The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-14
A NEW BASEBALL YEAR
It Promises to Be a Happy
One for the Magnates.
TIE KICKERs ARE NOT HEEDED

New Twelve Club League-Chris Won
der Abe and the Important Part He
Has Played in the National Game.
Old '9l, toddling into his grave, weighted
with the cares and joys of 300 days, wit
messed a spectacle that no prophet ever
dared predict. When it was limited some
months ago that St. Louis might be found
in the League fold some day one doubling
Thomas observed that cats would grow
web footed before Christopher Won der Ahs
mingled in that society. joyful, indeed,
are the greetings exchanged by the mOgUl
guardians of the American diamond. To
them "A Happy New Year" holds glorious
promises of return TO the happy days of so.
There are some sentimentalis0s who
grieve over the demise of the old bodies.
They are not within the united family. To
the enthusiasts the game itself was OF
greater importance than organizations.
Baseball, played under any other flag, with
peace prevailing, will prove just as excit-
ing. The union of the SIX great cities Of
the east-Boston, New York, Brooklyn,
Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore,
and the big western six-Pittsburg. Cleve-
land, Cincinnati, Chicago, Louisville and
ST. Louis-formed the only available solu-
ton to a problem so weighty that, had it
been allowed TO work itself out, would
have simply dragged down the professional
game.
There are enough GROWERS and grum-
biers in this world to start new order
that would be nearly as strong as the Odd
Fellows. The Sons of Calamity would he
a good title for them, and a. L. Johnson
and Henry Y. Lucas could fill two chairs
in Lodge No. l very nicely. These gentle
men have already taken out their telescopes
and have tried to ram them through the veil
of the future looking for the place where
''der boss president will be dropped. Their
grief is premature and i'll timed in these
hours OF the cranks' merrymaking. To
parallel the trials OF the American associa-
ton with a twelve club circuit in 1884 and
the conditions today is absurd. The
MISREPRESENTATION possesses the twelve
best cities in the land.
In 1884 the Americans were harasSed by
the Union association, and in seven of the
twelve cities they had opposition to fight.
These facts 20 far toward silencing the
critics. The magnates faced dilemma
and twisted off It's horns to the satisfaction
of the great majority of the enthusiasts.
New books have been opened for 1892
In the dark and gloomy past there was
no fiercer fighter than Chris Won der Abe.
When peace came there was none that
welcomed it more joyfully than the St.
Louis chieftain. He breathed a sigh of re-
lief when the wedding was over and as he
settled back in his chair to rest after the
strain he declared:
81 houar1it npiOraT eyOO6 rinbf,S rnSf
for year. | never retired with the assur-
ance that l would not be awakened at mid
night and handed telegram which would
run, have drawn on you for Thousand. p"
In furnishing the sinews of war no man
was more generous than the St. Louisan
and there is no more picturesque figure in
baseball today. He is the only pioneer in
the business in St. Louis who has remained
at the front for years Before the Browns
had gained fame Mr. Won der Abe filled
the role of their guardian angel st. Louis
was then in no league and games were
played about twice Il week. Many are the
stories told in which Chris Won der Abe
figures as the hero. Some of them are
true, others are bits OF fiction. He gave
himself the name which has stuck to him
for years.
On one trip years ago the Browns were
going through the east, being soundly
lambaSted in every city. Mad with rage
the St. Louis chief started for the scene of
continued sorrow When be arrived be
read the riot act in two languages, and
that afternoon the team braced up and de
feated the Nets After the victory he
proudly exclaimed:
81 am der boss president of der boss
clubr'
Some scribe heard his declaration and it
was chroncled The title got to Philadei-
phia before he did, and when he marched
across the Athletics field with the team
the small boys took UP the cry in noisy de-
rision, for that afternoon the Quakers had
drubbed the Browns outrageOusly. In the
early days of his career as magnate he
was showing some friends Of his over
Sportsman's park He was very proud OF
the ball club and its home, and he re-
marked to his companions:
This is the biggest diamond in the
world, amt it, Dave?"
The query was directed to his score
tary, poor Dave Reid, who has long since
been summoned across the dark river. The
latter replied:
"Oh. no, Mr.. Won der Abe Baseball
diamonds are all the same size" was the
response.
well, don't give a cuss." be retorte6.
This is the largest infield in the country
at any rate"
If it had not beer for the herculean e,
forts of Chris Won Ger Abe TIE American
association would have died in 1890 after
the Brotherhood had swept through its
playing ranks like cyclone and carried
away most OF its stars. Baseball history
might have been different today had nOi
the Players les que turned a deaf ear &c
the -. Louis man In the latter days q
that i'll fated organization everybody sus
pected everybody else. and Chris Won den
Abe was not wanted. The Association
people learned that he had applied tor a
franchise, and the charge was pumped At
him direct in New orN, when he was told,
Chris, st. Louis has got bid IN for
place in tie Players ieaguet'
What he exclaimed. taken metaphor
ically of MS feet 6y the unexpected expose
of the play he had made. Il wonder who
put it in; I'll have 10 90 right down and
get il oUt'i
When the united league meets in New
York next March il i probable that the
idea Of two championships in one season
viii be adopted Such departure viii
make each race exciting. for every victory
will be worth struggle. To accept this
doctrine will silence the directors 80 ths