Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-05-23

the Local Ball Club-The Inter-
state and National League Pen
nant Races-Among the Boxes.
and the Cyclers-The Week in
Bowlerdom-Other Sporting Mat
ters.
When a ball club loses it has no
friends. When it wins their name is
legion. The ordinary fan" is not
PHILOSOPHER. He never investigates.
He accepts reverses as conclusive
proof of weakness, and vice versa. This
is manifestly unjust to the players, put
the point is not worth the arguing. IL
is part of the nature of the fan, and
it is his prerogative to boost or
knock" as the fancy moves him. The
unfortunate feature is that he absents
himself from his accustomed seat on the
bleachers when he happens to feel dis
satisfied. The dye-in-the-wool ran
usually goes back. however when
Dame Fortune smiles on his tavorlte
club. This is written by way OF pre-
face to a review of the work OF the
Wheeling club. The local team made
bad start against Mansfield, and there
were a great many prejudices to over
come during the past two weeks. There
have been a great many reyisions or
opinions, and all now agree that the
work of Wheeling in stopping the We
torious career Of New Castle places the
home club fairly in the fight for the
Interstate pennant. But if it was un-
Just to complain a fortnight since, 1t
is unwise to boast now.
AS a matter of fact the Interstate
clubs are we'll matched. There was
never a prettier race in any league than
is presented in the Interstate. a
change of a few games, winning or
a losing streak, would make leaders of
tail-enders. If this relative position OF
the clubs can be maintained throughout
the season. it means success to the or
ganization. The season has progressed
far enough to enable managers 10 dis
cover their weak points. They are
strengthening wherever it is necessary.
New Castle has Outstripped the other
clubs in the race largely through good
pitching and excellent team work
Wheeling has settled down to a pace
which il may be expected to main
tain for several weeks. unless some I'M
forseen accident occurs. Mansfield sui
needs pitchers. and Fort Wayne and
YOUNGSTOWN are each weak at several
points. Dayton. Toledo and Spring
field are in fair shape.
The Wheeling players have continued
their good work during the past week,
and are now in second place. They
broke even with the leaders, and
proved that the team is at least as
strong as New Castle. Baker was al
lowed TO go during the week, in order
to reduce expenses. The club still has
four twirlers. and all are in good form.
Easton is pitching good ball. but 1t
would probably be wise to put him
in the box oftener Coyle is getting
down to proper shape, and both Camp
bell and Garvey will rank among the
leagues most effective pitchers. The
team has felded as we'll as its Oppo-
nents. which is as much as any reason
able fan" could ask. while the num-
her of base hits for the week will show
a balance on the Wheeling side. IN
fortunately they were not properly
distributed throughout the games. The
team leaves this morning for seven
games abroad. and it is confidently eX-
pected that Wheeling will win four OF
them.
The race in the National League has
not been very interesting thus far. on
account of the big lead Of the cham
pions and the poor showing made by
St Louis. and Washington. Cincinnati
pulled Baltimore down the line, how
ever. and the winning streak of the
Orioles is checked at least for the time
being. Wheeling fans root for Pitts
burg and Cincinnati. and as they are
now in third and second place respect
lively. it may be assumed that the rams
are happy. The Pirates usually play
winning ball early in the season, nd
strike losing streaks later on but frlends
of the club entertain the hope. ana
make the prediction, that PitJsnuIs
will never drop out Of the first diVIs-
ion. The club is stronger in p.tchers
than for a number of years, and mat
is the most important department OF
club
Local cyclers are out in force when
ever the weather is favorable in the
evenings. but very little practice Is be-
ing done by the fast riders.All are en-
ploved during the day, and have Jew
OPPORTUNITIES for getting into racing
form. They are entered, however. III
all the meets to be held in this section
and may be expected to make very
creditable showing
Nothing tangible has developed from
the correspondence between hackers OF
mike" Farragher and Buck Stolzer.
The Columbus boy is anxious for
match. and will make any reasonable
concessions to insure a meeting with
Farragher. FaTagher appears deter
mined in his opposition to the Metro
politan Club of this city. and II IS n1t
therefore likely that the contest VIII
he pulled off here, in the event that
articles of agreement are signed. ON
Gals Of the club are in correspondence
with other good BOXERS. however. and
il is extremely probable that tourna-
mont will be given at the Fulton cIub
house some time during the month OF
June. Ni.\Ob-Ni'
CYCLING.
,.,, $500 oor,oe Tho