The times., 1899-03-11
news AND GOSSIP OF
TIE NATIONAL GAME
The Passing of a Once.Famous
Manager.
A Significant Order Issued to the
Cleveland Club.
Tom Lynch's Qualifications for su-
EcrVisor of Umpires-Condition
of the Giants.

Wednesday saw the passing OF a figure
} famous in baseball history when William
| Ii. McGunnigie died at Brockton Mass. of
consumption after a long illness. Since
1873, when he first played professional bali
with the FAN River Club, he has played
nearly every position on the field with
Eastern and Western teams, and in the
past few years has been Il popular ana
successful manager. He retired in 1896
after successful financial management OF
the Louisville Club and up to a few months
ago was active in business at BrOckion.
McGunnigle was eighteen years old when
he Joined the Fall River team after Two
seasons in the Massachusetts League. lie
remained at Fall River three years. In
1873 and until 1880 he was with Buffalo,
in 1888 he captained the Saginaw, Mich,
team, and in 1884 he went to Bay City,
where he caught the pitching OF John
Clarkson, but the year following came East
and managed the Brockton team in the
New England League, which he also cap
tained. After a year at Lowell, where he
also brought out a championship team,
McGunnigle went into the big League,
managing Brooklyn, which he brought in
second and then first in the American AS
sociation. In 1890, when Brooklyn Joined
the National League, McGunnigle had an
other successful season. He managed
Brockton successfully in 1891 and 1899. The
next year he went to Lowell AT the close
of the season he quit baseball and went
into the shoe business. In 1896 McGunni-
gle was slated as manager OF Louisville.
Here his proyerbal good luck seemed to
forsake him, and the team lost game after
game by one run. The season, however,
was a success financially. and 1t was ex-
ed bar bp bp nj in
1897. He was not engaged. however, ana
the treatment he received seemed TO has
ten his decision to close his baseball ca
reer.
Ed Mexican and Jesse Burkett have
signed Cleveland contracts. This leaves
only Powell Young, and O'ConnOr 10 sign.
The men already in the fold are Tebeau,
Wallace, Childs. Blake Criger thinner,
Schrecengost, McAllister, Cuppy, Jones,
Bates Wilson and Hedrck, making with
Burkett and Mexican, fifteen men under
contract. Powell will join the team Tues
day at st. Louis, where the club viii lay
over for a day, and has promised 10 sign Il
contract then. Young will sign This
week" says Tebeau, and O'Connor will
come into line, too. He is not holding
out for more salary, as has been stated"
1t is regarded as somewhat significant that
the Cleveland team should be ordered TO
rest in the Mound City is the day the st.
Louis Club is 10 be sold at auction.
The selection of Joe Kelly as captain
of the Brooklyn team, which now seems
a foregone conclusion, will be serious
blow 10 the Oriole club. as il means Nc
Gann's transfer to the City OF Churches.
Good judges believe that with McGann on
first base and Kelly in the outfleld, Mama
ger Hanlon will materially strengthen the
"Oriogrooms. Kelly can outfeld Grif-
fin, McGann can outplay Kelly on first
base and McGann can Outbat Griffin. 1t
is now likely that LaChance will cover the
initial sack for the Orioles, and with
proper handling McGraw may make
first-cass player out OF the big French
man.
In casting about for a competent man TO
fill the position OF supervisor OF umpires,
a position created at the last meeting of
the League il would be well 10 take Tom
Lynch into consideration. Lynch is without
doubt the best umpire in the country. He
possesses the firmness and knowledge OF
an umpire's proper behavior to make him
the ideal man for the place. According 10
the views of Col. John |. Rogers a man TO
be competent supervisor must be fearless
and practical. He must be able to see AZ
a glance whether an umpire is doing his
duty as regards the enforcement of the
rules and he must be quick in his judg-
ment when a complaint TO the President o!
the League is necessary. Tom Lynch
has always been for the enforcement of the
rules, and is fearless in the performance OF
his duties. He is a man OF education. and
is fair and impartial. AS the New York
sun" SAYS, his long experience as an UNI
pire fits him to drill into the proper form
new and inexperienced umpires. who,
though possessing the right kind of judg-
mcnt, need a little coaching. In favor oil
Lynch's appointment. it is argued that he
could travel about the country watching
the work of the umpire stan and would
play 10 favorites. He would be much NOR,
than a mere figurehead and would be OF
great service TO both President Young and
the League. If the new office has not been
created so that somebody may be pen
stoned il would appear as If Lynch might
land it with the proper backing.
Six Giants-Rusie. Meekin, Seymour
Gleason. Warner, and Gettg-refuse 10
sign contracts with the New York Club for
the season of 1899. Ten Giants-Davis,
Doyle. Van Haltren, Foster Doheny Car
rick Tiernan. Hartman, Wilson, and
Grady-have attached their autographs TO
contracts With the exception OF second
base. every position is filled. But the
most valuable men on the team are among
the recalcltrantS. JACK warner ndu d ID
with Manager Day yesterday and informed
that boss" that he would not play with
the Giants the coming season for the
| same money he received last. year. Jack
also stated that his threat was no spring
bluff" but meant business.
The following members OF The Cincn-
natl team are at Columbus. Ga. with
Buck" Ewing: Breitenstein, Ph Hips.
! Taylor. Damman, Vaughn, Woods, Me
Phee. Irwin Corcorar. Smith. SeIbach,
Miller, and Mcbride Dwyer and Beckiey
are at Hot Springs, Ark. and will reach
Columbus Monday. Pietz is i'll at his home
with the grip. PINK Hawley is the only
recalcitrant He has not yet had a
ference with President Brush about the
| temperance clause in the contract.
The sporting editor of the Cleveland
Press is the latest to throw his guess
| into the "pipe-dream'' archives. He
writes in a recent issue: From source
close up to the throne, of which Frank
de Haas Robson loves to talk, it Is learned
| that the National League magnates, a.
their meeting in New York last week
| virtually decided TO begin the season with
| twelve clubs. but 10 drop Cleveland and
| Baltimore by May 10. in the event of the
second rate teams in these two cities los
| ing too much money. 1t is the hope of
the club owners that the rejuvenated
| teams in St Louis and Brooklyn will make
| enough money to warrant the League in
| carrying Cleveland and Baltimore and
| thus shutting off any possible OPPOSITION