Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-16

tuition, passed at the fall meeting of the
national League, to expel players for
using obscene language during the pro-
gress of the games. 1t Is very likely
uhat 1t Will be reccnsidered at the COM
ing meeting In st. Louis as being a
rather too drastic measure. Those who
oppose the legislation, however, believe
something should be done. They are
all in favor of some legislation that
shall prevent the rowdyism Of the past
two or three years, but they look upon
President Brush's scheme as too severe.
These say that If q player chances once
to lose his head In a game and utter
an impolite expression addressed either
to the umpire or the bleachers, life sus-
pension is too much. 1t is likely that
the Brush resolution will be rescinded
and another passed, comforting upon the
umpire the right to discipline players,
race-track officials discipline erring
jockeys
Tommy Leahy, whose base ball career
saw its birth at Mount st, James while
attending Holy Cross College, is spend
ing the winter at his home in New
Haven. He is keeping himself in perfect
condition by practicing polo on roller
skates occasionally, and he is earning
an honest penny by officiating as referee
in the Southern New England Polo
League. Leahy played with the Wash
ington nine last season, and is under
Wagner contract to remain during 1898.
He went to Washington from Pittsburg,
and first played in the outfleld. Later in
the season he was brought into the in
ner circle, and at second base made
great hit. He went to third for couple
of games and did very well there also.
The rumor is current that he is going
to be given a trial in that position per-
when the season opens. In
speaking recently of the proposed abol-
ton of the bunt hit, Leahy expressed
his views as follows: 81 like the aboli-
ton of the bunt hit. The crowd always
wants to see the ball hit out The Bal
timores could drop the ball about where
they wanted it, and so l look upon the
passing of the bunt as a blow at the
Orioles. But just the same 1t seems to
me a good thing for the game"
Jack Doyle has just returned to Balti-
more from California, he being the last
of the players to leave the Californian
slope after the exhibition games of the
Baltimore and all-American teams.
Doyle was one of the players involved in
the recent Westinghouse Baltimore deal,
and if he plays ball next season, as
expects, it will be with the
Senators. But Jack rather surprised his
friends last week by announcing that
he was contemplating quitting
the game. IT have a business proposition
in view" he said, (which if l decide
favorably will take me out of the game
forever" In spite of the stories that
have been circulated regarding Doyle,
his ungovernable temper, and his ami
mostly towards the Orioles, he asserts
that the Baltimores are the finest lot of
players that were ever got together, and
are a credit to the national game. But
Jack naively adds that there were some
men on the team with whom he could
not get along we'll, but that fact does
not make them out to be bad fellows
The existing agreement, under which
the National League operates, has but
four more years to run. What will hap
pen when the time comes to renew it,
Is a problem hard to answer. The east
ern element in the league has long been
grumbling about it's profits being eaten
up in travelling expenses, although New
York and Boston quit far ahead of the
game last fall. They assert that Chicago
Is the only western city that it really
pays to visit, and talk something about
the formation of a national eastern
league when the opportunity is offered.
This would, of course, force the western
clubs into a combination for their own
protection. With two big organizations
in the field there is no telling what
would happen. A. G. Spaulding once re-
marked that no sporting organization
of the National Leagues nature ever
lasted over ten years. This remark is
significant in view of the fact that the
tenth anniversary of the National
League is not so very distant.
The statement made by Director
rsonant of the Boston club, few days
ago. to the effect that the Bostons
might find it necessary to play Sunday
games away from home, is significant.
The tendency of the League during the
past two or three years has been toward
Sunday base ball, and several recruits
among the League managers to that
belief have been found during the pres
snt winter. The statement comes from
freedman that the New Yorks are
going to play Sunday, which means
hat Brooklyn, provided, of course, some
agreement is made whereby they can
nave two teams in Greater New York,
will follow suit. This leaves Boston and
as the only non-Sunday
playing cities. The presidents of both
IF these clubs have several times as
serted that they will not allow Sunday
games, so long as they have a control
ing interest. But since Director Conant
has spoken, it is thought that perhaps
a change of mind has been experienced
by the members of the Boston triumvi-
rate. But, on the whole, this is regard
ed as doubtful.
f'Hobe'' Whiting had a most deserved
honor put upon him last week. by his
election as manager of the Pawtucket
N. E. League team for the coming sea-
son. This will be his first managerial
in base ball, but he is not
entirely new to the business, for during
the past two seasons he has conducted
the indoor polo team there with marked
success When Worcester was in the
polo league. four years ago, 'Hobe"
used to be centre on the local team, and
made himself a great favorite with all
the local cranks. He has repeated the
performance down IN Pawtucket, where
it is said no more popular player ever
wore the word "Pawtucket' across his
uniform. So the congratulations of at
least two cities will be extended to him
on his success Whiting will probably
play his Old position of centre field,
Mike Bradley, who played on the
Worcester team when it was a member
of the New England Association late in
the sos, has blossomed out into politics,
and is now a full-fiedged councilman in
his native city, Lawrence. 1t is predict
ed that his future as a politician will
be as brilliant as it was when he used
to throw balls over to the late Billy
Campion, who was covering the initial
bag at the time. But Bradley's arm
finally went wrong, and then he UNI
PRED for a while. Now, however, ne is
in business in Lawrence, and
taking up politics as a side issue.