The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-24
7. K. DOHFNY.

r. N.
this year. OF their first 81 games at the
Polo grounds the Giants won l6, tied Q and
lost only 3. That percentage, II carried
through the season, would win the pen
nant But unfortunately for New York its
team weakens whenever it is called upon
by the schedule 20 play in Baltimore, Bos-
ton or Philadelphia.
There must be good reasons for this
high percentage of home victories, OF
course. The principal one is the perfect ia
miliarity which each team has with its own
grounds just as % mans constant use of
his dwelling permits him To go from room
to room in the dark with ease while a Wis
itor would get confused In trying to do
the same thing.
Every baseball ground has its peculiari-
ties, which can be and are turned to ad-
vantage by the home players. The Phila-
delphias furnished an apt illustration Of
this fact before the recent improvements
were made Right field fence was very
close In 10 the diamond and many bntted
balls struck TINT fence. Thompson, the
Phillies' right fielder, had studied the
caroms from that -ence as "A billiardist
studies the angle shots in the game he
plays, Consequently strange visitors to the
Philadelphia ground were often surprised
TO see the big right fielder apparently run
ming away from the ball when il was hit
safely In that direction. A moment later
they would realize the philosophy OF the
act. Thompson had played for the car
ON and made 1t, holding the batsmen to
q single base hit thereby. Visiting field
ers were apt TO either chase the ball direct
ly and then have to follow IL in its angle
or would miscalculate the carom. which
n a. I.~ax
tage and give the batsmen two or three
bases instead of one. Herman works the
correct ang at the Polo grounds upon
balls hit aga ST the base of the right field
stands. In hcinnati the outfeld is half
surrounded an embankmcnt some 80
feet in dept The Cincinnati outilelders
climb this embankment like goats in fol-
lowing long flies, but it worries the visit
ing players.
Very few diamonds are "dend" levels.
Some have low first base. Others show
with depressions at other corners The
diamond at old Sportsmen's park, in St.
Louis, on which Comiskey's famous
Brown Stockings won four successive PEN
nants, was probably the most trying dia-
mond in the Union for visiting teams.
There was "a decided rise from the home
plate 10 the center field. Visiting catchers
throwing To second base were very apt TO
"ground" tho ball. But the greatest handi-
cap was placed upon the visiting pitchers,
who were forced To pitch down hill instead
of over O level plane. That threw them
all out of their bearings, whereas Comis-
keys pitchers worked the familiar decliv-
ity to marked effect
Outside OF the advantages OF familiarity
Of grounds, the home players have the en-
couragement of the spectators sympathies
and "rooting" They usually get what
ever bias the umpire may show They
have no night rides TO tire them for their
next days work, nor yet the temptation
TO overfeed at we'll provided hotel table.
All these advantages, whom put together,
are bound 10 result in u tremendous ele'
ment of strength.
1t is early TO forecast final results In the
National lenguo race, but the campaign
has progressed far enough TO make II al
most certainty that Boston and Balti-
more will fight IL out alone for the pen,
nant. The general opinion among ball
players Is that the Bostons have the better
show. Their pitching force mp TO the
middle of June showed far superior TO that
which Hanlon has, and strong pitching Is
bound 10 tell In the end.
The western six have been a sore disap-
pointment 70 their supporters. The miser-
able showing of the entire sextet during
the eastern tour was body blow 20 the
western hope that the pennant. this year ut
least, would ily over ground west OF the
Alleghanies. There is now apparently no
such hope. Whatever rally the Cincin-
natis or Clevelands may make during
their home series i'm July will probably be
offset by their hard task of finishing the
season away from home with moro than
30 games each. IL will be surprising II
more than two western clubs end the race
In the first division.
A players associations may make or
break him. A good instance Is shown In
the case OF Third Base Man Donnelly. The
man has been playing ball for ten years
When McGraw was stricken with typhoid
fever I'm the early spring Of last year, Han
lon, as the best he could do, called Don
nelly from minor league ana put him In
McGraw's position. The Rrcat game
which this player put mp for the cham
pions last year Is well remembered by oil
tfrusc vino ruurvrirti NJ IL -thrrr McGrr-v
recovered and Donnelly was transferred to
P'ttsburg. Surrounded by differently
pitched team be played much different
Iall-fell hack toa minor league level.
This seems 10 have preyed on his mind
and be- hecairo insuhordinntc. The result
H. his suspension f0r tho rest of this season.
Dohcny ~ New York Is living instance
Of the way success often sweeps ball players
OF their feet This young man was so.