Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-18

arouse the necessary interest and en-
5thusiasin In the middle OF the season,
tAkinR up a team that had failed 70 sue
coed III some other town Ihere Mould
be the question OF grounds to be nrst con-
sldcred before anything could be done IN
the way of securing a team here. II the
college were inclined, the use or the
Colby grounds might be had as II was
when the Kennebec team I'D the New
England League played portion Of Us
games here. II the college autno TUE,
did not see fit to allow the use OF those
grounds, there would be practically no
chance to secure any others, as OF course
II would not pay to TIT up new GROUNDS.
The time may come, and q lot Oh the
more eager of the lovers OF the game VIII
be glad when 1t does, that base ball may
prove a paying investment in Waterviiie
bE. the chances are that that time Is
some distance in the future.
There has been a growing feeling In
the Maine League that ii Is .grievous
mistake to have both Of its officials To-
Gated in one of its cities. This feeling Is
aeeentuated in this city by the persis-
teescy with which Umpire Brady has been
foisted upon the Augusta club which has
cen in close competition with the Port
!and team for league hopors. Ii Is diff
cut to believe thar, Secretary owen can
be ignorant of the fact that. In 1896, Brady
was an earnest but unsuccessful appli-
cant for the position of manager of the
Augusta team. The patrons of the game
here believe, and not without reason, that
he has ever since labored under an IN
tense prejudice against this city and It's
base ball interests. Under such circum-
noes ii would certainly have been good
policy to have found work for him In
other fields. Such Il policy would have,
tended to promote the financial interests
of the game in this city. where many peo-
pie will not attend a contest in which
Brady oftciates. and have contributed
Substantially to league harmony. In
SPITE, however, of the rigorous protests
Of lovers OF the sport here, which have
been given due expression in the journal.
this man has been assigned to the games
in which Augusta participated with in
explica Bile pers.stency. Ii has been OBJ
served that in the games where we have
had good lead his work has been fairly
good, but in those where the scores have
been close we have almost invariably had
the worst of 1t. And HOW the culmlnation
has come Augusta and Portland are
tied: the game is on the Portland
grounds; the rooters are With Brady.
The contest promises To be close. Mr..
Brady can think of no more effective
way TO aid Portland than by taking adj
vantage of 4 kick of the Augusta captain
to forfeit the game TO tltm! How long
Stree Mr.. Brady reached such Olympian
heights? When Portland was here Mr..
Bease McQuirk did some of the tallest
kind of kicking-not because il was nee
essiary, for his team won both games
with considerable ease. but simply TO
keep himself in practice. Not only did
the doughty Portland kick but his men
Joined him in the chorus. AT one time
three of them lined up behind the batter
to finish out a kick after Brady had
waved them away and play had been re-
sumed, and the side was retired before
they got back to the bench. but Ii never
occurred to Mr.. Brady 10 forfeit the
game to Augusta. All, NO. not at ALL
Portland was doing the kicking then. and
ii makes a world of difference to Mr.
Brady whether Portland or Augusta Is
the OK to be gored Now Mr.. Brady
graciously presents Portland with a
game. with his compliments. Portland
can better afford to win games in this
way than could Augusta. If Mr.. Brady
is eDdeavoring to assist Portland in win
ming the championships Of this league he
certainly ought not to expect Its other
clubs to contribute to his salary. If he
is to be put upon our trail for the sea-
son the sooner we pay up our players
and retire from the league the better
There is a limit to the patience of the
most enthusiastic lovers of the sport
here Manager Long has obstacles
enough TO meet without being burdened
With Brady. He can much better afford
to disband his team than 10 carry ii into
another game where this man is assigned
10 ofiiciate.