The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-03
ON THE BLEACHERS.
Base Ball Situation
in Eastern League
Cities.
MANY LOOKING FOR GROUNDS.
A Change May Be Looked
For in Next Seasons
Circuit.
MANY LOOKING FOR GROUNDS.

A change in the Eastern league can
be looked for to a certainty. Even
president P. T. Powers talks of it. On
the subject he says, 1T is impossible
to say what cities will be found in line
when the battle for the championship
OF 1900 begins. But I will say that it
is possible that one new city may be
taken into the league. 1 can't name
that city yet, because nothing in regard
to change is settled. Buffalo has
1O-year agreement with the American
league"
Providence is included in the make
up or the new league. Frank Hough
OF Philadelphia, secretary of the new
league, was in Providence on business
relating to the new association, and
went away pleased, although nothing
was given out regarding the plans for
the Rhode Island city.
There will be a meeting of the East
ern league in New York. Dec. II, the
same time as the National league
meets
If Providence goes out of the East
ern, it won't have such a serious effect
on the game in Worcester as would
have been feared a year ago. When
tlllo city went INTO lne Eastern lGdSu G
the nearness of Providence and the
possibility of a strong feeling of rivalry
between the cities were frequently
mentioned as a great help towards the
financial success of each club. Such
reasons have always been advanced as
most desirable ones. But the season
proved the fallacY of the reasoning.
Providence and Springfield, neighbour
ing cities, and the ones that would be
1rfxv L. v-nle
comparatively unnoticed by local pat
rons of the game, and Rochester and
Montreal, rivals in playing on account
of excellence and closeless in the race,
were the most desirable opponents OF
the club from a financial standpoint.
This condition of things shows that
Worcester advanced beyond the stage
of small circuits and local rivalry, and
is entitled to a place in the base ball
world where only the relative merits
of the contesting teams create the ri
Valry. For that reason, it doesnt
make much difference about the circuit.
A good article of ball by any visiting
club, no matter where from, will prove
more advantag eous to Worcester than
any local rivalry.
Che guessing contest on the grounds
question is still open, Vice President
f G. Selee hasn't taken any steps
which show the direction in which he
intends to go. His statement that
work should begin at once if new
grounds were to be built and his sub
segment delay III the face of such an
assertion. would lead a person to think
he had decided not to build new park.
But his request for an extension of
the time option on the proposed site
would lead towards contrary opinion.
With the proper amount of patience,
Worcester people win learn his deci-
sion. and be at liberty to cHtlclse 1t
if they are not pleased.
Other cities of the league are pre-
pairing for next season or contemplat-
ing preparations as the Worcester man
agement Some are farther advanced
in the work than the Worcester man
agement Syracuse will have to get
grounds. and is as undecided on site as
the Worcester management Roches-
ter hasn't settled its question of new
grounds, but can easily do so, as II
has two good sites to select from.
Rochester is at present more en-
gaged3on the makeup of the team than
on the grounds question. Burke, Becker
and Conn won't play with the team
next season The new men who nave
been signed are Francis, Shortall ana
Kline. hinfielders, and Walker and Ca
tien. pitchers. Burke. the scrappy
third baseman, will go to Milwaukee,
where he will play under Connie Mack
the East Brookfield man who mas
shown himself a base ball manager OF
the first water. Speaking OF MS pros
poets for next year, Burke says:
Il win be with the Milwaukee clup III
toOo have lust received a letter
from Connie Mack to that effect, ana
as | am the property of tina. club
guess I know my future. / like Roches-
ter. Buckenberger treated me wei ana
SO did the press and public OF that CITY
I consider it a compliment that Man
ager Buckenberger tried to get me Ior
next season. and, of course feel more
or less fiattered at Macks refusal to
part with me. The American league
should be fast next year, and do nope
that the Brewers will be well up in the
race. Mack has had hard luck for sew
eral seasons and is about due to get a
winner. [ am heavy now, but as l
never drink or smoke and my health is
good it will only mean little work
in the spring for me to get into condl-
ton And I'll state positively that III
be in shape when reporting time comes.
A ball player who handicaps himself
by being in bad shape IN 6he early part
of the race. does himself no good.
have seen many a first-class player
get turned down in the spring and
make good later on when he had got
hlmSeI IN COnQlllOu. Il team SSts
off we'll and has no bad luck, it is sure
to be money maker in the early part
of thefttaee. Then if they meet with
reverses the owners feel like putting
out their money to strengthen"
Springfield recently made an attempt
to get together the directors of the
club. but it was not successful A meet
ing has been called for this week
Springfield has no grounds question tc
trouble it, Hampden park, on which
the Springfield team plays, will be
available next, year as for several years
past The club is fortunate in having
such convenient grounds,
ThevFartford enthusiasts are anx-
ious tothave Billie Barnie secure Frank
Bonner of this city for second base of
the 1a0asteam. When Bonner was sold
SSS washington, one of the Hartford
writer's remarked in connection with
the transfer that it would require
some mighty fine engineering" on the
part of Barnie. ito reduce the wrath
of ther people here who pay money al
the gatesp Bonner's success in that
city made him exceedingly popular