Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-15

CAPTAIN OLIVER TEDEAU OF CLEVELAND.
mores, Bostons and New Yorks since tho
middle of July, and which promises to last
to the very end of the race, has ever been
seen since baseball became a professional
game. 1t is a fight for more than empty
honors. Every player in the three teams
is financially interested on account of the
Temple cup series which follows between
the winner and the place team. Those
games will net enough money to pay each
player of the winning team at least $500.
That is one reason why the struggle be-
comes personal one among these three
leaders
The conditions and positions of the
clubs at this season make it forcgone
conclusion that the Baltimores, New
Yorks and Bostons will finish one, two,
three, maybe rot in the order named, but
surely to include the trio in the first three.
The Philadelphia club ought to keep
fourth place easily, while the Louisvilles
seem to have "cinched" their hold ON tho
tail end. 1t is almost equally certain that
but one of the western clubs will land in
the first division, which proves my analy
sis of the strength Of the 10 teams mado
last spring-namely, that the western six
were far Inferior to the six Of the eastern
section.
The season up to this time has been re-
markably free from ugly rumors of any
kind. A few careless words uttered in
the soreness of disappointment by Captain
Oliver Tebeau of the Clevelands gave rise
to the only scandal with which the Ma
tional league race was marred this season.
The circumstances of the case are these:
Since last year, when Captain Tebeau was
ordered out of the game at the Polo
grounds by Umpire Gaffney, there has
been i'll feeling between the Cleveland and
New York players. This unusual enmity
has been carried into the games which
were played this year between the two
mines, and the spectators in each city took
up the spirit of bitterness in behalf of their
respective clubs.
During the Clevelands' last visit to New
York this feeling of bitterness unfortu-
nately led to a rumor which had no founda-
ton, except in the careless words of Cap
tain Tcbeau. McAleer indirectly started
the trouble by openly roofing" for tho
Bostons against New York's interests. 1t
was the day when the St. Louis team beat
the Bostons to s. The first score of that
game gave the St. Louis team five runs,
and the New York spectators cheered lust
lily as the figure was bulletined. Next inn
ing the Bostons made five runs, and then
McAleer threw up his cap and tainted the
crowd, while the Clevelands all showed
their satisfaction. But when the St. Louis
team won out and the New Yorks defeated
the Clevelands at the same time New
York crank yelled to Tebeau, "Well
take three straight from you, Patsy"
Then in IA spirit of hot resentment Tebeau
uttered those words which, owing to a
run of subsequent circumstances led to
such harmful consequences. "That's all
right. cried the smarting Cleveland cap
tain, but We'll get even by leaving four
games in Baltimore
Scores of New Workers heard these
words which Teheau thoughtlessly utter
cd. Most of them set them down at tho
time for Just what they were-mere badi-
mage But when the Cleveland team did
lose four games in Baltimore Tebeau's
words We're recalled, and there were thou
Gands of people in New York who, on that
account, believed that the Clevelands did
not try to win a game from the Orioles.
1t Is such indiscrcet words and acts Of
excitable ball players that frequently do
hahn to the game which gives them en-
ployment. The scandal which attended
| the close OF the National league race In
1891, when the New York team put in
three weak mines against the Bostons and
played off two postponed games by dou-
Sling up, SO that the Chicagos were beaten
at the wire by nose, has had nothing to
bca.- it company until this unfortunate
break was made by Tebeau. want to
add in conclusion that those who know
Tcbeau and his men do not believe that
they arc capable Of doing what his Idle
words implied. They met the Baltimores
when the latter were playing invincible
ball and were simply overcome by superior
work, that's all. But men Ike Captain
Tebeau should try to bride their tongues