The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-08

quick disintcgration. Even Kelly and his
famous Allentown team cannot raise sutl-
clcnt enthusiasm in several of the cities
where the local teams are particularly
weak.
Tho Eastern league shows moro strength
than any of the minor organizations, and
Its chance to finish without break in its
circuit Is excellent The Western league
also has done we'll and will try hard to
play 10 the seasons end without the loss
of Il member.
In the National league there is not the
least prospect of clubs failure Every
one OF the 10 will make money unless it
DO the Louisvilles. The western clubs are
not drawing nearly rs well Mt homo rs arc
the clubs i'll the cast, but the fact that Wis
lung clubs always get 40 per cent Of tils
gross gate receipts is great help rs an
"equalizer" to tho members from the west
crn part of the circuit, for in the cast tho
attendance has been almost without prcc-
edcnt. Philadelphia and New York have
each turned out over 200, 900 spectators
with their season only half over BROOKLYN
ana Baltimore have made the number
nearly 800, 600 together, while even Wash
lngton has drawn 80, 600. This is phenom-
email attendance, coming us it does in a
year oil business stagnation and financial
depression. With the return of prosperity
to clubs of the National league comes tho
old evil of purchasing the releases of play
crs. The New Yorks started the revival
OF that harmful method by paying So, 800
and giving two players Ito boot" for
Mcckln ana Farrell. Recently the Balti-
morcs gave 81, 400 for the release of Pitcher
Gleason by the ST. Louis Browns, and tho
Philadelphias paid the Washingtons ST.
600 for Pitcher Sulivan's services. Con
sidcring the worth of these two men MS
players, the price in each instance is MS
excessively high us was that which was
paid for Kelly and Clarkson
III the releases of Hugh Duffy and Dele
hanty could be bought, 1 bctray no trust
In saying that the New Yorks would nav
$4,000 apiece for them and would take
the 900 in mt the gates in one months
time after the team returns from the west
That So, 400 paid by the Baltimores for
the release of Gleason is a little confession
by the Baltimore managers that they are
wee bit scared about their strength lin
the box " Mullanc has recently shown an
inclination to go to pieces at any stage of
the game, and the chances are that the
once great player is going to the wall. He
lacks courage or sand. That ALWAYS vas
his trouble. And If he once Is convinced
that his arm is weakening he will not be
worth S10a month to any club as a pitcher
Inks has not proved u material success.
and the team is not sure of him at any
time. McMahon has no doubt been over.
worked, and it looks us If the strain were
telling on him. If he weakens, the club
will be in a prccarious condition and will
be very much in need OF another pitcher.
Whether Gleason can fill that need re-
mains to be seen. His work In St Louis
was very poor, but the excuse is made for
him that he was dissatisfied and did not
have his heart In his business To INV
mind that excuse Is u convictinp fault If
1t be well based.
AS 1t stands, Hawke seems to be Mona
hons only reliable assistant, and think
he Is not u good alternate pitcher. His
reputation professionally can scarcely be
said to be well established. Hawke went
into the National league from the South.
ern league where ho was not classed very
high. Unfortunately he became major
League pitcher fora very weak and losing
olub-thc St Louis Browns There he
had very little chance to make a rep1tn
tion, but Manager IIanlon liked his work
for the Browns. Therefore, when Won der
Abe, in ono of his frcakish fits, released
Hawke, Hanlon lost no timo in engaging
the young twirler So far Hanlon's iudp
ment has not been shown to be wrong. for
while Hawke is not classcd among the
strong pitchers of the country he is a very
useful man To the Saltimorcs at this time.