The times., 1899-10-17
THE BASEBALL OUTLOOK
President Young's Report Will
Soon Be Forthcoming.
A Trio of Senator's Have n Batting
Average of Over Three Hundred
Excellent Showing of the Phil
adeiphias-Western Clubs VIII Be
strengthened All Along the Lines.

President Young expects to complete his
report of players averages by the last of
the week. Until that official document is
promulgated all the published statements
of averages are simply approximations. 1t
is safe, however, to say that the Washing
ton club will have at least three men bat
ting over 300-Freeman, with an sverage
of 31S, and Mercer and Barry of 303 each.
McGann. while he has batted over 500
clip since joining the Washingtons, has
only an average of 29S which includes his
work while with Brooklyn, and which
will go upon the records as his batting
average for the season. His fielding aver
age is up among the top-notchers, stand
ing at 9S6. 1t is coincidence that he
made the same average while with the
Brooklyns. Had McGann made one more
base hit his batting average would have
been 500 on the season. His normal bat
ting average is about 335. Dinneen will
show up a batting average of 296 Padden
will stand at 2S5 Dick fell off in his bat
ting during the last two months of the
would have been around the 300 mark.
Among the clubs that have improved
their standing in the League during the
season just closed the Philadelphia team
stands pre- eminent. In speaking of their
Improvement the philadelphia Press" has
this to say: While the local club did not
gain all that 1t was hoped it might in per-
centages, it makes much better show
ing than it has for some years. In 1898
it stood sixth in the list, having played
151 games, of which rs were won ana u
lost and one was a tie. Its percentage
of victories was .523. In 1897 the Phila-
delphia club was tenth in the list, with
only 90 successful games to its credit,
while II were lost and its percentage of
victories was AT. Only 1872 games were
played. Three years ago the 'Phillies also
played 132 games, of which 62 were won
and 50 were lost, and one was tie The
percentage then was AIT, and the club
stood eighth in the list. But in 1888 the
'Phillies' stood third in the list, having
played again 1872 games, winning rs and
losing SO, while one was tied. They then
had percentage of .595. The percentage
of games won this year is a little better
than in 1885,
The management of the Philadelphia Club
has spent several years of experiments and
about $6S 600 in money in rounding out a
winning ball club and, with proper ham
ding the present team is easily the fastest
in the League. 1t leads in the number
of hard hitting batsmen, while its pitch
ing staff is normally strong. II is in the
latter department that it needs rehabilita-
tion With one additional star left-hand
pitcher the club would be the peer OF all
comers.
With the New York Club in line, the
outlook for next season is much more prom
ising than for several years past This club
with its present staff of players, strength
ened at one or two weak places, will be a
very formidable one, The Western clubs
will make the fight of their lives next
season for pennant honors. Pittsburg has
one of the strongest teams it has had for
years, and il is the purpose of the club
owners TO strengthen ii at material points,
Chicago, which proved a dismal failure this
season, is to be reinvigorated with the best
talent that can be procured, and possible
change in its management which is contem-
plated should make it a very troublesome
opponents. President Hart realizes that his
Chicago patrons Will not stand for mediocre
ball playing, and if he expects to make
baseball profitable in Chicago, he must give
them the best in the market Hart is re-
if necessary to get a winning club.
With that sort of spirit he viii not fail of
success.
John T. Brush, President of the Cincin-
natl club, who has spent more money and
worked more indefatigably to build up and
maintain the sport than any of the League
magnates has been in the saddle so to
speak, since midsummer in search of play
ing talent, and in that time has secured
some stars. In Outfielders Barrett and
Crawford he has secured two of the bright
est stars that have appeared in the base
ball armament for many seasons. With
the accomplishment Of some other deals
which 1t is said he has in contemplation
his team will make vigorous fight for the
pennant of 1900. And no friend of the
game in the country would regret TO have
him win it.
The Washington club now has the nu-
cleus of good team and it is the intention
of the owners to spare no expense in get
ting together club that will not only be
a winner, but a credit to one of the best
baseball cities in the country. Some con-
templated changes and deals now on the
tapis that will doubtless be accomplished
will give this city a team that is bound to
stand well up in the first division.
The prevalent opinion among the mag
mates is that the twelve-club membership
will continue until the expiration of the
ten-year limit This is inevitable from the
fact that there is not one club in the
League that would voluntarily relinqush
its franchise, nor is there League mag
nate who will advance a cent to purchase
the franchise of club that would be will
ing TO sell out and as these are the only
ways that the League membership can be
reduced it is idle to discuss it. There
may be, and doubtless will be, some
changes in the locatiC5 of at least one of
the League clubs, but no change in the
present membership, if the statements of
those intimately interested can be relied
upon.