The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-09


sociation.
to the New Yorks and he was engaged
That is where his career received check.
John Ward had charge Of the Giants In
1894 and he looked upon Clarke as a sort
of dernier ressort as IL were. The club
needed another good pitcher, but Clarke
was not considered a possibility. The
manager experimental with German and
Westervolt, thereby losing game after
game Occasionally Clarke was sent out
to finish game already lost when one of
the other pitchers had been Knocked out of
the box, just to give an excuse for pay
ing him salary.
In 1895 the club experimental onco more
with German, Knauss and Boswell and
kept on losing games. Clarke was left
behind on the first western trip. Then
Meekin and Rusio were injured at the
same time. The club was Offering fabu-
lous sums for pitcher, while all the timo
1t had "a star on the bench. Finally In
sheer desperation Clarke was put In 10
pitch. The result was surprise to every
body but Clarke himself, who knew what
he could do II given an opportunity. Be-
fore the year was half over he was classed
with Young, Nichols, Rusie and Hawley.
But had IL not been for overwhelming acci-
dents to Now York's pitchers no might
still bo collecting moss on the bench.
Great manager rs Ward was, he had
gem OF purcst ray serene" hidden among
lot of counterfeits. Anson, too, tho
greatest Of oil, once had Clarke in his
team, but wouldn't give him a competent
trial, and finally turned loose this man for
whom he would now give IS, 200. L have
several times referred TO similar expert
ences by Keeler, Jennings, Davis, Burkott
and others who mado such narrow escapes
from reaching greatness.
Very few new candidates spring into IA
voritism ut bound. Most of them have to
work their way up, and without the right
kind of opportunity they have no chance
to reach tho top. Cnder the old system a
young player who joined National league
team had to show class A abilities at the
jump, or he was sure 10 fall back into the
minor ranks again. The short preliminary
season is not sufficient 20 show what they
can do, because fow of the old pitchers let
out their arms in practice games, and the
new candidates batting abilities have 10
fair test. Thon when they GO up against
"the real thing" when the championship
season opens their work is Disappointing
Tho club becomes uncertain about the new
mems capabilities, and rather than take
moro chances IL drops them and goes back
to players whose capacity is known.
The farming system would afford a rem
edy for this disadvantage for this want CT
proper method to develop green timber,
but there Is evidence acCumulating that
the minor leagues have determined to ro-
fuse further consent 10 National league
farms" In their circuits, When such an
tdict is enforced, the major magnates VIII
have TO look for now farm"
1t may como 20 that point where sepa-
rate circuit of farms will be established
In partnership by tho League clubs. For
instance, the l2 clubs could easily carry
six teams of youngsters among them.
Now 1t may soon be necessary TO organize
a six club academical league, such as the
Virginia league OK the Atlantic league now
has, TO be run ns pool by the National
league. Each National league club
could furnish from to players, or, say,
75 all together. President Young might
divide tho as players into six teams, end "A
regular championship might be played
Each major league club would retain It's
claims to its contributed players among
whatever farm" teams tboy should DO
scattered. Such scheme would nearly.
or possibly entirely, pay for the expense OF
developing the young stars and would
keep the big clubs constantly supplied
with new material.
Last year 1 suggested that men like
Ward, Anson or Comiskey might make
"big" money by conducting u baseball
academy somewhere IN tho southwest every
fall, winter and spring. The more think
of Il tho move convinced become that the
Honeine Is good ono. Hundreds or am-
bilious young players would pay for a
three or four months coach by mon like
Anson, Ward or Comiskey. Candidates
FOR college teams work like day laborers
In hopes OF making the team" where not
a cent Of rccOmpcnsc Is received
Now give Anson the right kind Of win
ter climate, % suitable ground and four or
Eve teams cf baseball students, and III
warrant that at tho end OF that time he
would have at least a dozen 10 whom he