Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-10
MccLosKEY CALLED DOWN.
Louisvilie's Manager Charged With Tam pering With Two MontgomerY Players.


 Louisville's Manager Charged With Tam
 pering With Two Montgomery Players.
 Montgomery, June 3.-(Special Corre- spondence Sporting News.>-The closing game in Atlanta of the Atlanta-Mont- gomery series marked the termination of a disastrous trip for Hayes men. Al ter three weeks absence the boys re- turned home with a credit of four out Of the eighteen games played while abroad. Not much of a showing this, and cer- tainly not one calculated to nourish our hopes for an early leadership in the pen nant race. But it appears that Mont gomery fared no worse in the way ot losses than the other visiting teams, all of whom seem to have been followed by some evil genius that dispensed mistor- tune with free and open hand. Now that we have them at home for five se- ries we shall expect from the club some thing better than unVarying defeat, which has gradually crowded Montgom- cry from among the leaders into that dreaded voiI of nothinGness lneleSantly styled 'tail end position" Men of the mould and playing abilities that distln- guish the players of the Montgomery team do not properly belong outside the first division and I am willing to stake my judgment on what constitutes gooo ball players on the prediction that the seasons close will find them far away
 
 der.
 There is little profit to be derived in recalling unfortunate incidents unless IL be to prevent a repetition Of thelr oc- currence, and it is in this spirit that l must refer to an experience of the Mont gomery teams trip abroad, that relates to dscreditable performance of Mana ger McCloskey of the Louisville Nation al league team. It involves conduct un- worthy of manager of that great league, or of any league as for that. and suggests the necessity for some one who may be chartably inclined to in- struct Mr. McCloskey in the proprieties of professional baseball. It is alleged that this titled functionary who man ages the rear end of the National league pennant race, has been covertly dicker- ing with two members of the Montgom- cry team with a view of obtaining their services for his own ill-fated company MT. McCloskey himself admits in com munication to President Jones of the Montgomery Baseball club that he has been guilty of the act of treating direct ly with two of Hayes men for their re- lease, without even an intimation of his business to President Jones or Manager Hayes. Now, no one certainly reproach- es MT. McCloskey for his laudable desire to improve his crowd of tail enders; no one questions their easy susceptibility to improvement; no one doubts the inn mediate need of this improvement; it is quite another thing. however, to secure it at the expense of a decent regard of those obserVances for which minor leagues annually pay Mr Nick Young handsome stipend to have preserved, and if such practices as that of which the Louisville manager stands self-convicted are to be tolerated with impunity, in reasons name what kind of protection" are we paying for, anyhow? What is better calculated to destroy the useful nf OH 1oll tn h jc comparatively humble company than a wrongful temptation of companiOnship with the stars of the profession? MT. McCloskey, standing in dire need of such players as Clausen and Peoples knows perfectly well that there are es- tablshed rules that govern procedure in such eases, and he knows equally well that he has Shamcfully violated those rules; he knows further or should know that he ought to be held accountable for their wanton infraction. Such sinister work as this is calculated to inspire the lovers of clean ball with disgust and to excite alarm for the ultimate fate of the national game. Il remains to be add ed that neither Clausen or Peoples have degenerated into that demo alization that would have been natural and even par donable under the circumstances. If they escape the ordeal untainted and un- singed, the high estimate in which they are held by Montgomery may justly be enhanced.
 McCauley, the new man signed to suc- ceed Joe Peitz on first, has not accom- plished much in the few games he has played. His hits have been few and most far between to excite very warm admiration for his batting prowess, though it must be confessed in other particulars he seems to line up all right It may be that his eye is temporarily off the ball, and his hitting streak not yet fully developed We shall see if it is this or merely case of can't. Mcfarland has been playing short during the tenn porary disability of Peoples. Kid was hurt ia recent game and had to lay up awhile to round to. He is missed from his place, but Mcfarland is filling the void there in a highly creditaAe manner Rappold is another victim to accident, and as consequence he failed to figure in few of the games abroad. He his not yet fully recovered the use of his injured hand, but has managed some how or other to play a brilliant center field. the territory temporarily assigned him. Kehoe, our change catcher, in the meantime has been filling Rap's place be- hind the bat and his service there has been excellent. Kehoe is rapidly earn ing the distinction of being the best bat ter on the team, and is withal a No. man. Rappold and Kehoe constitute a pair of catchers that any team should be proud of. Morrison is not a pitcher Tommie, I doubt not, is capable of doing the twirling act, if exigency should re- quire it, but just now he is making a rep utation for himself and the Montgomery team as a star third baseman. If he isn't a future McGraw then I would not know one if I should meet him in the road.
 As far as have been able to determine, MT. Nicklin has selected about as pro- nounced a set of incompetents for um- pires for the Southern league this season as was ever before known. Complaint against them seems to be general. and from the two sent here I am prepared to say dissatisfaction is we'll grounded. It does seem that with the experience of the past as guide on this subject that some body has badly blundered in their esti-