
makes every American proud Of his form
of government and helps 10 further en-
dear the American game in the hearts Of
| the masses.
The situation is not very encouraging TO
] the members of the Western league. II is
| said on good authority that in spite Of the
/ low salary limit nearly every club Of that
! organization has lost from g, 900 10 5000
/ t. ts. = -
/ suit of indifference from the public, but
/ because the circuit of the Western league
is almost entirely in that section Of coun-
try which has suffered SO generally during
! the last two months from rain and floods
Scores of games were prevented by rain,
| and scores more were played under dismal
skies and on wet grounds Even when a
/ fair day came lovers Of the game were in
many cases forced TO remain absent and
! attend 20 business cares which accumu-
lated during the rain.
Ii is also extremely doubtful whether
baseball patrons will approve and support
what is called the millennium plan now in
use by the Western and Eastern leagues.
! There can be very little local pride in a
/ team which is chosen by n central power
sent as a grab bag" collection to a city,
and on the whole governed by that central
power. Patrons of the game love to see
/ their club a representative one; club
which shall be wholly controlled by their
OWN city or citizens of their locality; one
which. if local pride is appealed 10, can be
strengthened without an application to a
power in some other far away city. If
there is a good player on the market it is
| ALWAYS a healthy state Of affairs 70 give
reins TO local rivalries in an attempt TO en-
gage him.
1t is extremely doubtful whether the
millennium plan of baseball will be con-
tinued next season.
The magnates in the twelve club league
are rueng their liberality whereby they
helped fence themselves apart from the
minor league players when they adopted
the present national agreement last
spring That instrument tied their hands
against the employment of any minor
league players unless the entire member
Ship of the league TO which he belonged
consented Such procedure Of course acts
rs prohibition. The League clubs be
lieved there would really be an excess OF
old players for their use. But the last two
months of the season have turned out SO
many failures and disappointments among
the veterans that it is tantalizing TO watch
the work of Corners" among the young
| ~