The Washington times., 1894-03-25
BASEBALL AGAIN The FAD
Greater Interest Being Taken in the
National Game.
THE Y.M. c. A. TEAM DISRUPTED
Owing to the Expected Loss Of the Ball
Park Several of the Christian Players
Have Signed with Virginia Professional
Clubs-schmelz on Farrell's Case.

One Of the best evidences Of the revival Of
interest In baseball is the space given to news
OF the game in the newspapers. For two or
three years past certain big dailies practically
ignored baseball and paid particular atten-
ton to horse racing, but they have seen the
error of their ways and returned to their first
love. For the past two weeks the trouble be-
tween Catcher Farrell and the New York club
over terms has been the cause of columns OF
news on the subject in the Gothamite jour
mails, and every line published has been
eagerly read. As there is yet no settlement
between the interested parties, the public will
continue being furnished the latest report
from both sides. That so much space is given
baseball news is a healthy sign for the pros
perity of the game the coming season.
John McQuaide. the clever League umpire,
is here and will, in conjunction with Charley
Snyder. umpire the local exhibition games
between the Kids and Vets. Genial John has
been putting in the winter at Chicago. and
says he feels like a two-year-old. John Is
quite favorite in this city. and always likes
to officiate at the local park. He is one Of
the few umpires who never gives the home
club the best of it, and visiting clubs are al
ways satisfied with his work. You have u
goodly number of players. he said yesterday,
'and it will take lot of picking to getth best
of the lot for the regular team. / know Gus
Schmelz 10 have plenty of ability, and he may
be depended upon 10 select the most promis-
ing talent at his command. This series of
test games is about the best scheme to find
out what is in the players, and beats exhibi-
tion games with college teams all hollow.
There having appeared in a New York
paper an intimation that in the event oil Far
rell not coming to terms with New York the
deal would be off with Washington. Manager
Schmelz states such will not be the case under
any circumstances. I'VE have McMahn and
Pettys signed contracts and the bonus money
from New York" he said. :: .and there will be no
going back on the deal. If New York does
not make terms with Farrell 1t is none Of our
funeral"
1t is whispered around in society that
Charley Snyder is taking regular exercise in
the Carroll Institute gymnasium, with view
to joining Mike Kelly's Allentown aggrega-
ton. When approached on the subject the
eN-player and umpire smiled a soft smoil and
refused to commit himself, but did venture
the remark that he guessed he could hold his
own with the rest of them. 1t would not be a
surprise to his many friends If Charley again
donned the mask and mitt and play behind
the bat
NJ b. Scanlon. the weli-known baseball
enthusiast favors the scheme of allowing the
weaker clubs an extra man. in order to equal
ize the playing strength. Il think this would
be good move.n he said, and added in eX
PLANTATION: ''Of course 1t would be necessary
to await developments for the first few weeks
in order TO get line on the clubs. and then
give the weaker ones tenth man. as right
short stop. for instance. There is undoubtedly
a necessity to keep the strong teams from run
ming away from the others before the season
is half over. Handicaps are used in every
other sport. and l don't see why they could
not be introduced to advantage in the na-
tional game" 4
No doubt many OF the local patrons OF
baseball will be surprised at the umpires
calling of an intentional foul bunt strike,
but the amended rules provide for such. and
it will prove popular with the public. In ad-
| dition, it will have the effect of preventing
good many batsmen from trying TO bunt
and cause more hitting the ball out. Some
how or other. while it is generally admitted
bunting is more scientific. the majority of the
baseball cranks prefer the free hitting and
enjoy the work of the outfielders.
There will be general sorrow at the enforced
disruption of the strong Y. VI. c. 4. team. of
this city. which has already taken place. That
the team defeated the strong Yale Varsity
| club only last week and is now no more is to
be regretted. Secretary Pugh and Athletic
| Instructor Simons both expressed sorrow at
giving out this Information yesterday. Harry
o'Hagan, the captain and first baseman, has
signed to manage and captain the Roanoke,
Va. clubs. Eddie johnson. Collifower, and
Ernie Hodge have already signed 10 play with
the Norfolk. Va. team, and McCreery will
probably do the same. The remainder Of the
men will stay here and likely form the nu-
cleus for team to represent the new associa-
ton. The players mentioned above will re-
ceive good salaries in the Virginia league, but
would not have deserted the Y. VI. C. A. had
1t not been that the indications point to the
loss of the ball park at Seventeenth and U
streets.