Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-08-13
TIE RICHARDSON CASE SUGGESTS A SERMON
TO OAYL0R
How Drink Ruins Ball Playsrs-Grsai Regulations
Wrecked When the Cranks Are at Ball
Tosssrs Fmt-Ths Search For Young Blood
Enlarging Many Hsads-Parro!t the Clarinet
Star.

the sensation OIL surprise on" SUI
alarm will remember that they fel' the
same shock when they heard that the
great AID only Danny Richardson had
been suspended without pay for dlssl-
patton and characterization.
Richardson has been known as the
"king of second basemen." He proos-
bly should have divided that honor with
McPhee, and Dunlap, Barnes and PER
fer in their day were, In all around
sense, Richardson's superiors. But for
several years Richardson held the I'M
disputed title as king Of second base
men. Up to the day Of the announce
ment OF his suspension very few oaseoali
patrons knew that he ever used liquor
in excess. But to those more intimately
ACQUAINTED with him 1t was no news
that Danny went of on q quiet "bat"
occasionally. He was one Of the class
known as quiet drinkers, and 1t Is
shown from the published statement OF
the Brooklyn club that during his many
falls from grace this year the young
man invaiatly began the work on Sun
day in the quiet of his room and turned
up on Monday unfit for play.
The Brooklyn club has deserving
record for leniency and square dealing
with its ball players. No club In the
country acts more fairly toward its men.
Therefore the very fact that the club
has suspended and otherwise severely
punished one of its stars was proof to
the baseball public that the offender
deserved what he got, bat when the
club was driven 30 publication OF the
facts in the case, with each otfense
specified and located, there was no
shadow of doubt lest as to the justice OF
its action.
Richardson's case is another instance
of the greatest of all evils that beset
national game. Why 1t is that more
than so per cent OF professional base
ball players are excessive users OF In
toxicating liquors Is a problem that has
NOT vet been worked out. But the path
way of the game through the last %
wears is strewn with the wrecks OF many
once brilliant regulations on the dia-
mond, all caused by strong drink when
the baseball world was at the players
feet.
Richardson's downfall also proves
how ephemeral is baseball players
glory and how weak is his hold on the
public. Only few years ago Danny,
to use common expression, "owned
New York" Now he could count his
friends and admirers among the New
York "fans" on his fingers.
The charge Of National league mana
gers upon the talent" in the Southern
an 0r0wa in anaruv
Northern cash Is carried into the south
ern circuit, and young blood" is pur-
chased in droves and sent north.
ComIskey purchased the release OF u
rich ard McCarty. The former lasted
less than week. New York got Petty
of Cha .ston, Brookly bought Daub
from Chattanooga, and Barnie OF Louis
vile took q job lot at 90 per cent of for
cash, as they say in mercantile circles
The eagnerness displayed by nearly
every Southern league club to sell the
release OF their oest players points
plainly to a weakness In the condition
of affair down there. If the league
holds out to the end OF the season with
out q serious break In the circuit, 1t will
be o surprise.
Whether this importation OF young
blood into the National league ranks
will be justified by the results Is most
problematical. So far the failures have
exceeded the successes. The most
marked success so far among the new
investments is probably the battery
composed of German and Wilson,
secured by the New Yorks. There Is,
however, great deal OF old decaying
timber In the National League struct-
ure which must be gradually replaced,
and the new matiarial must come from
the minor leagues OF course.
The success of the Baltimore club
with young players has attracted the
atten zion OF managers all over the coHn-
try. Manager Hanlon began unloading
his veterans q year ago and by judicious
selections replaced them with vigorous,
ambitious youngsters who have their
greatest fame before them. The play
Ing of that team has attracted atten-
ton and admiration everywhere they
went. whether they won or lost. There
Is dash and earnestness about the
Baltimore's work which greatly pleases
the people who go to games with de-
sire to get % run for their money"
Many OF these promoted or trans
planted players grow In their heads
very rapidly as soon as they strike Nat
ional league company. Parrot, who
went to CHICAGO to pitch and then was
turned over by the uationai board 20
Cincinnati, is good illustration OF my
meaning. The fact thar he was the
subject OF disputed possession by two
League clubs, and 8 cause OF adiudlca-
ton by the national board, caused Par
rott to form q very high opinion OF his
own abilities. When ordered TO go TO
Cincinnati. he refused TO sign contract
or leave Chicago unless guaranteed
S475 q month. The amusing part
of Parrott's "stand out, was his an
nouncement that besides being star
base ball pitcher be was al artist in
blowing the yellow clarinet. and that
rather than play ball in Cincinnati for
less than S375 . month, or more than sl2
a day, be would get an engagement
with his wind instrument. LuckilY
somebody probably told hin that there
is not. in these piping hard times. al
oyer-demand for clarinet players, and
that the average salary for an artist Of
that kind Is not more than 50 day. So
be went 70 Cincinnati At sacrifice, and
| II he doesn't play ths eljrindt with
/ mora succass than he pitches against