The times., 1898-09-26

year in Cleveland against Cincinnati, and
the Cincinnati scorers claimed that three
plays that were scored as errors should
have been hits.
Until this year it was a rare occurrence
to see fewer than five hits in a game
In the first four months of this season
no fewer than eighty-five games were
pitched in which one side or the other
made five hits. In thirty-eight games one
side or the other made fewer than four
hits. The following shows some of the
more remarkable pitching feats of the
season, the name of the pitcher being fol-
lowed by the club against which he ac-
complished the feat.
NO HITS.
Hughes, Boston.
Donahue, Boston.
Breitenstsesin, Pitsburg.
ONE HIT.
Maui, Philadelphia.
Lewis. Brooklyn.
Magee, Brooklyn.
Rus;e. Brooklyn.
Seymour, Louisville.
TWO HITS.
Maui, Cleveland.
Hughes, Washington and Boston.
Sudhoff, Brooklyn and Louisville.
Griffith, Louisville.
Frazer, Brooklyn.
Rusie, Cleveland.
Powell, ST. Louis.
Fifield, Chicago.
Willis. St. Louis.
THREE HITS.
McJames. Pittsburg.
Maui, St. Louis and Cincinnati.
Bowling, ST. Louis and Boston.
Gardner. Baltimore and Cleveland.
Young, Philadelphia.
Powell, Boston.
Sudhoff. Louisville.
Klobedanz, Philadelphia.
Swain. Chicago.
Jones. Philadelphia.
Kennedy. Pittsburg.
Hastings, New York.
Lewis, Brooklyn.
HILL New York.
Among the four-hit games McJames
pitched one against Philadelphia and one
against Chicago; Hughes pitched one
against Cleveland and one against Pitts
burg; Kitson, one against Pittsburg and
one against St. Louis. and Pond, one
against Pittsburg.
Frank Hough says in the Philadelphia
Inquirer: THE developments of every
year only accentuate the wisdom of an
early return TO the conditions which eX-
listed previous to the Brotherhood revolt,
Every argument that was brought to
demonstrate the unwisdom of the ANAL
gamation the time it was made stands
good today. The people have gradually
lost faith in the game as a sport not that
it is less clean and honest than il was,
but because of the complete subjugation
of the sporting end to the business end.
Then the asinine legislation of the past
two years has tended to disgust many.
OF course there can be only one champion
club, be the league composed of eight
clubs or twelve; but with the latter
number there can be more tail enders
and a club does not have to be tenth or
lower to be considered a tail ender.
There should be a return TO the old con-
ditions-two. 5organiza tions of eight clubs
each. A few clubs might be losers, but
the majority would be bound TO be sub
stantial gamers in the long run
We do not agree with Mr.. Hough in
the opinion that "the public have lost
faith in the game a sport" AS a mat
ter of fact. the public care very little
either about the legislative or executive
departments of the game. Their interest
is only manifested so far as the playing
Of the game is concerned All they care
game from start TO finish. In cities where
the local club is playing a fast and win
ming game, there has been no diminuton
in the attendance. notwithstanding this
has appeared TO be an off year.
In Mr.. Hough's own city, Philadelphia
the attendance there has been much
larger than 1t was the previous season.
for the reason that the present club is
much stronger than its predecessor, A
similar situation exists at Louisville AT
Pittsburg, when the team was playing
excellent ball, the old-fashioned big
crowds of the past were in attendance;
with the recent slump in the team there
has been marked falling off in the at
tendance. Give the public good ball play
ing and they will attend the games, it
matters not TO them whether it is fur
nished by an eight or twelve league club
Whether We are TO have a twelve or
eight league club is a matter directly con-
corning the men whose money is invested
in the business. The men who are pro-
noting and supporting the game are
those who are acknowledged to be en-
dowed with business sagacity-who would
not be so blind to their own interest as
to "subjugate the sporting end to the
business end They are too much alive
TO their own interest to make any such
mistake. They very well know that in
order to realize anything from their in
Vestments they must give to their patrons
pleasing and satisfactory exhibitions.
Whether or not return to the condi-
tions existing previous to the brotherhood
revolt would afford more pleasing enter
tainment for the public and better finan-
cial results to the magnates, and these
are the only questions to be considered,
is problematical, and will require serious
consideration. Much can be said both
affirmatively and negatively upon the
proposition.
There is no question that last years
imbecile legislation of the National
League is in a considerable measure re-
sponsible for the unrest and dissatisfac-
tion prevalent in the league today. Yet
these are evils which the necessities of
the situation must and will overcome
without an appeal to the feelings and
prejudices of those who are constantly
harboring a grievance.