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


livious to his surroundings while ofIiciat-
ing, and nearly al are swaycd, more or
less, in their desire TO give satisfaction to
capricious rootors in tho stands. In some
instances this umpire bias is 80 great that
1t becomes II severe handicap on the visit
ing nine. am sorry to say that President
Young hes several umpircs on his staff
who not only favor the rootcrs, but fear
them to such an extent that they will
strain their conscience In order to please
the often unreasonable demands of
"cranks" on the seats. These arc tho UNI
.pircs who In the end, fail TO give general
satisfaction and drop out of the profess
sion in a few months or o year at most
Tie success of Emslir Hurst and Lynch
has always been based upon their habit of
giving decisions exactly as they saw the
play, regardless OF the opinions or mum
bers of tho spectators.
There can bc no doubt that surrounding
sympathy also has much to do with u
mines playing. In some of the western
cities as we'll as in Philadelphia, Balti-
more and Washington, the roofing" for
the homo team is always intense and serves
not only to encourage and spur the local
players, but the iccrs derisivc shouts and
Outlines boots of the spectators aimed Mt
tho visitors effect the latter disastrously
Lastly q team on the road Is sure TO he
handicapped by their mode of living
Travelling long distances tires the players
out Change of food, and particularly Of
water, is liable to distress tho inner man
During the recent western trip dozens of
the visiting players were Weakened and
sofno wcrc Frustrated by the i'll effects of
river and lake water. Ball players, as Il
rule, drink winter excessively, and mixing
ones drinking water is us bad, if not
worse, than mixing ones drinks. If the
stomach is "out of keltcr,' the ego is af
fcctcd, and every player must have a good
eye to he effective in his business.
The New York and Boston teams have
tho least loyal crowds TO play to at home
Of any of all the League clubs Their
newspaper support is not so partisan ms is
that of the other clubs, and the attendance
on games is more cosmopolitan in its com
plcXion. Therefore the two teams which
represent those cities are moro or less han
dicnppcd thereby
Left handed pitchers in the National
league have not been such potent factors
in the rncc this season as they were once.
Brcltcnstcin maintains his right to be
called king of the left handlers, and Espcr
oil baltimore, L presume gets the place.
Espcr's success Is based on IL change Of
IstCt Ills Olu catcher, Charley Furrcll,
says Espcr IS the only left handler playing
ball to-day who can use u slow ball with a
deceptive movement of the arm. He has
stcadied down during the last year or two,
Which adds To lis worth. believe it was
his unrciahility In that respect which
caused thoP Philadelphia first and the Wash
ingtons next To dispense with his services
Just now he is u Very important man for
the Baltimore club.
The first serious break in the a and
j classes of the minor leagues comes
from the south. The Southern league,
as in previous years, shows signs OF
midsummer trouble This year, how
ever the clubs have held ont later than
usual, and there may be u finish TO the
championship by n depleted circuit The
clubs in tho southern circuit always start
OIL well, but some of them are sure to suf
Ter for want OF patronage before the mid
die of the season. who knows what good
timber the teams of the Southern league
C 1898 may turn outi The minor leagues
gave the Nationals such young stars this
year n Clarke of Louisville, Clark of New
York, Anderson Of Brooklyn. sullivan and
Dolan of Boston, Clarke, O Bricn and Col
Inns OF Louisvii,t, Tcbcau Ill of Clcvclauj,