The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-26

should be good ball players. Asarule, they
are swift footed, natural athletes, who need
little training TO get into the ''pink of con-
dition," and are noted for their acute eye
sight. These qualities go far toward giving
a ball player success on the diamond. Base
ball to the Indian Is as yet u venture, but
within the last year he has demonstrated
: that in other games, especially football, he
has the power to give his Caucasian broth
er "run for the money" The success
achieved last season by the Carlisle foot
ball eleven against some of the strongest
college teams of the east demonstrated the
fact that these descendants Of the fQDaner
lords Of the forests, IL given equal opportu-
mites, would i'm few years take the foot
ball championship from their white COM
petitors. 1t Is only the advantage which
the big college teams have OF selecting play
ers from greater numbers which gives
them their present superiority. What the
red race will do in baseball remains to be
seen. II Sockalexis achieves any success
with the Cleveland team, he will undoubt-
edly open the gates OF the profession to 9TH
ers of his people.
There Is no prejudice against the Indian
among professional sporting circles such
as has always existed against the negro.
Once before l noted the fact that, while
there have been excellent baseball players
of the African race members Of distinctly
negro teams, not one has ever received pro-
fessional recognition from the National
league since its organization Anson some
years ago went upon the field In an Ohio
town with his Chicago White Stockings to
play the local club in an exhibition game.
The local team appeared with negro
catcher on the nine, and Ansofi refused to
let his team play until the colored brother
was replaced by white player. Strong as
the Cuban Giants and Paige Fence Giants
are rs drawing cards, one never hears OF
either Of these negro mines meeting Ma
tional league team on National league
diamond, or on any outside diamond, for
that matter The Cincinnatis, while a
member of the American association,
played n game in New Jersey with the Gu
ban Giants some years ago, believe But
that was an exception.
This question of race in baseball comes
up again through the entrance of the
American Indian into the National league
and recalls some rather astonishing facts.
When Friend made his appearance with
the Chcagos in 1895, II was generally be-
licyed and so understood that he was "a He
brew. / took occasion then to call atten-
tion to the fact that the Jew in profes-
sional baseball playing, in spite OF its remu
neratiye returns, had never been an element
of competition with the Irish and Ger
mans. Friend promptly denied that he
was Hebrew. and that reduced the case
TO one in which no member of the Jewish
race ever attained prominence as ball
player. Why 1t is so none has ever tried TO
explain. IL may be that the indelent life
of the diamond is not In accord with the
constantly active ways of the true Hebrew.
Men of that race however, have been
prominent as magnates and hackers v OF
the number Cincinnati has furnished the
most Edgar Johnston of the Cincinnati
National league club OF 1879 was the
first. Then came Thorner, president of the
club of 1850, who was succeeded by Men
dcrson, another jew. Later still A. $.
Stern, one Of the most successful magnates
in the National League, owned and con-
trolled the Cincinnati club. He too Is of
the race Julian Hart was one of the
Brotherhood hackers In Boston, and prob
ably the most successful magnate of the
National league today i'm a business way
of viewing 1t, ~ Andrew Freedman, chief
owner of the New York club. Mr. Freed
man, thougha u Hebrew by birth, has nearly
nll of his powerful business and influential
social relations among the gontiles.
The Providence club somo score Of years
ngo had Spaniard on its nine, little
fellow called Nava, who caught for the club.
The Italians. think, have mover furnish
eel player. The French recently have
been coming into prominence on the dia-
mond through Pappalan Lachancc, Lajoie
and Demontrevile. But the Irish and
Germans will always furnish the bulk OF
material for the professional teams.
Last year it was reported and denied
that race feeling had sprung up between
the Irish and German players of the Pitts
burg team. Tho report turned out TO be
true, and the denial was given merely TO
temporarily tide over the trouble. But
when Ijeckley, Stenzeland Bicrbauer, three
of the four Germans on the team, were
transferred To other clubs the truth Of this
race friction was acknowledged. Irish-
Americans this year will replace the three
ex German players - namely. Donnelly,
Irodic and Padden
The sudden collapse of baseball efforts
IN the south has given still one more blow
60 the National league custom 81 training
IN Dixie. IL caused the Pittsburg club 10
change its practice grounds from Atlanis
o. Norfolk The Bostons went to "a
vannah only after the parties a. that rlact