Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-09-29
A PERIL TO BASE BALL

A PERIL TO BASE BALL, How One Intoxicated Player Compelled
 Won der Ahe to ReInstRte Him and How
 Another Caused the Disbandment of the
 Famous Cincinnati Red Stockings.
 The disgraceful conduct of First Base men Tucker of the Boston team at Gin cinnati recently, in the presence of large crowd of spectators, will do immeasurable harm to the sport if overlooked by the National league. Tucker not only disGraced himself publicly, but dragged the uniform of his club and the reputation of the Ma tional league down into the mire too. In short, he appeared upon the field just be fore the game in beastly, uproarious state of intoxication and made such demon stration that a magistrate, who was pres ent ns a spectator, ordered his arrest. \ policeman took Tucker in charge; but, by the request of Captain ComiSkey, the of fender was merely led of the ground and not locked up. To add to the disgrace of the occasion, it soon became apparent that two or three more of the team-especially Duffy and Stivetts-were also under the influence of intoxicating liquor and were anxious to join Tucker in his wild demon stration.
 It is not hard to understand now, in the light of the Cincinnati incident, why the Bostous have lost many games oa their western trip They left home with the championship virtually won. Their lead was such that their nearest competi- tors-the Pittsburgs-could not overhaul them short of m accident of unusual pro portions. The players therefore became 1 careless, indifferent and finally disgrace fully reckless.
 It will be of widespread interest to watch the National league at its annual meeting in November and see just what action will be taken anent the Tucker case. do not : believe that the ofTense will be passed by without some emphatic action thereon. Fuckers offense strikes at the life of pro fessional baseball and the honor of the Ma tional league in particular. Whether the Boston club will anticipate the League by disciplining Tucker remains to be seen but even if it does the League is liable to take independent action thereon.
 Several years ago there was provision , in the League constitution empowering the board of directors to severely punish play | CT of any club member of that organization for indulging in any brawl, fight, drunken exhibition or disgraceful act in public whether in uniform or citizens clothes. The rule had q very healthy effect and such scenes as werc this season indulged in by Tucker Tebeau, Vaughn and Richard son were not heard of during the rules eN- istence. For some reason rrcent rules committee cut out that section of the con stitution, so that ss the National league laws stand there is no vested power in any board or committee to punish such breaches of discipline as Tucker Is guilty of But the League as body Is supreme in its own affairs, and there have been 50 many acts of disgraceful nature during the season just closing that it is scarcely probable they will all be ignored.
 Early in the season Vaughn of the Gin cinnatis and Werden of St. Louis indulged in a bat throwing duel on the St. Louis grounds during the progress of u game. Naughn's bat hit Werien in the back and a riot was only avoided by the arresu of Vaughn. Later Richardson of the Brook lyns appeared upon the field at Brooklyn in condition which rendered him unfit for play and had to he sent to the dressing room. Then came Tebeau'S disGraceful VilitiCAtiun uf Umpire Gaffrey at New York, of which l wrote when it occurred. I understand that complaint uf his conduct on that occasion has already been filed with Secretary Young and will therefore come before the bOarll of direCtors in No vemher. Last but not least of all these offenses is that ot Tucker at Cincinnati
 Unless the powers grasp the growing evil at once and smother it with adequate pun ishment it is liable to grow to such propur- tions that the very life of the game may ba endangered.
 I can remember only one incident before the Tucker case where player had to be taken struggling from the ground while he was drunk and disurderly. The offender was Mike Burke, shortstop for the Gin. cinnati league team of 1872 Burke fell into drinking habits and appeared one day Gt the dressing room very drunk. Captain Cal McNey put another player on the team in Burke's place and took his nine upon the field Burke, dressed only in citi- zen's clothes, followed to the diamond and attempted to assault McNey. A police man escorted him from the ground. Next day the club released him, and he never played another professional game.
 Fred Lewis. when a member of Non tier
 Ahe's team, went upon the field at St
 Louis so intoxicated that he was clearly incompetent to play. But Lewis was a
 terror and no one had the courage 10
 order him out of the nine. So he played as
 well as he could. Won der Ahe delegated
 Captain Comiskey after the game to in-
 form Lewis that he stood expelled. Comis- l key conveyed Chris message to the ter l TOT ." who chased Won der Ahe and besieSe[l g him in his office until Won der Ahe rein D stated him.
 Away back in the seventies the Cinciu. ' natis had player named Hallinan. He ! l played shortStop, and was the greatest left handed batter l ever saw. But drink drove him into oblivion in cue year. Ons day his
 awful attempts to stop grounders attracted
 the attention of President keck, who ask ell
 him after the game why he had made such n miserable attempts at play. His reply . was ingenious and frank: Sure, Mir. Eeek how the divil could sthop the balls at all, at all, when two of 'em kept comin ' toward me at the same time2 Afore could 1 make up me moind which wan av 'em tC s pick up, bad luck to 'em, both the crature, 0 would schlip by" He died in Chicago a few \ years later, victim of drink.
 k The drunken adventure of a member o
 the famous Cincinnati Red Stocking. F caused the downfall of that notable team. | In 1870 the Chicago White Stocking l were organized for the express purpose O F defeating the victorious team from the ri l val city. It is doubtful whether the schem, l would have succeeded had not Fred Water
 man, the Red Stockings third haseman
 become a victim to his weakness for liquor
 On his way to the ground in Chicago som
 designing enemies, masquerading in tn guise of friends, filled him up. He report 2 ed to play in painfully apparent state O r unsteadiness, and his wretched play prac = tically lost the game and caused the dis 8 banding of the most noted club ever or F ganized- O. P. CANrnR . ur