The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-30

tChamplOn DatSman or last year : leAhs oouth
western league now with Chicago.l
sonvillo during the cool week this month
and was surprised TO sec the Floridians GO
ing about in straw hats and without over
coats, whereas tho northern tourists wore
winter wraps and wondered TO see the af-
fectation of comfort by these people who
look upon snow as q luxurious rarity.
The result of the northern teams ex-
perienoe In tho south during the first half
of March is liable TO be postponement OF
the annual spring hegira next year till
after st. Patrick's day.
From Texos comes doleful sound.
Our Uncle Arson is not satisfied with
some of his newly drafted Colts. The
pitchers whom he expected to rise up un-
der his instruction like ssNnany prodigies
are already said to be branded IN. g." by
this expert trainer. 1t me- be that in his
latter days Captain Ansonss learning di
plomacy; that he Is dissimulating for tho
purpose of throwing his opponents on
guard. To pronounce a new candidate
bad before he gives him his congo Is so un-
like Anson that the wise ones read the
Galveston bulletins and wonder what they
mean, not minding what they say.
But, in Mcbride, Anson says no has q
winner. Mcbride was champion batsman
of the Texas Southwestern league last
year and wN clearly the pick OF all the
players down there. If these early reports
be reliable, then Mcbride has come into
class A TO stay.
Since Uncle Adrian's dramatic dream
was shattered last winter no shows signs
Of losing faith even in himself and bis
team. He is not betting SO many suits oi
clothes and his championship claims are
not orowding each other so much as ir
former springs He has parted with viii
mot turned HuSchison back into the
minor leagues and taken up a second base
man who was sent adrift one year ago
Last of all, comes the news that the great
est outhelder in the country, William
Lange, broke a small bone in one of his
ankles early in March and may not be able
to play until after the championship sea
son opens. 1t does look as II "Anse's
streak Of i'll luck was on at last.
There haye not been tho usual number
OF bluffs among the stars this year, bu
those which were worked had tone ant
novelty to them. Jack Doyle issuet
weekly bulletins all winter, In which h'
declared his unalterable determination 3;
live on his relatives rather than play IL
Baltimore. Hanlon, however, Is tacti
clan as well as q manager. So ho used |
sure process when Doyle was invited Il
Baltimore and honored with banquet
Hanlon struck straight for the stomach
and through 1t he reached Jacks hear
and head.
Then came the funny Breitenstein plan
wherein that left handed pitcher w2s ad
vertised to be under contract to a countr,
club in Illinois. That afforded amuse
ment till tho ST. Louis club got ready t.
treat, and the redheaded diplomat got int'
line.
Rusie the king of them all, Of cours'
kicked. The big fellow indulges in thes'
spring hold outs as religiously as a gooC
Catholic observes Lent. This year HI
seemed TO bc little moro jealous thar
ever and needed more persuasion.
There was never more than one promi
nent Nationa, lrugue player who held out
during an ontiro season. That ono wa:
Pitcher Lovett Of the Drooalyns, who re
fused salary OF c., 2G0, and who In con
sequence remained of the bnllfeld ON en-
tire season. The result was that when hC
returned the following year at reduced
salary he found that his long rest had left
him behind the procession. and before The
season ended he dropped into "a lower
grade never again 10 advance. That les
son was impressed upon the minds ol
many others who might have Been in
clined TO follow Lovett's example had ii
not boon for his fatc.
The recent meeting OF delegates from
the minor leagues at Washington should
teach the dominant magnates caution. IL
was the rumbling before tho storm. Fol
two years the National league party In
power has been curtailing the vested priv.
ileges Of the minor leagues under the ma
tional agreement until by the instrument
of classification adopted at New York In
February a severe blow was dealt to the
confederate leagues.
This invasion OF the minor rights hes
almost precipitated open revolt. Only the
knowledge that another baseball fight
might kill the game holds the moro con
servative OF the minor league representa-.
tiyes I'm check. The Washington meeting
may have tho effeo. OF contralizing the
wisdom of the National league official
and Of checking the Hotspurs who of late
have secured an unhealthy leadership In
tbs lepisi.l,a anu vx,-a,ivc department,
u tho major organization.
Thara hRvo been loss propnosylng ant
plaoipg OF clnbs this spring than anybod,
can rspomhor during the last decade
Probably tho ill success Of anteseasor
prcrhe,s IN other years has di.couragcg
the talent, or maybe Sc Is because thcr'
have BEEN So inuch shifting and strength
enlng of teams this year that tho mos
confident prognosticator OF other years /
90 sen. We'll. II Is probably bottcr so, al,
meanwhile one common belief appears q
prevail, which is that the country will
this ycnr see the greatest baseball seasor
since the game became national end pro
fassioual %. p CAyIOR