The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-06-25

the New Yorks after n month of the cham
pionship season had gone by was in the ma
ture Of nm ovation. He is one of n class of
ball players that the public regret to see leav-
ing the profession. He is not in n scientific
sense n wonderful ball player, but rather
what is known as a winner. There are a
score Of players who have superior abilities
as batters, fielders and base runners, and
yet not one of the score outrates him as u
valuable man to u team, because none of
the lot knows so many tricks of the game
and has the ability to use them when they
will do the most good.
1t is sometimes better to be lucky than
rich. The New York club from standpoint
OF recent gain cannot be classcd as rich but
1t has certainly fallen heir to several decided
pieces fluck. 1t needed a steady catcher
who could also Jolly the team when de-
feat threatened, and it was fortunate in
finding just such man in Kelly. 1t need
ed pitcher badly when tried pitchers were
at premium and could not be had even
then. Behold, the Pttsburgs in fit Of
foolishness fall utwith Mark Baldwin and
give him released The New Works secure
him while other clubs suffering in the
pitcher famine look on with extreme jeal-
ousy.
Baldwin's abilities are not disputed
His only failing is an ugly temper--a fault
which has handicapped many other pitch
ers, notably Mullanc and McAlahon. With
Kelly to net rs Il sort of steam governor,
Baldwin should he able to hold his temper
in check while with the New Works
The news that Darby O'Brien, the noted
outielder and captain of last years Brook
Ign team, is dying from CONSUMPTION ut
his home in Peoria comes with almost
stunning surprise to he patrons of National
league games throughout the circuit OF
all the baseball players from the II teams
of 1892, OBrien-b.awny, broad chested
Darby-would have been among the last
suspected of concealing the seeds OF that
dread disease in his system
O'Briens unfortunate condition calls I'm
fact that noted last ycar--namely, the
extraordinary number of deaths from con-
sumption among baseball players Flint,
Whitney, Briody. Daley, Foyurty and Nc
Cormick all went to the grave by reason of
consumption. Kelly expressed to me re-
Gently his belief that overwhelming had
much to do with this strange attack OF con-
sumption upon baseball players He saws
1T means nm early death To every man who
fattens himself in winter by ovcrindul-
gences and idlenesS and trains Off from 20
to 10 pounds every spring before he is able
to play II fair game of ball. He may be
right. If he is, baseball players should be
appraised of this great danger which men
aces Them so that those who valuc "A long
HE may take proper care of themselves
during winter months.
1t is an established fact that the men
who have remained the most years on the
ball field are those who each spring had lit
tie training and reducing to do before they
were in good condition for play. James
O'Rourke, a. G. Arson, Jim White and
John Nj. Ward are men who always report
ed to their clubs in the beginning of each
season physically ready I o 20 into IL game
and do good work without II day of train
ing down" They are the men who have
best stood the wear and tear of a life on the
ball field.
The fact that silver King was given 10
days notice of his release by the New York
club OH the same day that the club signed
Baldwin recalls the fact that it was on ac-
count of King that Baldwin was arrested
and Jailed in st. Louis. The St Louis club
claimed that King was under contract with
them in 1890. Baldwin went to st. Louis
and became liz manner Kings guest
The two were Al great deal together TWAS
known that Baldwin had already signed
with the Pittsburgs and that the latter
also wanted to take King away from St
Louis Later on King did desert Won der
Abe and went to Pittsburg. Then Won der
Abe had Baldwin arrested under the con-
spiracy act and sent To Jail On the pre-
lininary trial the prosecution failed to
make out case, and Baldwin was dis
charged. Aftcrward he got service on Won
der Abe in Philadelphia and entered suit
mt that place for $4,000 damages for false
imprisonment. The suit is still pending,
the trial having been postponed several
times at the defendants request. 1t is
quite generally believed that when it does
come To trial Baldwin will get n verdict
Meanwhile Kings notice of release is
likely to be recalled before he 10 days ex-
pre-, and Pitcher Crane will then get the
grand bounce" instead.
The Vaughn-Brodie-W w rden bat throw
ing incident in St. Louis was the first dis
graceful act done on the bail field this sea
SOD. Vaughn has the reputation of being
quarrcisome After all the trouble which
resulted from his act of blocking the home
plate ut st. Louis when the rules pro-
hibited the play, he repeated it in Cincin-
nati on the st. Louis teams visit to that
city. The Cincinnati spectators very
promptly and fairly showed their con
domination of the catchcr's action, and the
club did what it should have done before
put him under discipline.
The Boston club is PLAYING its twenty
second consecutive season. No other club
in the country can count up that many un-
interrupted years of professional playing.
BY the way, the fears expressed by Chi
cago officials last winter that the Worlds
fair would hurt baseball attendance in that
city is being verified Everything gives
way to the fair. If it were not for the
clubs great Sunday crowds, they would
have good prospect before them Of a big
loss on the season. O. p. CAYL0R.