Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-09
THE LEAGUE MEETING
Coming Annual Convention of the
Base Ball Magnates.
QUESTIONS THAT WILL COME UP
Deals on Foot to Strengthen the
Washingtons.
CHI ANGES IN THE RULES

Next week the base ball cranks from all
parts of the country will march upon the
city of New York to be in attendance at
the annual meeting of the league. Only the
representatives of the parent organization
are admitted to the sacred precincts of the
council chamber. but the corridors of the
Fifth Avenue Hotel will swarm with man.
ayers, players. applicants for position on
the staff Of umpires and the 'rooters" and
self-constituted guardians of the national
game. All of the leading newspapers of
the country interested in the game will
have special correspondents on duty to
record the proceedings of the meeting and
to ventilate the various deals and trans
fers to be suggested. 1t Is understood that
a number of important negotiations for the
transfer of players are pending between
Washington and Baltimore. Philadelphia
and New York, Philadelphia and Boston.
Pittsburg and New York and Boston, all of
which are calculated to strengthen the sew
eral teams interested. The exact nature Of
the deals cannot be mentioned now with
cut violation of confidence.
At league headquarters all the prepara-
tions for the annual meeting are completed
and President Young has his records In ex-
cellent shape for the inspection of his col
leagues. The contested game between
Pittsburg and Baltimore cut no figure in
the final struggle for the pennant, so 1t is
probable that the protest will not be press
ed by the Pittsburg club.
There are several difficult problems for
the national board to pass upon. involving
controversies between clubs In the South
ern and Western leagues. growing out of
the transfer and exchange of players. OF
course there will be considerable talk over
the umpire question, and the proposition to
prohibit coaching will come up for consid-
GRAFTON. 1t is usual at the meetings of the
league for the magnates to solemnly de-
clare that they will sustain the umpires
through thick and thin. but when the game
begins it is natural for the representative
Of each club to want the best of the UNI
piring. and IL his club does not get 1t the
umpire suffers the consequence.
''Uncle Nick" says kicking against the
umpiI es will not cease until human nature
undergoes a decided change. Last season
he was handicapped at the start by the re-
fusal of majority of the magnates to ap-
prove the selection of Tim Hurst, who Is
regarded as one of the best umpires in the
business. Then Lynch was practically
forced out of the league by the action of
the New York club. so that the staff of
umpires was reduced to two experienced
men-Emslie and Keefe-Before the season
was a week old. The balance of the season
was spent In experimenting with umpires.
The advocates of an abolition of the Tenn
pie cup contest are apt to be thrown down
at the annual meeting. for 1t is understood
that good working majority Of the mag
mates are favorably disposed to the Temple
cup series. ."tiRcle Nick" says there Is no
good reason why the cup series should be
abolished There Is a good snug sum of
money in the contest for the individual
players Of the competing teams. and 1t Of
fers an incentive for all the clubs to strug
gle for first or second place right up to
the finish. The race for second place last
season was not decided until within a week
Of the finish. Indeed. the position Of first
under the wire was in doubt right up to
the close of the season.
t. u, n1,,1He,
produce greater uncertainty as to the
standing of the respective teams, conse-
quently. even II one Of the clubs should
take commanding lead for first place.
there would be still an incentive for the
Other clubs to work for second.
There is some valuable material for the
base ball historian to be found in the three
large packing boxes and small casket
that arrived at league headquarters a few
days ago, in accordance with the terms Of
the will of the late Harry Wright. The
veteran. it appears. kept the records of all
the base ball and cricket matches. and the
data be airing upon those two kinds Of sport,
for period running back into the fiftfes.
He also preserved all the trinkets and
souvenirs given him during his connection
with outdoor sports, which. together with
the records, he willed to the league, for
such disposition as may be deemed proper.
The boxes were received by "Uncle Nicik''
and his curiosity tempted him to open
them. The first box contained base ball
scrap books, base ball guides, newspaper
clippings and numerous score books. The
second box contained photographs Of noted
ball and cricket players, together with
other data Of interest to the lovers of the
national game.
In taking the lid off of the second box,
the first picture that came to view was
that of Charlie Gould, the veteran first
basernan Of the old Cincin natl Red Stock
ing team, that made such a sensation
throughout the country by its long string
nj hnf no cd
of Asa Brainard, pitcher: Dug Allison,
catcher; Charlie Gould, first base; Sweasy,
second base; Fred. Waterman, third base;
George Wright, short stop; Andy Leonard,
Harry Wright and Cal. McVey, in the out
field. That was long time ago. yet 1t
seems but recently that the Red Stockings
crossed bats with the old Nationals on the
White Lot, south of the Presidents house.
ing meeting to make appropriate DISPOSE
ton of the documents so fondly treasured
by the lamented Harry Wright.
Since the season closed there has been a
quiet movement on the part of certain mag
mates or managers to work a change in
the pitching rules, calculated to improve
the effectiveness of several pitchers.
Uncle Nick" says he has heard nothing
OF such a scheme. and. moreover. he does
not think any such proposition will receive
the sanction of the league.
why" said he, Il contend that batting,
which is the prettiest feature in game
Of base ball, has been improved and shows
greater development than all the other
branches of the sport combined, owing to
the limitations placed upon the pitchers
For years the pitchers had the batsmen at
their mercy and the games were not near
as interesting as they are now. Look at
the batting averages for the past season
Over seventy-flve players made an aver
age of 300 and nearly one hundred reach
percentage of $50. No. 1 do not believe
it would be wise to change the pitching
rules. Just now the batsInan has little
the better of the pitcher, and it will be well
to keep it So With the prospects for free
hitting the uncertainty of the game grows
That was demonstrated here last season,
when the pitcher OF an opposing club, who
struck out almost every time he went to
bat, knocked out q home run when three
men were on bases, and won his game