Evening star., 1896-02-15

greatest confidence in himself. Young.
Cuppy. Rrsie and Nichols. the acknowl- |
edged les ders Of the league pitchers, be-
lieve themselves to be ipvincible They go |
into a game feeling that they can pitch |
out victory and the battle is half won. |
Burkett led the league in batting by rea-
son of being confident In his ability to make
a base hit at every try. Hamilton was the
leading base rum er, as he believed that
no catcher could atch him mapping more
than one try out of five. And the Balti-
more and Cleveland clubs stood at the top
of the heap by reason of confidence to do
so and faith in the playir G ability Of every
member of the teams collectively. This feel
ing has everything to do in winning games.
The Washington team last season frequently
gave display of the white feather which
was noticeable to almost every spectator
on the grounds. Capt. Joyce is far from
being a gutter" and If he can get the
other players to back up his pugnacious
style many more games will come WASH
ington's way.
Second Baseman McPhee of the Cincin-
natis has just signed contract for next
season, which will make his fifteenth yeac
in that city. McPhee Is a striking refuta-
tion of the assertion that player can re-
main too long in one city. The exception
ally good ball that this player has put up
season in and season out for the Cincin-
mats is remarkable and illustrates what
player can do who takes care of himself
and "eally loves the game. In a recent in
tervew upon the different base ball
grounds in the country, McPhee said:
After you have made the round Of the
differe mt parks few times you will find
that you can play your position on one
ground Just about as well as you can on
another. have no particular favorite
park TO play in, but the National Park In
Washington probably presents more handi-
caps for second baSemen than any other
in the country. There the games are not
called until very late in the afternoon, and
a Chi IN, f1@ Ioc0 oeV,'c
and center felder's eyes. Along about the
fourth inning, when the sun begins to ap-
proach the horizon, the second bascman
plays looking right in the sun. Then it is
impossible to line ball thrown by
the catcher without shading your eyes
with one hand 1t is quite a handicap"
The signing of so many young players by
the major league clubs has created such a
scarcity that the minor league clubs are
finding it hard to fill up their teams salts
faetorily.. Two or three of the Western
League teams are coming down the stretch
with the 3isagreeable fact staring them in
the face that ball players are not as COM
mon as they thought. Plenty of untried
youngsters have been signed, but they are
mainly experimental What these teams
need are two or three steady players, who
can hoid the team up while the experiments
are being worked out. Plenty of room re-
mains in base ball circles for any young
man with plenty Of strength, a well-bal-
anced head and a disposition to behave
himself. He VIII not have to look far for
employment that is anything but burden
some. The different amateur leagues
throughout the country have proved TO be
great developers OF young blood and who
can tell but that the contemplated city
league may have a string of half dozen
young men who will enter the minor leagues
next scascn
Milwaukee has a new pitcher by the name
of Wanamlker, AMI Columbus will have as
a first Sassman Breckinridge. If the other
Western League cities expect to be in the
swim, they will have to look up players
with celebrated names. Breckenridge, by
the way, had sorry time OF it two years
age, when he was in the Eastern League.
Every time he went to the bat some bleach
erte would ask him. where is AIadelne?"
Mauager Barnie, in speaking recently of
how Doyle would be treated in Baltimore
said 81 think l am in position to say how
the Baltimore people will receive Doyle.
lou remember Curt We.ch? Before he came
with Baltimore his appearance on Balt-
more diamond was enough to create a riot;
but when he Wore the Oriole colors it was
different. and the crowd forgot all his
transgress.Ons against them, and shouted
his praises when he used the same tactics
against visiting teams. Doylas case is iden-
teal. | think the people of Baltimore are
peculiar in that matter. In base ball they
are intensely partisan. and that is what
makes it such a good bail town. When
Doyle puts on one of the Baltimore uni
for him as for anybody else.
Base Ball briefs.
Mercer had only the chicken pox.
Breitenstein expects to make three times
| as much money at Chester. ILL.,. as he would
make with st. Louis next season.
Ed. Cartwright took a hand in a deer
.-Int recently, and managed to bring down
| one of the antiered creatures. He is now
gone IN a two weeks ducking trip.
Jimmy Long, a Louisville player, who
goes to Atlanta next season. has Joined
church. There ARE others who would dc
| We'll to follow his lead.
Chris. Won der Abe says he will devote
| his attention to the national game rex'
season as "assiduously Of yore." Chris
| can't say that word and as for devoting
| time-Annie. bar the door.
| President Young now says that the silver
| souvenirs to be issued by the league will bt
limited to ten for each club. The other fif
| teen will be ordinary pasteboard. The
| league was getting too liberal.
Catcher Eddie Mcfarland of Cleveland l.
| satisfied to play on the St. Louis team. H
| asked Pat Tebeau's opinion, and the latte
told rim that Chris. Won der Abe is goot
man to work for, providing player be
haVes
Joe Sullivan of the Philadelphia club, o,
looking over his contract, found that tax
| ing one drink of musty axe during the sea
son would cost him 800. Sullivan doesn'
| like the new style contract, and may no
| sign 1t.
Handsome Dad Clarke has sent back tn
| check for 800 sent him by Nose Freedman
Dad had asked for $500 advance money
and feels sore at not getting it. He'll hav
to wait until pay day now before he cal
draw any part of his salary.
President Frank Robson of Cleveland ha
openel win er book, and there is chanc
at hand for Ned Hanlon and the rest of tn
easterners. Mr. Robson will bet 81
against 800 or 800 against $1,000 tha
| Cleveland will win the pennant.
| Secretary J. Howard Robson has re
ceived letter from the manager of tn
grounds at Hot Springs, which states tina
the town is already base ball crazy. an
the arrival of the Spiders is awaited wit
impa paper. The poke
Players want a chance at Patsy and Nc
| A'eer.
Manager Gus Schmelz of the Washingto
| club is in st. Louis. Mr.. Schmelz is conf
| dent that his Senators will be away u
next year He spent Tuesday talking t
Jack Crooks, Billy Joyce and AL. Selbacf
the members of his team who are also res
dents of st. Louis.-St. Louis Exchange.
Burt" Dasher has registered two bet
with Mr.; Freedman. One was $4OO to SO
that the Baltimores will beat the Giant
in the 1896 race, the other was 500 suit c