The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-21

j. BENTLEY SEYMOUR.
and 20 per cent will ''give it up That
makes just 90 per cent of wisdom to 80 per
cent of misguided enthusiasm.
Baltimoro's team has the call because it
has won it for the last two years. A cham
pion is always prime favorite for the next
event. Besides, the team from Maryland's
metropolis is acknowledged to be one of
the best ever got together. And yet that
old but oft proved proverb that baseball
is mighty uncertain causes the wise man
to give it up"
Accidents and sickness have a great deal
to do with the winning or losing of base
ball championship Ill luck usually comes
in bunch and carries all before it on the
diamond. That fact is the first one which
must be faced while trying to pick a win
ner.
With the exception of the Baltinores
and the Clevelands, most of the other
strong teams have been materially changed
since last season, and the two teams just
named finished heads apart with a nip and
tuck race down the home stretch. One
would naturally argue that it should once
more be close contest between them.
But there are others. The Bostons, Phil
adelphias, New Yorks, Chicagos, Pitts
burgs, Brooklyns, Cineinnatis and Louis
villes will begin the season. stronger than
they were last spriDg-how much stronger
in each instance it is hard to say. The va
rious trades of players last winter were
wisely made, and in several instances, es-
pecially the exchange of Nash for Hamil-
ton and Doyle fer Gleason, each club in
the deal was benefited by getting player
exactly fitting into its nine at weak
place. The Philadelphias for some years
have needed an infeld captain. They get
one in Nash. The Bostons needed hard
hitting outfel6er to replace Mccarthy, and
they get him in Hamilton.
BaItinore's nine suffered last year on
account of their weak hitting first base
man. So they wanted Doyle, and they got
him. New York had two other good first
basemen, but needed a second baseman,
which they got in Gleason.
The Boston team last season were torn
asunder by dissensions. The result was
the same as has always followed team
wrangling. So Mccarthy was released to
Brooklyn, Nash was exchanged for Ham
ilton, and Tenny replaces Tucker at first
base. The cause of much of last years
slump being removed, Boston is once more
looked upon with much favor by pennant
pickers.
That same old cry has already gone up,
"Look out for the Phillies!' 1t has been
shouted annually for the last ten years.
We've looked out, and that's all the good
it did US. Those Phillies have habit of
flashing to the front at some time every
season, and then, just as one is preparing
to hail them champions, the breeching
breaks, the end gate comes out of their
cart, their hold slips, and the cry to ''Look
out for the Phillies!'' comes from the clubs
in their rear.
The club has always been weak in
pitching. 1t has the greatest collection of
batters seen on enc nine since the days of
the famous Detroit slugsers, but they re
lost in the box. If they batted out Is runs,
their opponents weaker batsmen, would
pound for 30. They expect material aid
this year from Orth and Inks. If they get
it, then we'n shout again, ''Look out for
the Philliesi''
With Meekin and Rusie at their best
the New Yorks gave the Baltimores a
close race in 1894. Last year Rusie had an
off season and Meekin was disabled most
of the time. The team missed Ward at sec
ond, ana the result was altogether disas-
trous. Meekin has recovered; Rusie thinks
he is once more in form; the team will
have the veteran Pfeffer at second and,
with the help of Gleason and several prom
Using young stars, the club hopes to be
Cup among the leaders, most of the year.
Pittsburg has secured strength by the
acquisition of Ely. Brooklyn certainly
gains in Mccarthy, and seems to have sew
eral young players of promise, while Gin
cinnati and Louisville should show added
strength over last year.
Last but not least there is the Bismarck
of baseball, Adrian Cathode Arson, and
his colts. The old gentleman's claim Of
the pennant is perennial and annual He
has issued it unusually early this year.
The funny part of it is that he is earnest,
sincere. This baseball philosopher argues
that the only reason he did not win last
year was on account of a failure of his
pitchers. 1t may be true too. This year he
thinks he has found the missing ingredi-
ents to his oriental optical pennant team
in young Friend and Dolan, two pronis-
ing young pitchers, and he is making
enough bets of suits, hats and dollars to
either make his fortune, if he wins, or
beggar him, if he loses.
An unknown quantity lies in the go or
more new players brought up from the
minor leagues. There may be a few genu-
Inc prizes among the lot, and their work
in the south will be closely watched.
The youngest of them all is J. Bentley
Seymour one of the Now York pitchers.
He has just passed his eighteenth year.
| Though 3 boy in age he is a man in stat