The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-10-14
BASEBALL A GOLD NINE
League Clubs viii Probably
Make Big Money In 1894.
THE LAWMAKERS TO MEET SOON.

CayIor Does Not Think the Boston Club
VIII BE Handicapped Next Year or That
the Double Umpire System win BE Re-
vived-Other New Schemes.
Though the baseball championship sea-
son Of the National league as well as Of all
the minor leagues is ended, there remains
an abundance Of general interest in the
great American spor. Indeed from this
date until after the Leagues annual meet
ing on Nov 10 there will be more baseball
subjects up for discussion than there has
been before the baseball public in a similar
length Of time since the Brotherhood re-
volt in the fall Of 1889.
Briefly summarized, these topics so far
as already sprung are as follows That the
Boston team should in some way be handi-
capped in next seasons race; that the bunt
be abolished that the Washington club be
punished or disciplined for transferring
games from its home grounds TO other
cities; that the double umpire system be
adopted that baseball players while under
contract be forbidden to own any interest
I'm a saloon; that Tucker, Tebeau, Vaughn,
Kinslow aud other players who have dis
graced their uniforms on the ballfeld be
penalized in way that will make offenses
of that kind odious and uncommon in the
future; that the double championship sea-
son be revived; that the president Of the
League be required hereafter to exercise
closer watch over his umpires' work, and
that umpires be scheduled throughout the
season as soon as a playing schedule be
adopted
Before the annual meeting many more
new ideas will be ready for consideration.
Whatever is done in any of the above men
toned points for legislation will interest
every baseball enthusiast in the country,
because in all matters of law and legislation
the National league leads, while the others
follow. The proposition to handicap the Bos-
ton team is not n new one, but it has never
had official notice from League meeting Of
magnates This time it is almost sure to
be sprung, but l think it will get short
shift. The wiser course to pursue is to en-
courage the other clubs TO strengthen their
teams. Against that plan, however, viii
be urged the argument that while the other
teams are being strengthened the Bostons
are also strengthening, as witness their en-
Also that new material is not at hand in
such quantity or quality that it can be
used to pull up other teams on an equality
with the three times champions.
Some one has figured out that the aboli-
ton of the bunt would pull the Bostons
down to a level with some Of the other
teams and suggests that the bunt there
fore be tabooed No doubt an effort will
be made to have the League wipe out the
bunt. l doubt whether it will succeed.
That would be retrogression, The legisla-
tion in baseball for years has been progress
ive-not backward. While it may be true
that the Bostons use the bunt to more
advantage than any other team, the bunt
is recognized as a scientific part of the
game, and to legislate it out of existence
would be to strike a blow at one of the
most popular features of the sport.
There is no doubt that the Washington
owner, George Wagner, will get q call
down" from the League. His action in
transferring championship games from
Washington to Philadelphia, Chicago and
other cities for the mere advantage of a
probable gain of a few hundred dollars al
most wrecked interest i'm that city. As a
consequence other clubs which had dates
in Washington during the latter part of the
season suffered financially thereby Some
thing will be done next month to make a
repetition of Wagner's mistake an impossi-
bility.
The double umpire system has some ad-
vocates, but not enough to make it become
a law, l believe. 1t has already been
shown that the increase would entail at
least 81, 600 more expense to each club 1t
is more probable that the League will
ask their president to schedule umpires
throughout the season and make nc
changes or transfers at the request of the
clubs interested; also that he travel around
among the different cities and personally
inspect the work of the members of his
staff. The revival Of the double umpire
system is a pet idea of Mr.. Won der Abe OF
St. Louis He will urge il, but the scheme
| has no possible chance to 60 through. II
| has been tried and found wanting.
The cases of offending players are sure
to be called up for the consideration OF the
board For the first time in years the
| press has united in a demand for discipline
| in the case of Tucker at least, and til,
magnates cannot afford to ignore it, Thi
| evil of players owning interests in salOor
! property has also come to that point Wher,
| it seems necessary for the clubs to take ad
verse action.
! The statement is made that not one clul
/ of the II in the League lost money this sea
son, and most of them are large winners
When it is known that out of their receipts
the - clubs paid off a remaining debt o
over $4,000 from May till October, bette
idea of the profits of baseball can be had
That means an average of receipts of 81 so
over and above expenses TO the poores
drawing club of the lot The League be
gan the season with a 10 per cent "tak
OFF, and soon raised it to ~ per cent. Il
the last months it was again reduced to i
per cent, which was sufficient to wipe on
the entire financial incubus. Next seasol
that 100000 perhaps the percentage will b
more) win be 'velvet" and divisible by L
Is it "a wonder that the hackers of the club
have their eyes on 1894 with eager eXpecta
tion-especially as all signs point to an in
crease in general interest even over this re
markable season2
And when the season does open and tn
baseball watermelon is sliced, don't forge
your Uncle Arson. He'll be there, reach
ing for chunk of the red ripe core. Thi
year has been to him a season of preparl
tion. He has been getting his team togetl
er as the gold hunter gets his gold-wasi
ing a ton of dirt for a thimbleful of tn
yellow metal. How many second baseme
do you suppose he tried this year2 Onl