The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-12
TALCOTr AT TIE FAIR.

His Words VIII Inspire Them With
Hopes for cycling" Season.
II my judgment does not go wholly
wrong this is going to be the most prosper
GUS season base ball has known in years. l
don't speak altogether from a box-offlcs
standpoint, either, when make this state
ment. l mean it will be, as the critics say
of a new play, an artistic as we'll as
financial success. Better ball will be played
this season aud the contests will be more
exciting, and fever heat will be the prevail
ing temperature.
There are several things that go to back
up this bold declaration. In the first place
the relative strength of the twelve teams
will be more even than It was last year.
During the season Of 1899 there we're a
number of teams that were little better
than amateurs. The election OF a new
president will have good effect. A very
important matter yet to be decided is the
distance which shall separate the pitchers
box from the batter's this season. Some are
in favor of placing it in the center Of the
diamond. This suggestion was advanced by
MIR. Richter, editor Of the Sporting Life,
Philadelphia, and no has won many over
to his way of thinking. The theory of this
is that II Yilllessen the speed of the ball,
and give the batter a fairer show. In re-
cent years the game has been between
pitchers entirely, aud much of the old thine
excitement produced by hard hitting has
vanished. MIR. Richter believes if there
was more slugging, resulting In fewer 10
games, there would be more fun aud deeper
interest. Capt. John Ward of our team be-
Levels that the pitchers box should not be
Immediately placed farther back than
five feet-or eight, at the most-from the
present position.
Another wise alteration In the rules is the
doing away with the fiat bat used in sacri-
fee biting. Speaking for the Giants alone,
believe they will be conquerors this year.
With John Ward, and the prospect Of other
good men for the team, there is every rea-
son to believe we shall be In and STAY in
from post to finish.
AS to salaries, must say that Mr.. Ward
signed for q very small sum-much less than
be has played for in many years. cannot
say how much it is, but 1t is a very humble
stipend for a man OF Wards worth He
has looked at the matter in the same sensi-
BILE light that he views everything, and
for this he deserves great praise. The
men whom he will engage will be
asked to sign contracts at salaries that
would have sent horrors over them last
year. lite case Of fish or cut bait, how-
ever this year, and believe all of the men
prefer to fish. / can say this much, So AGO
will be a big salary. G'he seas On is only six
month"; long, and $500 month is not such
a miserable sum, after all. When Ward
told Mike Kelly this. the king laughed, aud
said: why say, Johnnie, that wouldn't
buy my cigarettes" But "Kel" was Joking.
/ think he will be a Giant this year. He
wanted to come to US last season, but we
couldn't take him at the time be could come
So far as / now can venture to predict
the Giants will, besides Kelly, be made up
as follows: Pitchers, Amos Rusie, "Silver"
King and Ned Crane; catchers, Boyle Nc
Mahon, Ewing and Doyle. the last an emer-
gency man; first base. Roger Connor of last
years Philadelphia team, or, il we can't get
him, a man equally as good; second base,
Ward; third base, Keller; short stop, Full.
Ter; right field. Herman; center field Lyons
left field. probably Burke of last years team
That would make nine hard to beat
While Wards loss will be keenly felt in
Brooklyn. his place on the diamond will be
well supplied by Daniel Richardson, who
leaves Washington TO go to Brooklyn in
exchange for Joyce, last years third base
man.
Speaking OF low salaries, Tony Mullane,
the pride OF the Cincinnati team, has
signed for So, 100 TO play in that city again
This, with Wards salary, shows how the
star men in the business look at the matter
They realize that this year is TO be test
one in base ball history, and that to make
the game q success after the fashion Of
former years they must put their shoulders
to the wheel and not let a matter of a few
hundred dollars stand in tho way of their
laboring for the upholding Of the national
game Of America. L. B. TALCoTT.