The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-31

", L. SuglSll NA'N'Hb N'A E"'S SN''N
for the nation al game, Gays that every
thing was created for some good pur-
pose. That preCept is taught to us
early in life, and we try hard to believe
it, But there have been times in the
life OF every baseball crank when he
wondered whether the umpire some
how wasn't an exception to the rule. A
recently announced circumstance, how
ever, puts even the despised umpire
into tho class OF created things which
have a purpose-an object in life. An
umpire in the lar west was the cause OF
aman going to the United States senate.
The story goes that Senator Allen, new
" elected from Nebraska, formerly fig
ured as q baseball manager in his native
state. Ills ambition was at that time
to get up winning team and capture u
championship. All might have gone
well and Manager Allen possibly this
springIime would have been dickering
for the service OF some phenomenal
"twirler" or soma g.r-reat "slugger" had
his baseball lie not been severed by
miserable umpire. One day the Offend
inc official rendered q decision against
Manager Aliens club which so dis
gusted him that no resigned and swore
of from his allegiance TO the game. To
woan himself from that which he loved
he entered politics, and the route led
to tho United States senate.
For the first time in many years the
majority OF the major league clubs have
made no preparations for sending their
teams south for early preliminary prac.
tice, and not In all these years has there
been a spring so belated and unfit for
preliminary practice throughout tho
national league circuit. 1t has been
customary for the different teams to re-
port for duty about March |. This year
not more than one Of the twelve clubs
had all its men signed by tho middle OF
March. The Pittsburgh, st. Louis, LOU
isville and Chicago alone have arranged
for an early tour through southern ter.
ritory or for practicing campaign in
warm climate.
The experiences Of the past in this re.
spect have been disappointing. No
club has ever reached enough above the
expense OF such an experiment to make
itentrely satisfactory. florida is now
wholly avoided rs training ground be-
cause the month OF March in that lati-
tuGe is too warm and makes the con.
trast upon return TO the north in
April too great to preserve tho good Of
feCts obtained while down there. Some
severe cases OF typhoid fever have been
contracted in these Florida trips, nota-
bly, that which carried of Hubert Col
lins, OF the Brooklyns, last May.
Hot Springs has also been abandoned
rs team training ground, principally
because OF tho expense attending stay
at that place. The teams which arc
now playing through the Southern
league circuit may have struck happy
medium
II is likely that the chief reason why
the majority OF the clubs made no ar
ranCements for ante-season southern
trips this year was that they Anticipate
cd general baking among their play
ers in coming forward to sign contracts
under the reduced salaries. Their an
ticipatons in this respect have not
been misplaced. st. Patrick's day saw
more than half Of the reserved players
Of tho national league still unsigned.
This is most unusual. A builder named
Finnegan ouce told mo that he always
began laying foundations after st. Pat
rick's day, because no more hard frosts
come after the 18th OF March. Maybe
the boys who play ball have been watt
ing for st. Patrick's day in the hope that
tho frost might thaw out OF the hearts
oil tho chilly magnates.
All contracts begin to run on April
this year instead OF on March 10, as
heretofore, n fact which may account
for the players hardness in making or
rather accepting terms. Contracts will
run six months this year instead of
seven, as in the past. When April
FOOLS day arrives, there will be very
few OF last year's players unsigned, be-
cause every day after that date means
certain income received or missed, rs
the case may DO. But such men as
keele, Mullane, Glasscock, Ward,
Fout2, thinner aud PETER accent tho
situation gracefully and take what the
magnetic gods decree, and there Is no
indications lett OF any serious or lasting
rebellion among the other stars.
A remarkable feature OF this years
opening campaign is tho scarcity otnow
players among the teams as selected.
Boston has one in Lake, a catcher. The
New Works have ono in McQuaid, a Cal
iiornia player. Tho Brooklyns have
none. Tho Philadelphias will try ono
or two. The other nine clubs had
picked out fifteen of the most promis.
lngot the Southern and Eastern league
players Of last sOason, but the national
board at its March meeting ordered all
these fifteen recruits to be returned to
their respective clubs, or tho drafting
clubs TO pay $1,000 each for any who
might BIO retained. Under this ordur
or decision moro than half OF tho new
mon will DO returned to their minor
lOnuue clubs.
Tho return OF Conner and Ward to
tho New Yorks and the possible engage
mont Of Kelly for the same team has
worked up an unusual interest in tho
metropolis, which will probably have
considerable influence throughout tho
oountry.
Lonlsvillo's chances for Sunday games
arc slim and short. Their new grounds
AZ FARMLAND arc situated in a highly 70.
spectacle noighborhood, and tho town
council has prohibited tho playing OF
sunday games there. This will DO a
blltor disappointment to tho Louisville
packers and heavy blow financially.
For years tho Louisville club has do.
pended on Sunday games to pull them
out Of their expenses.
Inc .Chicagos undor tho schedule Of
dates for 1893 will beat tho record in
jumping" In tho 10 days from Sop.
tember ! to September 10 thoy will