Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-03-12

II my Judgment does not go wholly
wrong this Is going 10 be tho most pros
perous season baseball has known In
years. don1 speak altogether from .
boxoflice standpoint. either. whom
make this statements mean II VIII
be. AZ tho critics say Of . new play. an
artistic as well IA financial success
Better ball will be played thia season
and the con tests will be more excitinQ.
and fever heat will DO tho prevailing
temperature
There are several things that GO TO
back up this bold declaration. In the
first plaoo the relative strength of the
twelve tcAn,s viii DO moro even than IL
was last year During thu sesson of
isg, there were number OF teams
that were little better than ANA
teurs. The election OF . new pros
ident will have good effect very
important matter yet 70 be decided 10
the distance which shall separate the
pitchers box from the batter this sea
son. Some are In favor of placing IL In
the center of the diamond. This sug-
gcstion was advanced by Mr.. Richter.
editor OF the Sporting Life. Philadel-
phiA, and he has won many over 10 his
way Of thinking. The theory of this Is
that il viii lessen the speed OF the ball,
and give the batter a fairer show. In
recent years the game has been between
pitchers entirely. and much of the old
time excitement produced by hard HIT
ting has vanished. Mr.. Richter believes
iftbere were moro slugging, resulting
In fewer 10 games, there would be moro
fun and deeper interest. Capt John
Ward of our team believes that the
pitchers box should not be immediate
IL placed further back than dvc feet--or
eight. at the most-from the present
position
As to salaries, may say that Mr..
Ward signed for . very small sum
much leSs than he has played for In
many years i cannot say how much II
Is. but it's humble stipend for a man
OF Wards worth. He has looked at
the matter In the same sensible
light that he views everything. and
for this no deserves great praise.
The men whom he will engage will
DO asked 10 sign contracts at salaries
that would have sent horrors over them
last year. It's ease of fab or cut bait,
however. this year, and l believe all OF
the men prefer u fish can say this
much, two thousand four hundred
dollars will be big salary. The sea
son Is only six months long. and four
hundred dollars month Is not such
miserable sum. after all When Ward
told Mike Kelly this, the king laughed.
and said: why. say. Johnnie, that
wouldn't buy my cigarettes" Blu,
'Kei'' was Joking. think he will be
a Giant this year. He wanted to come
10 Us last season, but we couldn't take
him at the time he could come.
80 far ~ I now can venture 10 pre-
diet, the Giants Will, besides Kelly, be
made up - follows: Pitchers, Amos
Rusie. Silver King and Ned Crane:
cstchers. Boyle, Mcmahon. Ewing and
base. Roger Conner. of last years Phil
adelphia team. or. IL we can't got him,
a man equally "a good; second base.
Ward, third base. Keller. short stop.
Fuller: right Geld. Herman; center fele.
Lyons. lcf. field, probably Burk Of last
years team.
That would make n nine hard 10 beat
White Wards loss will be keenly felt "A
brooklyn. his place on the diamond Will
be well supplied by Dannie Richardson.
Speaking ~ low salaries. Tony Mn
lane. tho pride Of the Cincinnati team.
hss Aligned for tweuty-ona hundred dos-
lars T. play ina that city again. This.
with Wards SALARY. shows how the
star men In tho business look at the
matter. Thsy realiye that this year Is
"a be = test one In baseball history. and
that 81 make the game . success after
the fashion ~ former years they must
put thslr shoulders ~ THO wheel arri
at lee matter ~ few hundred dol.
lars stand In the way - their las~rirx
for The ppballding Of The national gaulc
~ America l. u TkLeUFr