The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-11
ANSON TALKS BASEBALL.
SAYS MODERN METHODS HAVE NOT
IMPROVED THE GAME.

me veteran Declares the ola Chicago Chau-
pions Were Better Players Thar Those or
tho Present Day-He Ficku Boston TO win.
Captain Adrin @. Arson is Justly entitled to be
called the grand old man Of baseball" In
spite Of the fact that he IL 46 years old and tho
cranks for tho past flvo years have been pre-
dieting his retirement from the national game,
tho veteran is still acting in the double capacity
Of manager and first baseman Of the Chicago
team. And he ia playing good ball, too. No
player In the country commands moro respect
from tho Thousands of patrons Of baseball and
his fellow comrades on tho diamond. When
"Anso" talks baseball II Is Of O most interest
ing nature, and his opinion carries weight.
When asked for his views on the difference bc-
tween modern methods on the ball field and
those that prevailed when he managed the
famous Chicago champions moro than ten years
ago, the veteran said:
1.-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 moro
science then, and vastly moro tricks were
pulled OF. This hit and run system, which
has been ascribed to the ingenuity Of tho
Baltimores and Bostons, was p~ractised by
the Chicago champions long before tho
other teams heard Of It. The nero fact
that tho scheme has been divulged and
is now widely talked Of makes many believe
that 1t La something new One never secs tho
tricks now that were played by tho nover-to-be-
forgotten Mike Kelly. who won many a game
for us with his head work. Men like William
son. Burns, Pfeffer. Flint, and others on that
old team were in a class by themselves, and
i their equals will never again be seen.
"In the old days baseball was played with bat
and ball. Nowadays It is played chiefly with
ones mouth. Disgracoful kicking, bad language,
and dirty ball playing generally would not have
been tolerated in tho big League cities ten years
ago. That sort Of play originated In the Amer
lean Association, and has gradually crept into
the League until the game IL surely suffering in
consequence.
"They have always called me a Kicker but I
have never wilfully abused an umpire. When.
ever I have questioned an umpire's ruling on
the fold It has always been on an alleged misin-
depreciation of the rules. There is no need OF
squabbling over q ball or q strike or q base de.
cision. for it is purely a matter Of judgment
on tho umpires part, and he is there
to give rulings on plays as he sees them.
When one secs seven or eight players
surround an umpire nowadays and wrangle
O SiSpi ( 't dissus oan or = IN aei % I on 'h Sa nSse sii t th Is
Polo Grounds one Of my own men, Everett, made
a senseless kick over ono Of ,Emslie's rulings,
Il tAAt n ooAtA - AaN u oAhN knO abb u oA ~
he had hnod Everett 800. No, / do not consider
that tho game has been improved at ALL"
Who will win the pennant this year !" the re-
"Of course, you expect me to say Chicago
laughed the big Captain; "Tve claimed that
pennant every year. you know, put the Chica.
gos have had such q bad start this season that
candid opinion, however. I'll say. and bet on It.
that Boston will finish on top. That team, In
my estimation, is tho most evenly balanced In
the League, all things considered. 1t Is q 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
ball player in every detail than Doyle, who II
one Of the most erratic baserunners I ever saw
see no comparison between Second Basemar
Lowe of Boston and Reitz of Baltimore. Ths
former Is by far the better man. At shortield
think Long and Jennings are about q stand
on: McGraw Is possibly a stronger hitter thar
Collins, but the latter is q much faster thirt
baseman. Boston has the faster outfleld- Civ
me Duffy In preference to Joe Kelley ever,
and young Stahl, from what / hear. is a secont
Keller. Hanlon's pitchers cannot stand tn,
strain. Boston has q remarkable corps in Mich
OILS, Lewis, Klobedanz, Sullivan. and Stivetts."
What Is the matter with the ChicaRosf T.
I'VE have had unfavorable weather to con
tend with ever since we started. Our pitcher
are not in good shape yet, and the men have no
ter ball against US in almost every game W
have lost A 8 soon as hot weather sets in I be
love we will do better"
Arson says he has reduced himself thirty-hv
pounds since early spring. He is in splendi
condition for a man of his Year,.