The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-07

of unqueStioned honesty which has
made base ball SO strong and popular
with the American people Only once
in long time is there even charge
of dishonesty made against profession
al base ball, and then it is usually so
frailly founded that little attention is
given to the accusation. Something of
this kind followed the recent loss of a.
game in Philadelphia When the Bal
timores went to bat in the last inning.
the score was Is to s against them. but
they made eight more runs and won
out most extraordinary victory Some
hysterical supporters Of the Cincin-
natl club-Baltimore's only rival
threw out hints that the Philadelphias
had presented the game to Baltimore
to help bring the championship East.
But an analysis Of the game would not
let such charge stand for a minute.
A club which had desire or an inten-
ton to lose a game would not go about
1t by taking a lead Of Is to 8 and
Keeping it up to the last inning. A
game lost that way is ten times more
harmful In effect than one which is lost
from the start or early in the game
There are thousands Of dollars at
stake whenever a horse race is run. and
on some races $4,000 changes hands
Therefore there is a rich Incentive for
combinations, Jobs" and crooked
work, so much so that stewards. Judges
and jockey clubs are kept constantly
on the alert to foil dishonest consnir-
acies. In base bali there is no s1,ch
temptation. No public betting on the
game exists in any part of the coun-
try, and probably no other sport in
the world Is so free from private wag-
ers among it's supporters and patrons.
The season Of 1896 is near enough to
It's end to put on record the fact that
in spite of fears which beset patrons
of the game last spring, the year has
been eminently successful in base ball.
The principal leagues and associations
have played out their schedules or
stand ready to finish all obligations
during September. The Western league
probably stands at the head of the
minor leagues in. point of financial sue
cess. The ST. Paul club will come out
with $4,000 profit, and probably the
other clubs in the circuit with one ex-
ception, will make money in less
amounts. The Western associations
season has not been so prosperous as
it was last year, and the same may be
said Of the New England league. But
the Eastern league has made no back
ward step, while the new organization.
the Atlantic league, is an unqualified
success.
An interesting study in the national
game is the relative strength which
certain teams have against each other
The Baltimores beat the Clevelands in
the race last year and will do it this
season with ease. Yet Tebeau's men
have what Is known as a lead pipe
cinch" nearly every time they meet on
the diamond. In the twelve games
played between the two teams this
year the Cleyelands won eight and
tied one. Ever since New York has had
club in the National league 1t has
been an easy prey for the Philadelphia.
but 1t could always whip Anson's Chi
Cages with ease and confidence. . It is
Colts went on the field against the
grammed to pitch, they were beaten
before the game began. This year,
with Rusie out of the way, the Chi
Cages came nearer than usual in tying
the New York series. But Clarke
makes a very good Rusie substitute
against Anson's men.
With all of his forty -four years as
a handicap, Arson is one of the hard
est men in the profession for pitcher
tokstrike out. It is not anything I'M
usual for the pitcher to secure two
called strikes on the veteran and work