The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-09

1AlthIh hGNNEbi VT lAiE hlsbOhLl
pcrate and easily controlled. The rule ap-
plies TO Kennedy and Young with especial
force. When either is ont OF pitching kel-
ter, his club knows that the reason does
not lie In want OF proper self care,
The farm, however, has furnished com
paratively few great ball players compared
to those who hailed from the towns and
villages. The reason is plain. Farm boys
have fewer chances 90 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 Arson, Meekin,
Kelly, Ward, Thompson, Tiernan Davis,
Farrell Lachance, Bennett, Langc Young,
Kennedy, Bcckley and dozens of other
players worked their way into the profess
sion. Now hold that farm brod boy, as
rule, should make 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 devel-
oped. Early hours and an abstinence from
delicacies give him better eyes, ahd his
whole manner Of life fits him for an ath-
letic 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-
ture, whereon, by 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 a
gamo every week and their relatives and
frlends were present TO enjoy the sport. IL
this custom prevailed many a Rusie, An
son, Young, Ewing Kelly, Nash, Mona.
hon and Burkett would in time be called
from III paying farm work at SO month
10 engagements on the ballfleld at not
loss than 800 n month. And il they bo-
came stars Of the first magnitude, like
kennedy, Young or Rusie, IL would be a
Jump or from $40 month to that much "a
day. Many q son would pay of the farm
mortgage with one years salary.
Beyond the monetary consideration tho
transition OF boys life from the farm TO
the National league diamond II like the
rise from the ranks TO major generalship
in the army. He spends his summer in l2
of the largest cities of the Union; travels
10000 miles with all the luxuries of Pull
man cars; lives without expense at the
best hotels; has his name in the mouths of
multitudes over the length and breadth Of
tho land, and finds the doors of 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 nnost farm in his native county ~
wish the baseball ranks could be recruit
ed from the agricultural districts. IL
would be the remedy TO crush out drunk
enness and rowdyism from the profession.
Let no one make the mistake that the
baseball market can be oyersupplied.
There is never a surfeit Of A No. l play
ers. Dozens OF clubs close their gates year
~ because the public will not pay To sec
indlnerent, incompetent SO called profos-
slohais 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
shali see tho present number Of clubs dou-
DIED ana 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
tho advantage. Remember tho old saw,
Baseball Is mighty uncertain.
Meanwhile there will DO a great scram- |
bic among 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 |
ilshonor. II looks rs II Cincinnati wcrc
almost sure OF ninth place, for betwixt
ninth and tenth positions there Is gulf |
almost as wide as that which separated
the rich man from Lazarus after the books