Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-05

perate and easily controlled. The rule ap
plies to Kennedy and Young with especial
force When either is out of pitching kel-
ter, his club knows that the reason does
not lie in a want of proper self care.
The farm, however, has furnished com
parctivcly few great ball players compared
to those who hailed from the towns and
villages. The reason is plain. Farm boys
have fewer chances to develop any latent
baseball talents which they may possess
In the towns boys get together on Satur
day afternoons and on Sundays and play
the great national game. They form clubs
and foster local rivalry until the born art
lists among them develop and go to the
front. That is the way Anson Meekin,
Kelly Ward, Thompson, Herman, Davis,
Farrell, Lachance, Bennett Lange, Young,
Kennedy, Becklcy and dozens of other
players worked their way into the profes-
sion. Now | hold that a farm bred boy, as
u rule should make a better ball player
than the boy who grows up in the small
towns He generally has a better ply
sique. His arm is more strongly dcvel-
oped. Early hours and an abstinence from
delicacics give him better eyes, and his
whole manner of life fits him for an ath
lctic calling. His hardship is the want of
q chance to "come out" Country base
ball clubs ought to become popular if not
profitable. Nearly every farm has pas
turc," whereon, by a little work, fair
diamond could be laid out. Every town
ship could produce two teams, and sum-
mer Saturday afternoons or evenings
would not be wasted if the boys met for Il
game every week and their relatives and
friends were present to enjoy the sport. If
this custom prevailed many a Rusie, An
son, Young, Ewing, Kelly, Nash, McMa-
hon and Burkett would in time be called
from i'll paying farm work at SIG a month
to engagements on the balltield at not
less than 800 month. And if they be
came stars of tho first magnitude, like
Kennedy, Young or Rusie it would be q
jump of from SIG n month to that much a
day Many q son would pay off the farm
mortgage with ono years salary.
Beyond the monetary consideration the
transition of a boys life from tho farm to
the National league diamond is like the
rise from the ranks to a major gencralship
in the army. He spends his summer i'll II
OF the largest cities of tho Union; travels
10, 900 miles with all the luxuries of Pull
man cars; lives without expense at the
best hotels; has his name in the mouths of
the land, and finds the dooi( theaters
usually wide open for his entrance.
A country boy who could win his way
into professional ball playing might in ten
years not only lead an ideal life, but at
the same time save enough money to buy
!. the finest farm in his native county. |
Fwish the baseball ranks could be recruit
ed from the agricultural districts. 1t
would be the remedy to crush out drunk
enness and rowdyisn from the profession.
Let no one make the mistake that the
baseball market can be oversupplied
There is never o surfeit Of A No l play
lrs. Dozens Of clubs close their gates year
ly because the public will not pay to see
indifferent, incompetent so called profess
SIGNALS misplay the game, and the club
officials cannot secure the class of players
which their patrons demand. If the day
ever comes when good, steady reliable and
competent players are plentiful, then we
shall see the present number Of clubs dou-
bled and the enthusiasm at fever heat
throughout the Union.
Barring accidents, the Baltimore and
Cleveland clubs will come out one, two in
the League race, and with no large margin
between them. 1t is neither clubs race
yet, though the present champions have
the advantage. Remember the old saw,
Baseball is mighty uncertain
Meanwhile there will be great scram-
BILE among u few Of the less fortunate
League clubs to get into the first division
or keep out of the second That seems to
be the dividing line between honor and
| dishoEor 1t looks as if Cincinnati were
| almost sure of ninth place, for betwixt
| ninth and tenth positions there is "a gulf
almost as wide as that which separated
the rich man from Lazarus after the books
were balanced. New York and Chicago
have hopes of crossing the divide ard mar
shaling with the hosts Of honor, whereas
the Bostons, Pittsburgs and Philadelphias
| are casting fearful chances over their shout
ders at the painting warriors on their trails.
Pittsburg and Boston are not meeting
| with that success from their teams which
| they hoped for.
The Baltimores' string of II straight
Victories is the consecutive game record OF
the year. 1t is all the more cre,litablc be
cause it was made against such clubs as