Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-07-27

ton game was going on and l
noticed that several changes
have taken place since the
days when the Freeland club
was the undisputed amateur
champion of the coal fields. 1t
is not two years since this
town had more than a state
reputation through it's ball
club, and the excellent contests
that were played here gave
Freeland more advertising
than everything else combin-
ed. But what a change is to
be seen now? The enthusiastic
public which greeted the play
ers and games of other seasons
was entirely in the background
on Sunday, the local cranks
were seated here and there
along the shady side of the
fence and their countenances
denoted general displeasure.
Displeased they are-not at the
boys who are keeping alive the
sport, for without them the
town would forget all about
the national game-but be-
cause of the great opportuni
ties that are allowed to pass by
to bring fine clubs here and to
have a semi-professional team
that would be a credit to the
community.
When the average lover of
base ball looks backward and
commences to trace the causes
that led the downfall of our
club his indignation cannot be
easily expressed in words.
The causes, which began with
the first season of the Sweeney
q Moore club, are so numer-
Gus and of such a character
that it would require a book to
hold them, and a book upon
the same subject would make
mighty interesting reading.
Broadly speaking, it was case
of mismanagement in the fl
nancial department of the
Freeland Association, but to
resurrect the past will not
benefit the future, so about the
only thing to be done is to pro-
fit by the experience of former
days and commence over
anew.
This can be done in several
ways and without any extra
ordinary amount of trouble.
1t is not possible to have a
team of home players able to
compete with clubs from the
leagues or the Cuban Giants or
mines in that class, and it is
useless to attempt to revive
the game and attract the atten-
tion of the public unless first
class ball is played. By i'm
porting two or three good men
and judiciously selecting the
best of the local players, Free
land can have a team which |
believe will make base ball go
with all the vim and enthusi-
asm displayed in the days gone
by. The town and vicinity
has some real good ball tossers
and under the direction of pro-
per persons can make base ball
as hot as it ever was here.
In scanning the matter over
closely | find two ball parks,
Freeland and Drifton, in the
immediate vicinity of town
that seem going to loss for the
want of management. In Drift
ton are two gentlemen, Messrs.
Daniel Coke and Daniel Gal
lagher, who have shown much
ability as base ball managers.
Now what would be the mat
ter with these two and perhaps
a few others of Drifton coming
together with some of the
Freeland people, make a con-
solidatiOn and run both parks
under one management, the
players to be chosen from both
towns and a few from outside
to strengthen them? If these
gentlemen can be induced to
come together l feel sure that
Messrs, Coke and Gallagher,
with the assistance of a few
from Freeland, could get the
game on its feet in short
while and make it go on a
gallop before the season is out.
The game would then be run
on a business basis, and as
soon as that is done base bal
will come into public favor
again and receive the patron
age the people are willing tc
give it. SAUNTERER.