The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
CURRENT SPORTING TALK.
Robson OF CLErELIND TALKS OF
THE BLACKLIST RULE.

OF tho Cincinnati baseball CIuD, tnhJ plhycrS
who usc obscene language on tho field shall BIO
blacklistcd, is creating widespread discussion,
among League officials and the baseball pat
rons all over tho country. President Hart OF
the Chicago Club has como out as a strong ad-
vocatc Of the measure, land Frank Dc Haas Rob
ison, President of tho Cleveland Club, follows
suit, his ideas being as follows:
persons who arc fighting tho proposed
blacklist are not familiar with the facts lead
ing UP to Its Introduction. Tho rule is not in
tended to take the bread out OF the mouth of
n player who, In a moment OF passion. let's
slip a swear word on the field. We want to
stop profanity, and wo mean to. There is no
place in the League for q player who under
any circumstances would hurl n viciously vul-
gar remark toward o grand stand full of women
and men. I have never heard such n remark
on tho Cleveland grounds. but ut our meet
ing at Philadelphia Mr.. Soden of the Boston
Club repeated language that had been uttered
on his diamond.by visiting teams that showed n
depth Of dcpravity and viciousness / did not
suppose existed. 1t was TO stop the repeti-
ton of such outrages against dccency that
the Brush resolution was offered, and unless
there is a surprising change in sentiment the
resolution will BIO adopted at st. Louis. 1t is
severe, I'll admit. but 1t is not as severe as the
offence. 1 will take oath that in no nook or
corner Of the world that l have ever visited
have l heard any such shameless language as
was repeated to us at tho Philadelphia meet
ing as having been made In full hearing OF
5000 or 1000 persons by men paid $4O0 o
month to play ball. Vicious players Of such
calibre, therefore. should DO forever debarrcd
from appearing on League grounds"
No team has done more to bring the game into
disrepute by just such behavior as Robson
refers to thRn his own Clevelands. under the
- T-l-n Tl,s
actions have practically killed the gamo at
homo, SO that last season they received the
~strictest orders from their owner that they
would have to mend their ways. AS n result
they did very little kicking. and Tcbcau sur
prised the baseball world by paying n high
compliment to tho much-abused umpire staff.
This only goes to show that If club owners will
insist upon decent behavior and will uphold
the umpires instead of backing up the kickers
the existing evils can be stamped out. The
teams that have helped to create disturbances
on the field arc the Baltimores, Pittsburgs, Gin
%cinnatis, Louisvilles, and the New Yorks. If
the members of these teams should receive posi-
tive orders to play clean ball and were severely
punished for disobedlrnce, there would be no
demand for the proposed blacklist. J. Earl
Wagner, President of the Washington Club.
who AT first vigorously advocated the measure
adoption of the rule. He declares that the pub
llo will not stand for a ."blncklist' and believes
thai temporary suspension would be a sufficient
penalty for or, or DIN ,PI PLAYERS: Wagner is not
The Cincinnati Club will have a pitching corps
next season fully as strong as hat Of any other
Breitenstein alone make n most formidable pair.
Hawley is not only one of tho swiftcst pitchers
In the country but possesses a large stock of base
ball brains. He has the strength to stand the
Btralll or ~ least fOrty games III u season, and
with q strong team behind him. such as Cincin-
among the Leagues winning pitchers. Brei-
t~enstein was the greatest loft-hanh twirler on
the diamond last year as far as winning games
was concerned, and there is no reason why he
should not repeat his good work the coming sea-
son. Frank Dwyer is also expected to help these
Ehret and young Damman are still on the clubs
roll. Ewing is trying to make some deal for
Is a conner IL properly handled. The Clncinnatis,
therefore. can be favorably compared in point of
pitching strength with the Bostons, Baltimores.
and New YOrks, although tho last named are
conceded to have the greatest pitchers ip the
country. No team can boast Of a Big -Four"
with Mike sullivan and q couple of youngsters
yet to be developed. Doheny's suspension. did
self into the front rank next year. In build:
style, delivery. and speed. to say nothing OF
ffns Of left tn .han SdEass H msn m Sias n ta'T have aU DC s tne
mour's speed. and curves. but he has control of
the ball, which is the Cyclones" weak point.
"a Ivy ihohi NoihOo Q iSSi -otiiiS ut VIZ
top, of the heap that players in almost every
club in the LEAGUE predict that he will be a
handle these left-handers. their work is bound
to improve. Husie and Mcekin are the finest
remarEable NichoIs Of the Bostons. BBaiti,
more's staff of twirlers, including Corbett, Nc
James, Hotferr, Pond, and Nog9s, will be more
entire corps. Boston has Nichols, %stiyetts,
q raft of other promising youngsters carefully
selected by Manager Selec, but nobody knows
whether tho latter club has been strength.
ened in, this department or not. Rumors about
Nichols arm and the attempt to buy the re-
thing, II can he seen eei I'll thereffayeI t ia fto the
cream OF the pitching talent is owned by the
four leaders in the pcnnant race Of last summer.
While there appears to bo little on the sur
face to Indicate a change. it Is said that many
influential Harvard graduates are anxiously
coach at Cambridge. Cameron Forbes, tho
head man last fall; was selected solely by Capt.
Cabot, and while he worked hard for tho sue
cess Of the eleven. tho poor showing OF IIar-
yard in the big games when the material in
hand was Of The finest description, caused
Capt. Dibblec., while he has not expressed
himself openly, is said to favor a change. and
aRemont of athletics at Cambridge are reported
to be seriously considering several cx-players
gaining ground that instead of having a dozen
Or more coaches. with, almost equal authority.
~ VIII DC more auNlSaDle 10 lOuOw inc metnOdH
In vogue at Yale, Princeton, and tho University
OF pennsylvania. where the coaching author.
fy Is he'd by ono or two men. The individual
success OF Butterworth at New Haven, with
Hinkey as an assistant, has taught Harvard
such n lesson that IL the right man can bc Sc
cured the Crimson players will in all probable
ity be similarly handled and trained next year.
The sad death of Marshall Newell, the great,
pat tackle Harvard ever produced, who was
killed by q locomotive at Springfield. Mass.
on last Friday, will be mourned throughout the
COLLEGE world. He played on the varsity
'e3. and was considered one Of the ablssi
eleven one year, and instructed the lthacans sc
well that they surprised the other big clevens
by their fas. work. Newell later on ASST sted in
handling the Harvard team, although many
persons wanted lim TO be made head coach. witt
power to do as he pleased with the candidates
1t has been the complaint of many Harvard
men for years that Newell did not receive tho
place for which no was 30 well fitted. and wheI
he was seen on the sidclincs at Soldiers Field
during the game with Yale last month, meI
who knew his ability remarked that 1t was
pity thar he had no real authority in the coach
Ing of tho Crimson varsity.
Whenever anybody calls the attention of Boil