The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-06-25
ANSON ON BASEBALL.
VETERAN EAYS MODERN METHODS
HAVE NOT IMPROVED THE GAME.

He Dsclares That the Old Chicago Players
Were BETTER Than Those of the Present
Day-Thinks Boston Club Will Win.
Never Abuses Umpires.
Captain Adrian Q. Alison is justly en-
titled to be called "the grand old man
of baseball" In spite of the fact that
he is 46 years old and the cranks for
the past five years have been predicting
his retirement from the national game,
the veteran is still acting in the double
capacity of manager and first base man
Of the Chicago team. And he is play
ing good ball too. No player in the
country commands more respect from
the thousands of patrons of baseball
and his fellow comrades on the dia-
mond. When Anse talks baseball, it is
of most interesting nature, and his
opinion carries weight. When asked for
his views on the difference between
modern methods on the bali field and
those that prevailed when he managed
the famous Chicago champions more
than ten years ago, the veteran said:
1.-THE game has not improved one bit
as far as scientific play is concerned.
The old Chicago team was capable of
playing far better ball than one sees
nowadays. There was even more sci
ence then, and vastly more tricks We're
pulled off. This hit and run system,
which has been ascribed to the lnge-
nuity of the Baltimores and Bostons,
was practiced by the Chicago cham
pions long before the other teams heard
of it. The mere fact that the scheme
has been divulged and is now widely
talked of makes many believe that it is
something new. One never sees the
tricks now that were played by the new
er to be forgotten Mike Kelly, who won
many game for us with his head work.
Men like Williamson, Burns, Pfeffer,
Flint and others on that old team were
in a class by themselves, and their
equals will never again be seen.
In the old days baseball was played
with bat and ball. Nowadays it is
played chiefly with ones mouth. Dis
graceful kicking, bad language and dir
ty ball playing generally would not
have been tolerated in the big League
cities ten years ago. That sort of play
originated in the American association
! and has gradually crept into the League
until the game is surely suffering in
consequence.
"They have always called me a
kicker but have never willfully
abused an umpire. Whenever I have
questioned an umpires ruling on the
field it has always been on an alleged
misinterpretation of the rules. There is
no need of squabbling over ball or a
strike or base decision, for it is pure
ly a matter of Judgment ON the UNI
pire's part, and he is there to give rul-
ings on plays as he sees them. When
one sees seven or eight players surround
an umpire nowadays and wrangle over q
strike out or a decision on the bases, il
| is simply disgusting. In recent game
at the Polo grounds, New York, one Of
my nzZls k,z%e&ett aaade- fess less
kick over one of Emslie's rulings, and
wouldn't have blamed the umpire BIT
if he had fined Everett 800. No. I dc
not consider that the game has been i'm
proved at all.
"Who will win the pennant this
year?" the reporter asked.
"Of course you expect me to say Chi
cago," laughed the big captain. 'I've
| ola mod hot
know, but the Chicagos have had such
bad start this season that I've beer
compelled to shift. If You want my can
did opinion. however. I'll say, and bel
OH it, that Boston will finish on top
That team, i'll my estimation, is the
most evenly balanced in the League, al
( things considered. 1t is better hitting
and fielding team than Baltimore, anC
the pitchers are stronger than Hanlon''
corps.
"While Robinson and Clarke of Bal
timore are good catchers, old Came
and young Bergen of Boston can have
my money. Tenney is a better bal
player in every detail than Doyle, who
is one of the most cratic base runners
ever saw. | see no comparison between
Second Base Man Lowe of Boston anG
Reitz Of Baltimore. The former is By
far the better man. AT short field think
Long and Jennings are about a stand
off. McGraw is possibly stronger hit
| ter than Collins, but the latter is &
much faster third base man. Boston has
the faster outfield. Give me Duffy il
preference to Joe Kelley every time
Hamilton is greatly superior to Stencil
and young Stahl, from what / hear, il
a second Keller. Hanlon's pitchers can
not stand the strain. Boston has re
markable corps i'll Nichols, Lewis, Klo
bedanz, Sullivan and Stivetts. "
"What is the matter with the Chica
gos?"
''We have had unfavorable weather
| to contend with ever since we started
| Our pitchers are not in good shape yet
and the men have not begun to hit
The other teams have played better bal
against us in almost every game We
have lost. AS soon as hot weather sets
in believe we will do better.''
Arson says he has reduced himself
| Is nOundS since early Snrinp He is il