The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-07
ANACONDA NEWS.
WINTER BASEBALL TALK
The Warm Weather Makes the
Pitcher Feel of His Arm.
OUTLOOK FOR THIS YEAR
Reasons Why State League Would
Be practicable-Passing Of Cap
tain Anson-Notes Concerning
the Players of the Leagues.

This nice, warm weather. that makes
ice men and skating rink men swear,
puts a little bug in the brain of the
baseball player. There never yet ex-
listed a baseball crank that could let
pass couple of warm days after jan
uary 81 without making some remark
about baseball, and the cranks in Ana
conda are no exception to this rule.
While they realize that many freezing
cold day must yet be gone through be-
fore spring really comes, yet they can
not resist the insinuating effects of
balmy day upon their baseball soft
spots.
sg AS was the case last year, the outlook
for a Montana state league is very
poor. There was talk in 1897 OF this
organizing a state league but so far
nothing has been done toward bring
ing the matter up. In fact, it is the
opinion of nearly all those who have
been familiar with baseball affairs in
Montana during the past few years
that a baseball league is almost an
impossibility There are many reasons
for this and the principal one I'M
doubtedly is that the teams of a league
in this state would necessarily have to
be made up entirely of paid men, for
it is a tried and proven fact that a
man cannot hold a position and play
ball regularly. If league We're formed
each club would have to play at least
three games a week, and there are few
positions where incumbents may be
absent three or four days in each week.
And to have a league the teams of
which consisted of players who received
a salary for their work would be out
of the question. For instance, few
players could be secured for less than
SIS a month and the batteries and
other stars would command all the way
from 500 to $3.50 per month. At least
II players would have to be kept on
the list. That would make the average
monthly payroll of eeach club more
than $1,000. Besides this there would
be the necessary expenses for para
phernalia. hotels and the great item of
railway transportation. There may be
one town in Montana-Butte-tha
could stand the maintenance of
league club but the other cities would
find it next to impossible to do so.
Then again. in view of last years
discouragingly small patronage, it is
hardly likely that any one who has the
capital to tackle the proposition would
care to do so, for 1t is apparent that
any one who tries it will find it a very
expensive venture.
So far as Anaconda is concerned. this
city will have baseball club of about
the same strength as that of last sum-
mef, though this latter statement Is
by no means certain. While most of
those who played in last years team
are still in the city and will probably
be here when the season opens. there
are some who have gone away, and
others who are discouraged over last
years Indifferent success, and it is by
no means certain that Anaconda's
1898 baseball team will hold it's own in
comparison with the club of 1897. Butte,
it is understood, will also have club
and word comes from that city that
int tp6
than an ordinary effort to put a team
in the field that will be able to hold it's
own against outside teams. If Butte
should really organize d strong team,
it may be that AnacondaS cranks
would wake up and do likewise.
The following Chicago letter to the
Sporting News regards Captain An
son. will prove interesting:
"A few days yet remain before Captain
A. c. Ansonis 10-year contract with the
Chicago ball club expires. Hart is as I'M
communicative on the subject as he was
eight weeks ago. Those who are familiar
with the baseball situation, however. now
believe the veteran manager will be
tired by the expiration of his contract.
Many reasons are adduced for the be-
lief. If Arson was to be retained over
lures would have been made TO him long
before this Plans for the next season
would have been made. grounds for spring
practice selected and the hundred and
one details for the season arranged.
Nothing at all in that line has been done.
Neither President Hart A. G. SpaudinG
nor Captain Arson himself have had
word to say in regard to the future The
public would long ago have been re-
moved from all doubt if change were
not to take place.
another and more recent reason is also
cited. Developments were expected last
All Ia tpr ali i've
thought something definite would be an
nounced. President Hart still returns the
same stereotyped answer of nothing
new 1t is said Captain Arson does not
expect his contract to be renewed. While
so many rumors have been circulated
about the manager and his future plans,
the best of reasons now exist why he
will not be manager of the Colts for next
season. They cannot be made public
THE change will be popular with the
great majority of local patrons of the
game. They respect his ball playing and
his good qualities. but they think the
time has come when some one else can
secure better results from the material
AT hand. just who will be selected to sue
coed Arson is a problem. Tom Burns
appears the logical candidate. II is known
that he would like to again be in this
city. No negotiations have been carried
on with him. Burns himself admits it. and
President Hart emphatically affirms the
fact.
Scarcely any manager would prove
more acceptable to the fans At the