The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-04
ROGER coNNoR.

on that plane Of unquestioned honesty
which has made baseball so strong and
popular with the American people. Only
once Ia a long time is there even "A charge
of dishonesty made against professional
baseball, and then IL is usually so frailly
founded that little attention is given TO
the accusation. Something Of this Kind
followed tho recent loss Of gnme in Phil
adclphia. When the Haltimores went TO
bat in the las. inning, the score was ID 20
3 against them, but they made 3 more
runs and won out Gost extraordinary
victory. Some historical supporters of the
Cincinnati clUb-BaltimCrc's only rival
threw ont hints that the Philadclphias had
presented the gamo 10 Baltimore TO help
bring the chanlr iorsAip east But an
analysis Of the game would not let such
charge stand for n minute. A club which
had u desire On au intention to lose n game
would not 70 about il by taking lead of
10 10 8 and keeping IL up to the last inning.
a game lost that way IL ten times moro
harmful in eject than one which is lost
from tho start or early in the game.
There arc thousands Of dollars at stake
whenever u horse race is run, and on some
races 500, 900 changes hands. Therefore
there Is n rich incentive for combinations,
"iobs" and crooked work SO much so
that stewards judges and jockey clubs are
kept constantly on the nlert 10 foil dishon-
est conspiracies. In baseball there Is no
such temptation. No opublic betting on the
game exists in any part of the country, aud
probably no other sport in the world Is so
free from private wagers among its sup
porters and patrons.
The season OF 1896 is near enough to its
end 20 put on record the fact that, in spite
of fears which bcset patrons OF the game
last spring, tho year has been cminently
successful IN baseball. The principal
leagues and associations have played out
their schedules or stand ready TO finish all
obligations during September The West
ern league probably stands at the head of
the minor leagues in point Of financial sue
cess The So. Paul club will come ont
with $4,000 profit, and probably the
Other clubs in the circuit, with one exccp-
tion will make money in less amounts.
The Western associations season has not
been so prosperous as iC was last year, and
the samo may 10 said OF the New England
league But tho Eastern league has mado
no backward step, while the new organ
ization, the Atlantic league Is an un.
qualified success.
An interesting study in tho national
game is the relative strength which certain
teams have against each other. The BAL
timorcs beat tho Cloyelands in the race last
year and will do &c this season with ease.
Yet Tcbcaus men have what is known as
lead pipe clnch" nearly oyerytime they
meet on tho diamond. In the IL games
played between the two teams this year tho
Clevelands won eight and tied one Ever
since Now York has had n club in the Ma
tional league it has been an easy prey for
the Philadolphus but it could always
whip Anson's Chicagos with ease and con
/. fldcncc. IL 81 said i'm Chicago that every
time the Colts went on the field against the
Now Norks when Rusic was Programmed
90 pitch thoy wcrc beaten hoforo the game
began. This year, with Rusic out of the
way, the Chic iVOs camu nearer than usual
in tying the lew York series. But Clarke
makes very Guod Rusie substitute against
Ansou's men.
With all cG his 80 years as handicap,
Anson Is ono OF the hardest men in the
profession fer a pitcher 60 strike out 1t Is
not anything unusual for the pitcher TO
secure two called strikes on the veteran
and work up tho spectators into suppliCa-
tions OF "S;rlkc him outf' an event which