The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-19

PITCHER PAYNE or TIE BROoKLYNs.
absence from their system Of any excessive
amount Of spirituous or malt liquors-not
that all ball players are abstainers by prin-
ciple, but rather that they are nearly tee
| totalers during the playing season by rea-
son of club discipline. The agency which
liquor excrts In prostration by heat is well
shown by the instances where several ex-
players turned umpires, have been unable
To stand still in the sun while performing
their duties without being overcome,
whereas they had as ball players in former
years defled the same temperature and at
the samo time excrted themselves violently.
In each of these cases the umpire was a
drinking man who when ball player
had been deprived by club discipline of the
use OF stimulants.
The ball players dress invites the blight
ing effects of torrid sun His uniform is
not only wooden, but part of 1t is often
thick with quilted pads. On his head he
wears wool cap devoid of any ventilation.
He drinks ice water freely and almost in
cessantly-a practice against which all
men are warned during the dangerous
spells of sun heat, yet hc seems To be free
from the dangers which i'm such times af-
feet the general public. Perhaps the bath
has something TO do with this peculiar cx-
emption, for he belongs to the only class
can think of which resorts To the bath cv-
cry day as soon as the days work is done
Perhaps the timing of the bath may have
something to do with bringing about this
immunity from sunstroke.
The invasion by the National league Of
tho minor league ranks in the search for
new stars of the first magnitude this season
will not be altogether in vain. At this
time il looks as If the Brooklyn club had
secured the greatest flnd"-h imported,
or raised up, the most valuable player Of
all those who this year made National
league debuts. / refer to Payne, the left
handed pitcher who recently disposed of
the champion Baltimores with two hits in
nine innings. 1t Is not his work in that
single game which marks him as one Of
tho most pronounced successes of the year.
but all his service for the Brooklyn club
stamp him as n pitcher who has taken
place in the front rank of his profession
and who means To stay there.
Payne possesses nearly every element
which makes pitchers powerful. Principal
of these is control. For left handed man
believe no never had "A superior as master
OF tho ball, not even In tho renowned old
timcrs--John Richmond, Lady" Bald
win or Tom Ramsey. He gives very fow
bases on balls aud does not hesitate TO
"put il over when batsman plays the
waiting game. He is also master of him
self Gt all times. Errors do not discourage
him. He never gives up his game He is
not inclined TO "rattles," and when the
situation is the grayest he works hardest
and with the most care. But his splendid
control Is the biggest element Of his sIc
cess With left handed pitchers that is
rare gift. Breitensteins lack of il Is his
one vulnerable point. IL certainly looks as
II Payne IL destined to take place at the
very head of the pitching stars OF Eho Ma
tional league.
Besides Payne, the Brooklyns have pro-
ducod another star in Fielding Jones,
whose batting has been watched with adj
miration everywhere. In five cases out Of
six young players who como from minor
leagues 10 tho major body with great bat
ting records do not keep il up I'm the faster
company. Young Jones, however, has not
only kept IL up I'm the big I.enguc, but
shows that DO is improving all the time,
and that his fun development Is "a thing If
the futuro In the latest unofficial ayor-
ages computed be stands thirteenth in the
list, almost on level with mon like Ham
ilton, McKcon, Stencil, Lange and Tier
nan. De Moutruvillc of the Washington
clulfis another youngstcr who has Jumped
from nOwbcrc TO the very front within a
year Hc has outhattcd men of the Doyle,
Lyons, Griffin, Davis caiibor and has done
some phenomenal work nt short field.
Though the men of the Payne Jones, De
Montrcyillc stamp are few i'm this years
crop OF young blood clubs arr not dis
coura,cd in this washing for gold, az IL
proved by The Clcycland clubs recent ppr.
chase Of McAllistcr and fellow player
from tho Fort Worth club anu OF tho Phil.
adclphia clab's raid on tho New England
league
In poirt ~ Cvcitcmcnt the National
league chlupiouship race this season Is u
Disappointment Tho finish promises 10 be
what is called on tho race track q sprrad
eagle Geld" with the Baltimore lcal.
ING and huvin tlcir 1nirh ot home thcy
look like easy winners. Cincinnati ani
Cleveland lose whaieyer chance. thoy might
have on even terms ~ heating baltimore
oIu W lrinz compelled at che same timc
o. chose The hattie nn Tho march. for this
rek,tiNe'odVa ntagoafIl dlsadvantcgo of the
home und visiting tcUps isalmost as rrclt
a. that which affects cOutcndiug srmics
intrspchctl aand tls0so which aesault the
fortined AhstS prohSsly the drly excite
nent in this year finish will center i'm the
rgufYaf I,fst..as, fl.r Ifr.I- neil o..A ll.xa.