St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-26
N0RTHwEsT CHAMPIONS.
EEFaEs7 Ella borates on Al Matter of
Widespread Interest.
no lac editor of the Glohe:

To the Editor of the Globe:
My innocent inquiry of a few days
ago relative to the status of the num-
erous claimants to the amateur cham
p1onShlp Of Minnesota and the North
west has evidently been misunderstood
by some of my fellow fans, notably by
one from St. Peter, who takes occasion
In your Sunday issue to call my at
tentlon to the fact that his team shut
out Chaska July 4 on neutral grounds.
His ire was undoubtedly excited by
my statement that the n. p. r. R.
CLUB and the St. Peters have no claim
Whatever dGa to the championship. This
does seem to be a rather summary
method OF dlSpoSing of the claim of
the st. Peter club, but l assure them
that no slight was intended and it was
not my object to cast any reflection
upon either of the teams mentioned.
il my brother Saint will carefully per-
use the article in question he may OBJ
serve that the only clubs [ credited
with a valid claim to championship
honorS were the Hammond, Wis. club
and the Spaldings, of st. Paul, so that
among the clubs mentioned he is not
the only one who might have occasion
to dispute the correctness of my opin-
IONS. He will also observe that the
aforesaid article was simply an in
qulry as to what club had the right
to style itself champion" supple
mented by few facts and figures and
by your humble servants opinion in
the premises.
1 was, aware of the fact that st.
Peter PLAYED horse with Chaska at
Henderson July 1, but / also had a
dIm idea that they were beaten by
and BY Brainerd July II by "a score of
4 to 3. In view of these facts 1 do not
see how the ST. Peter club can claim
the amateur pennant.
., think it will be in order for me to
explain upon what grounds 1 based my
opinion that the Hammond club and
the SpaldingS are entitled to the
championship of the Northwest and
OF Minnesota. 1t would be difficult. if
not impossible to arrange any series
amongst the pennant Chalmers of the
Northwest. The distance lin miles, be-
tween the different clubs, the expense
OF travelling on any amateur circuit
and the inability of most of the play
erS TO secure more than one day in
the week on which to indulge in the
national game would bar all the best
clubs from competition. This being the
case, II seems to me that the only
be that used in all other sports, for
instance, in pugilistic circles excuse
me comparison, o ye amateur ball
ne tie r;o When a pug defeats the
sumes the title and holds it until de-
feated or bluffed
Now, to the best of my knowledge
and belief the Brainerd club, at the
Oiit u last SEASON., was the 2CknOWl-
edged king high kicker of the amateur
push and entitled to the championship
of the Northwest. This they claimed
and held until beaten June q and %
OF this year by the Spaldings of st.
Paul, who We're defeated by the Ham
mond, Wis, club July IS. This en-
titled the latter to the championship
OF the Northwest but left the Spaldings
sun entitled to the state championship.
And although many fans will differ
OI1iniOn a
TINS IS the only decision that can be
reached. And now / wish to make a
suggestion. There are many claimants
for amateur honors in ST. Paul and
neglected to mention. l do not Know of
any Minneapolis clubs strong enough
70 make showing in this respect, but
IL tnere are any ambitious Mill City
known. ~
The Spaldings, Picketts and the
Minnesota Packing and Provision com
pany's club. of st. Paul the Rosemount
Iuth, Mankato: Shakopee, Chaska and
the Hammond and Superior, Wis,
teams are all strong amateur organi-
atoms. 1 would suggest that any or
gu OF these clubs who may take suf-
ticent interest in the game to do so
would send to the sporting editor of
the Globe list of the games thew
nave played this season, giving dates
and scores. Then let some of the bust
ness men who are interested in anna
teur. sport (the dealers in sporting
goods, for instance) give fancy bat,
gilt ball or a. pennant as an emblem
of the amateur base ball CHAMPIONSHIP
and award it to the club having the
best claim to it, they to defend the,
same against all comers This WonId-
certainly wake the boys up and re-
suit in a great increase of interest in
the amateur end of the greatest game
There is one other point to which I
would Ike to direct the attention of
some OF our St. Paul employers In
many OF the. smaller towns Sunday bali
is prohibited and the games are usual
y played on Saturdays. If the local
business men employing players be-
longing to any of the crack local mines
would take enough interest in the ma
tlonal game to let them off for cham
plonship games in any of these blue
law villages it would certainly be- an
prec1ated, and perhaps much more SO
than those gentlemen would believe.