The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-09

batsnen. Extraordinary Inducements have
been held cut this spring to Schoenhut of
the University of Pennsylvania team and
to Mahoney Of the Georgetown university
nine to make them members of the New
York or Philadelphia teams. In each in
stance q mothers objection to her son be-
coming a professional has intervened. Nc
Creary Of the Louisvilles is college man
who has become useful to the League in
other ways than as a pitcher He is what
Carter would have been had the latter
ever become professional, heavy bats
man and fine fielder.
And here I am reminded that Carter
could have commanded a salary of SO. 500
OF 1000 from more than one club for his
professional services had he sucCumhad to
the temptations which were shOwered upon
him by major league managers when re
was graduated from Yale. In the opinion
of all old League players Carter was one of
the greatest pitchers on the diamond. All
admitted his unqualified prowess in that
direction, and then he was additionally
valuable because he could bat with the
best of them and field almost any position
on the nine. But Dutch" would not let
a money consideration pull him away from
his ambition He wisely refused all base
ball offers and is now studying law in his
father Office ia Brooklyn.
There was Ham Avory, another cole
brated college pitcher who closed his ears
against the offers of professional clubs
when he left college. Now be is q lawyer
of independent practice at Cincinnati.
Stage is q third instance of a great college
pitcher who refused many offers to become
a professional. Ho turned his attention to
theological pursuits as soon as he was
graduated. There seems to be absolutely
no doubt in the minds of men like Arson,
Hanlon and Seele that these nen-C Garter,
Avery ana Stagg-would have been un-
qualiGedly successful in the National
league. Highlands might have been an
experiment, but neither of the "big
three" could have failed had he carried
his work into the higher professional
ranks. OF this year S college pitchers Eas-
ton has shown the most promise. but there
are no Carriers or Stages in the college
teams at present
The severe punishment which nearly
every star pitcher of the major league has
once OK oftcner received during the month
of May suggests that batting averages this
season VIII be much higher at the close of
the season than they were in 1885. The
i've foot added distance between the rub
Der and the box is beginning to tell.
Speed no longer aids pitcher. Ho must
use strategy, curves and change Of pace.
That puts pitchers like Clarke Rhines and
Nichols in a class by themselves and weak
ems the effectiveness of men like HaWley,
Taylor aEd Stivett7, who have depended
for the NEST part on their speed
Another recent development in baseball
is the apparent decadence Of left handed
pitchers. There may be a double reason
for this condition of things No doubt the
increased distance between the pitcher aud
the batsman has something to do with
lessening the left handlers powers but
there is probably among all the so called
south paws no John Richmond, Tom
Ramsey or Lady Baldwin Richmond
without doubt was the greatest left hand
ed pitcher that ever put a bah over the
plate, and his wonderful performance of
shutting the Chicago team out without
letting one batsman reach first base in
nine innings has never been duplicated
and probably never will be. Richmond
was an ideal athlete and a most Intelligent
young man. JIG lac could pitch the same
ball he pitched for the Woroesters, back in
the late seventies OF early eighties he could
command o salary Of Ga. coo year. Instead
Of that he is teaching school up in northern
Ohio for a competence ID uch less onticing
Ramsey Ruined his fame by excessive drink
ing and is making a precarious living at
hard work somewhere in Indiana 4 have
no knowledge of Baldwin's whereabouts
or occupation
Only Two of the big league teams hold
much terror ia the presence of left handed
Enthusiastically, the Phiiiies and the
Orioles. The former is particularly weak
before left handed pitchers. Some Of the
other teams which formerly farsd poorly
against the OF siders" have partly over
come the weakness, particularly the Cleve-
lands and the Washingtens-
The most prominent left handed pitch
ers in the major league this spring are
Friend Of Chicago, Dohonys Flynn and
Seymour q Now York, MGGiu Of Rhiladel-