The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-18
GOOD BALL Pays
BUT LEADING CITIES REFUSE TO
PATRONIZE LOSING
TEAM.
EASTERN CLUBS PROSPER.
SEASON ALMOST A RECORD BREAK
Err FOR NEW YORK AND
BOSTON.
UMPIRES' ENDLESS TROUBLES.
Good Pitchers and Catchers a Rarity
This SeasOn-New Blood
Needed.



July passed without any serious breaks
in any of the many base ball leagues
and associations of the country, the
state of Maine league being a solitary
exception This is a rather unusual
showing, and indicates that there is
state Of prosperity among the minor
leagues that promises to keep up to
the end of the season. The only cry
Of distress comes from the National
league itself, and that is mostly from
the West. ST. Louis is another city
which is going to waste for want Of
base ball team in which it's people could
take pride. The Missouri metropolis, it
is known, would be one Of the best
cities in the Union for base ball pat
ronage if it had a team which would
win more games than it would lose.
Cleveland, with a grand team, does
not support it, and Tebeau's men have
to depend upon road patronage for ex-
penses.
In Cincinnati the complaint of hard
times goes up. 1t is the first cry of
hard times injuring the game. They
claim out there that the proof of it is
seen in the rapid decrease of grand
stand patronage.
In the East things are not so dis
couraging. Indeed New York and Bos-
ton are enjoying regular old-fashion
ed base ball revival. The outpouring
of 45, 900 spectators to five games in one
week at the Polo grounds was almost
a record breaker and was followed by
10000 more on July 4. The capacity of
the Boston grounds was strained in the
Baltimore series. Washington, too,
has done well, having broken it's rec
ord when it turned out II 900 people to
a double-header against the New York
team. Philadelphia, one of the very
best base ball cities, is dropping down
rapidly in patronage on account of an
other disappointing season for the
home club. Nothing succeeds like sue
cess, and the proverb is especially true
in base ball. The Baltimores, as soon
as they showed an inclination to drop
out of the pennant race, also dropped
out as road favorites. For two years
they monopolized the business on the
circuit. This year the Bostons and
New Yorks are sharing that prosperity.
The Bostons particularly are reaping a
rich financial harvest. Their wonder
full playing has electrified the fans"
of the country, and universal desire
to see the probable coming champions
exists everywhere. wait till the Bos-
tons come!' is the cry all along the
line.
And it is marvellous game which Selee's
men have been putting up. Their wonder
full pull-outs in the ninth inning have Great
ed new wonder in the base ball world.
Twice did they snatch victory from the
Baltimores in the last inning. With the
Brooklyns they made 1t three straight Car
rison finishes This was followed up by one
similar win out in New York and two in
Philadelphia Thus in eleven successive games
they won eight in the ninth inning. a record
which has never been eQualed and prob
ably never will be.
back In the SOS. the cry Of Boston luck"
was heard all over the land. They could
make more runs on fewer hits and get more
advantage from opponents errors, as well
as giving less on their own, than any other
team. The cry has been revived. All man
ner of luck goes their way, but it is not
luck which sent them to the front. 1t was
pluck, fine playing and belief in themselves.
Luck follows winning team just as i'll luck
sweeps down on one which is losing.
If the Cincinnati theory be true, that hard
times have reduced the grand stand attend
ance, there remains an explanation to be
made of the condition of affairs in New York
where the proportionate patronage of the
grand stand at rs cents and 81 each person
has very much increased this year. The cor
rect deduction therefrom would be that while
business is growing worse in Cincinnati it is
improving in New York, but it is more prob
able that the Cincinnati theory is a false one.
Possibly the class of patronage is changing
for other reasons People who patronize
grand stands, a rule, do not advocate Sun
day playing for revenue. Nor do they ap-
prove of the excessive noise which is peculiar
to the bIeacherites of some of the Western
cities.
President Young at Washington will add
the eighth wonder Of the world if somebody
will find a man for him who can give uni
versal satisfaction as an umpire. He has
been experimenting for years and is no nearer
the accomplishment of his forlorn hope than
he was five years ago. Though he has
staff mostly of veterans and acknowledged
to be the pick of the profession not one of
them all is free from protest. Hurst is
tabooed in New York and Pittsburg, Lynch
is not wanted in Cleveland, Cincinnati has
asked to be relieved in future of Emslie, and
five clubs have asked Young to keep Sheridan
away from games in which the Cincinnatis
take part under the probably mistaken be-
lief that Mr.. Sheridan, being native OF Gin
cinnati, has a favorable bias for that club.
In nearly every instance these protests are
based upon false grounds but in midseason
the base ball magnate becomes the most un-
reasonable Crank alive, whereas in the
winter and early spring he poses as per-
feet philosopher.
Are great pitchers and great catchers pass
ing away? 1t is a serious question. The sue
cessful young pitchers of this year can be
counted the fingers of one hand, and
some of those who were looked upon as
corners last year and in 1895 are sorry dis
appointments now. Hoffer, of Baltimore is
the most notable example of the latter class.
A year ago $4,000 cash wouldn't have Sc
cured his release. This midsummer he is
open to a trade of almost any kind in his
line. But the Nicholses, the Rusies, the
Meekns. the Youngs, the Dryers, the Tay-
lors, the Hawleys and the Kennedys again
rise to the top like cream on pan of milk
These men have lasted from six to ten years.
Where are their successors? For they must
soon give up the fight. pitchers pro-
fessional life is proportionately much shorter
than is that of man who plays in another
position.
And catchers are scarcer still. There is
not one star of the first magnitude behind
the bat today. Let young men take notice
and turn their amateur talent to catching.
There lie league openings and fat salaries.
%. P. Caylor.