Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-14
ANSON TALKS BASEBALL.
Declares the Old Chicago Champions
Were Better Players Than Those
of the Present Day.
From the New York Sun.

FROM lne new lOTh Suus
Captain Adrian G. Arson is justly enti-
tied 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 ave been predicting his retirement
from the national game. the veteran is still
acting in the double capacity of manage
and first baseman of the Chicago team.
And he is playing good ball, too. No player
in the country commands more respect
from the thousands of patrons of baseball
and his fellow comrades on the diamond.
When "Anse' talks baseball II Is of a most
interesting nature. and his opinion carries
weight. When asked for his views on the
difference between modern methods on the
ball field and those that prevailed when he
managed the famous Chicago champions
more than ten years ago, the veteran said:
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 science then, and vastly
more tricks were pulled off. This hit and
rum system, which has been ascribed TO
the ingenuity of the Baltimores and Bos-
tons. was practiCed by the Chicago cham
pions long before the other teams heard OF
It. The mere fact that the scheme has
been diyulged and is now widely talked OF
makes many believe that 1t Is something
new. One never sees the tricks now that
were played by the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Mike Kelly, who won many a game for us
with his 6eadwork. Men like Williamson,
Burns, PfeffeT, 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
with ones mouth. Disgracefuf Kicking. bad
language, and dirty ball playing generally
would not have been tolerated in the pig
league cities ten years ago. That sort OF
play originated in the American Associa-
ton. and has gradually crept into the
league until the game is surely suffering III
They have always called me a Kicker
but l have never wilfully abused an UNI
pire- Whenever I have questioned an UNI
pira's ruling on the field II has always been
on an alleged misinterpretatlon OF the rules;
There IS no need of sGuabbling over a pan
OF u strike or a base decision, for II IS pure
ly a matter Of judgment on the umpire's
part, and he is there to give rulings on
plays as he sees them. When one sees sew
en- or eight players surround an umpire
nowadays and wranEle over a strike out or
a decision on the bases. IL is simply dis
gusting. In Mondays game at the Polo
grounds one of my own men, Everett. made
a senseless kick over one Of Emslie'S rul-
ings. and ! wouldn't have blamed the UNI
pire a bit II he had fined Everett sos. No,
/ do not consider that the game has been
improved at ALL"
who will win the pennant this year?"
"Of course, you expect me to say Chi
Cago.' laughed the big captain: I've claim
ed that pennant every year. you know, but
the Chicagos have had such a bad start this
season that I've been compelled TO shift.
II you want my candid opinion. however,
III say, and bet on it. that Boston will
finish on top. That team, in my estimation,
IS the most evenly balanced in the league.
an things considered. Il is a better hitting
and fielding team than Baltimore. and the
pitchers are stronger than Hanlon's corps.
while Robinson and Clarke of Baltimore
are good catchers, old Camel and young
Bergen Of Boston can have my money.
Tenney is n better ball player in every de-
tail than Doyle. who is one of the most err
ratio b~aserunners 1 ever saw. / see no
NNmnarigpn between Second RaGpman
Lowe of Boston and Reitz Of Baltimore.
The former IS by far the better man. AZ
shortfeld I thing Long and Jennings are
about q standon. McGruw is possibly a
stronger hitter than Collins, but the latter
is a much faster third baseman. Boston
has the faster outfield. Give me Duff
in preference to Joe Kelley every time.
Hamilton is greatly superior to Stencil. and
young Stahl, from what ! hear, l. z second
Keller. Hanlon's pitchers cannot stand
the strain. Boston has a remarkable corps
in Nichols, Lewis. K~lobedanz. Sullivan and
Stivetts."
What is the matter with the ChicagOs?"
w 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 ball against us
in almost every game we have lost. As soon
as hot weather sets in l believe we will do
better"
Anson says he has reduced himself thirty