The times., 1899-08-13
GOSSIP OF THE DIAMOND.
Newsy Paragraphs About the Fa
yorites OF the Fans.

yorites OF the Fans.
The grand stand at the Louisville Base
ball Park was consumed by fire yesterday.
1t is supposed the blaze originated from an
electric wire during storm prevailing at
that time. Loss, $4,000. Insurance $4,000.
President Dreyfuss announces that he will
build a new stand at once.
The release of Stafford by the Boston club
was unexpected and Is unexplained. He has
been very valuable auxiliary to that club.
| He can play any infeid or outfeld position
and play it well, and has batting per cent
| of over 300. He will be sought after by
some club that needs his services.
The burning of the Louisville grand stand
] will likely compel the transfer of games
| from that city as there are no grounds
there that are available for National League
contests.
Thirteen straight games puts Cincinnati
very much in evidence IL they can keep
I'D the pace for few days they will be up
in swell society, and Ewing, who a rev
weeks ago was maIigned, will again be the
idol of the Porkopolis fans.
The Cleveland club is at present en-
ployed in boosting the Giants up the pen
uant ladder. They have unselhshly con-
| tributed in this way to other clubs in the
League, thus fulfilling the destiny for
which they were created.
| Five thousand dollars is big price for
pitcher, but when pennant is at stake
| il is cheap enough. But was 1t paid Tor
Meekin?
4 .zt~ klxrn cad m ar
thing that looks like syndicate ball. Yet
| when the occasion arises he does not hesi-
| tate 10 call on his friend and business part
ner Freedman, for the loan OF man.
! The release of Meekin to the Boston
\ Club is not a surprise to those VINO are
familiar with the Boston-New YORK SIT
uation. President Soden is large STOCK
| holder in the New York Club, and the re-
llations between him and Andrew Freed
man are of most friendly character.
Soden is really the only man In the League
that enjoys Freemans commence. IL is
not strange, therefore that the New YORK
magnate should be willing TO help friend
In need. The first reports sent out from
New York were that $1,000 was PAID for
Meekin's release This has been denied,
and the statement made that the man went
TO Boston without a monetary consioera-
tion.
| The umpire question is always theme
for popular discussion, and viii continue
to be as long as the game OF paseoaii Is
played. There is no position under the sun
SO difficult to fill satisfactorily as that oi
an umpire. However strongly he may be
] endorsed as to competency and honesty
I the managers players, lackeys, bat boys
| and bootblacks of the losing club VIII lay
the cause of defeat at the door OF the um-
pire and in their rage and disappointment
will go so far as to, charge him with dis
honesty or crooked work while the VIC
torious club will give him a certificate oi
| good character and endorse his work as
| being OF the highest order. The criticism
| Of an umpire depends altogether upon
/ whose OK has been gored. THESE annoy
ances could all be remedied by proper leg
islation by the League. 1t should require
from the umpires strict and impartial en-
! forcemeent of all laws, rules, or instruc-
tions eonfided to them by proper authority
His failure to enforce them in the slightest
particular should be grounds for immediate
removal The umpire should be empow'
| cred to infict a fine with fixed limit, anC
| to remove from the game any player Iol
personal abuse or other conduct aHectiht
the dignity and harmony of the game o
| the rights and pleasure OF the patrons
The statement that has been made that th'
| only cluDS InaC get JuSliCe itoii. 80
pre are those that are continually padger
J ing and abusing him is not true state
ments to that affect not only tend TO en-
courage the tough element OF ball player
, to persist in their rcwdy tactics, put one
a premium for disorder upon the ball neid
The magnates alone are responsive 10
the frequent scenes of disorder upon TN
diamond If they had the same regard 10
| the interests and pleasure of their patron
as they have in shielding some rowd.
! blackguard who happens to be upon thei
} pay roll. the game would improve, ana IN
} diamond would not be theatre Tor TN
enactment OF senseless brawls and dis