The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-01

nan6 race. What 1 intend to do IS to give
probabilities Of team strength based upon
the form of each nine as it appears at this
early stage IN the race.
There is. besides luck and accidents,
another material feature governing the
playing of every team-namely, confidence
and lack of confidence. There is 10 better
illustration of the operation of these ele-
Iaents of strength and weakness than is
found in the Baltimore and Philadelphia
teams. Confidence pervades the ranks of
the Baltimores to such an extent that the
dullest mind among the spectators must
recognize it. On the contrary, the Phillies
are notorious 'weakeners." One or two
defeats take away from them every grain
of self reliance, and they are whipped be-
fore they 60 upon the field
The old Chicago team, in which Arson,
Kelley, Williamson, Flint, Burns, Gore,
DalrympIe and Corcoran we're stars, proba-
bly, possessed the virtue of confidence in
larger degree than any team that ever
played ball. A defeat or two never de-
pressed them They looked upon a lost
game more as a freak than as an evidence
Of their inferjority as a nine Then there
was the Boston team of q few years ago.
They too, came in for fair share of self
assurance to help along each season. But
the present team does not seem to possess
as much of the leavon of faith as did the
teams of 1892 and 1898. am inclined to
believe that Nash and Mccarthy took
away the major part of Boston S confidence
when they went to other clubs.
The Baltimores believe in themselves
as a team. When they lose, it appears to
them to be 6uke. When they win, 1t
seems to be but the natural result OF their
superiority. This egotisn-if one may call
it that-causes the players on the nine to
make wonderful plays and attempts which
other ninos would consider foolhardy. In
a recent game at Chicago between the Bal
tirnores and Anson's men a crisis seemed
to have arisen in the contest. The bases
were full of Colts, with none out Ryan
sent up a foul fy opposite third base. The
rooters drew 8 sigh of relief when they
saw that the ball would fall ten feet back
among tho spcctat tors A moment later
this sigh of relief was replaced by muir
murs of surprise when jennings jumped
into the spectators midst and caught the
ball over their heads. The man on third
made a dash for home, but jennings cut
him of by a splendid throw In few
moments the Chicagos smell Of victory
was turned into the odOr OF defeat, for the
next man went out and no runs crossed
the plate. That was confidence. In ninety
nine cases cat Of a hundred the fielder
would have stopped on the edge of the hos
tile crowd ana let the ball fall. The result
would likely have been defeat.
To have this confidence a team must be
well supplied with effective pitchers. A
knowledge that the opponents will not be
allowed to malze many runs gives assur-
ance that the runs which are made can be
offset. Tt was the New YOrks' strong
pitching form in 1894 which sent them to
the trent so rapidly. The CleYelands last
year profted in the same gay This year
4 Cleveland, Baltimore, Cincinnati and BOs-
ton appear 20 DO the best supplied with
successful pitchers, and they should keep
we'll up IN the front SO long as their pitch
ers retain the present form. Philadelphia,
+ New York and Brooklyn are weak ''in the
box p and the handicap has a losing ap-
/ pearance.
For three years the PhiIadelphias have
been trying to strengthen this fatal weak
ness. Money cannot do it. From 50. 600
to $40, 600 is ready to be paid for a pitcher
+ like Nichols, Clarke, Young, Breitenstein
OF Mercer. Philadelphia, New York or
I Brooklyn would psy it. The article is not
/ in the market. As I said before first class
/ pitchers are rarar than royal rubies- Base
4 ball pitchers Of the first magnitude are
+ born, not made.
Meanwhile there are few youngsters
+ who promise we'll Cleveland has two in
! Wilson ard Wallace Baltimore has one in
I Pond. New York has one IN Doheny, Pitts
burg has one in Hughey, Louisville has
two in Hill and MoCreary and Boston has
another in Names. But not one Of them,
excepting perhaps Wallace, has been su6i-
/ GENTLY tested to be placed permanently
among the class Al pitchers
The evenly matched race among seven
OF eight Of the clubs gives the National
league race q very widespread interest, and
the large crowds that have witnessed re-
cam games ~ me west testify ts the grow
| ing hold the Sport mas upon the people
/ Many professions have been made that
/ bicycling would iniurs baseball this year
There is as yet ne evidence that the proPhe-
/ o. was well founded
The Boons OF operations has now changed