The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-29
pitcher Georgetown university baseba
team.

abrated wherever baseball has been played
Cincinnati with extraordinary attraction
drawing less than 1900 people to its
ground on that day, with IDEAL weather
Even Philadelphia, whore Harry spent ten
years of his life building up its great
team, did nothing in honor of his memory
commemorate with his life work.
presume this lis only one more proof Of
the lasting quality Of Rip Van Wrinkles
philosophy, '.How soon we are forgotten
when we're gouel' 1t applies more en-
phatioally to baseball than to any other
profession. The names Of Kelly, Fergu-
son, Williamson, Flint, Whitney, Pike
and 'Brien, which only a few years ago
were on the Inns Of multibudes Of enthusi-
asts, are now scarcely ever spoken 1t is
only when heroes die that their memories
remain green.
A few of these Harry Wright day games
also proved the rapid passing Of the base
ball stars. At Cincinnati and Rockford
old timers were on exhibition. In tho first
city Charley Gould, who a quarter Of a
century ago was king of first base mon, es-
sayed to play in his old position Alas
that once Worshiped wonder made such
sorry exhibition Of himself that the unro-
mantio spectators called for a more modern
player Then VIII White, who was once
q diamond hero in Cincinnati. was com
PEELED to get out of the exhibition after
few farcical attempts to revive his former
skill
In Rockford they went back still far
ther for "reminiscences and dug up the
baseball mummies Of the early seventies.
Chief among them was Chicago's million
aire merchant, "a. g. Spalding, who more
than 20 years ago earned, as a pitcher for
the old Forest City club of that place, the
money which formed the basis Of his pres
en5 immense fortune George Wright Of
Boston and other old timers took part in
p 70 c5 mi Ia
rules which prevailed in those early days.
Even that primitive style would have been
burIesqued without intention had not
merciful rainstorm interpOsed and cut the
absurdity short.
These atterapts at identification reveal
to us a startling fact-ths short reign and
thorough rs we'll as permanent decadence
Of the baseball star. 1t is not SO in other
professions. A good actor usually grows
better as he grows older, and an absence of
years from cine stage will not wean the
public from its fealty. I remember seeing
the veteran Murdoch In the cast of Julius
Caesar, with Booth, Barrett and McCul-
Tough at the dramatic festival in Cincin-
natl some Is years ago. He had been on
the stage for many seasons, yet the once
popular favori6e shared equally in the pub
lie applause with the then reigning stars
of the tragic stage. If we should inaugu-
rate baseball festival and try to re-estab-
lish the Dennys, Fishers, Eotalings, Mel
sons, Snydors, Chapmans, BurdOcks and
harnesses in their former popularity I Won
der what wound be the result?
Fhe early games among the college mines
indicate a generally weakening from the
strong teams Of former years. Carriers loss
is particularly felt, and such men as King,
Stephenson, Otto and Shoenhut have not
been replaced On their mines. The new rule
at the U. Of P makes 80 Pennsy 81 team rel
ativaly weaker than any Of the collegiate
AGGREGATION Princeton has a coming
pitcher in Easten who promises TO be a
second Carter. But if MahOney Of the
Georgetowns keeps up his last years pace
he should easily lead all college pitchers
for 1895. Mahoney's work last season was
all but phenomenal. Without Carter Yale
win not have such a walk over for The col
1egiate championship this year. Yet a
brother Of Greenway, Carter's catcher, a
member Of Yale's freshman class, is doing
some strong pitching for old ELS sons.
Carter told me after the 4 to 0 New York
game that he considers the present Yale
nine in fielding and batting the best the
college has had for years.
The opening games Of the National
league championship season this year ex-
emplify the glorious uncertainty Of the
sport which is so often spoken Of. The
greatest surprise Of all was the uereat Of
the Cleveland team by the St. Louis
Browns. II any one Of the 10 League teams
was supposed to have what sporting men
call a cinoh' On the opening day, it was
the Clevelands. And, lol with the great Cy
Young pitching against them the gener-
ally rated tail endars went in, played the
best game OF the day and defeated TIE
beau's pennaat olainars.
In BaltimoEes upon their own grogudsi