The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-10

70
The syndicate feature of the transfer
of Pitcher Meekin from the New York
to the Boston club seems to be imagin-
airy. 1t was made much of because
President Soden of the Boston club is
large stockholder in the New York
club and has friendly personal rela-
tons with Freedman. The following
paragraph from the Pittsburg Leader
places the transaction in its proper
light:
"All talk and fuss about Freedman
giving Jouett Meekin to Boston in Or
der to help that team win the pen
nant and thus get even with Brooklyn,
is nonsense. The truth of the matter
is that Freedman thought Meekin's
days as a pitcher were over, ana he
offered him to the Pittsburg club, but
President Keer thought the same way
and did not take him. At the time
Boston's pitching corps was in bad
shape, and Manager Selee took
chance on the big fellow. There was
no underhand dealing in the matter
at ALL"
The offer of Meekin to the Pittsburg
club, vouched for by c. B. Power, the
sporting editor of the Leader, is proof
that Freedman's purpose in releasing
him was not to increase Boston's
Brooklyn's pennant prospects. Had
President Keer taken advantage of the
opportunity to add the pitcher to his
team there would be no occasion for
criticism or comments on syndicatism.
Freedman's estimate of the ability of
Meekin was manifestly wrong and is
one of the many mistakes he has made
since he secured cont, oil of the New
York club. How much more he could
have favored his friend Soden and re-
Venged himself by retaining Meek:n,
inasmuch as the New York and Brook
lyn clubs have yet to play 10 of their
scheduled games? Five of the last SIX
games Meekin pitched for the Giants
We're defeats and he only won 'wo
games out of II. That was why Freed
man let him go.
A C. Anson's experiences and remin-
iscences as a ball player and manager
will make interesting and instructive
reading for the baseball public and his
book, "A Ball Players Career" should
have large sale. For mora than 80
years the oX-captain IF the Chicago
ball team has been famous as an ath-
lete, and during that time he has met
with some strange and varied expert
ences. He has been praised and abused
in almost every city in the National
league circuit As the manager Of the
Chicago champions he was the idol of
the cranks of that city ami the most
talked-about parsonage IN the game
When his team finished poorly he was
roasted by the press and public. For
years he was considered the greatest
batsman in the business. No one ever
questioned his honesty during his ling
career. "Old Anse" has always been
open and above board IN his private
and professional life. On his retire
ment from the Chicago club, MS friends
offered to raise a purse for MIN as
.1n.as t,aNl 10
permit it, His manly course on that
occasion was in keeping with the indie
pendenee' which has marked his ca
reer.
The prospects are that there will be
many sta.e leagues in the field next
season, says the Sporting News. The
failure of the Atlantic league has led
20 a movemen, for the formation of
circui. IF Pennsylvania cities N 1900,
and reports indicate that such progress
has been. made that It's success IS os-
sured ,Eoifolk, Portsmouth, Newport
News, Petersburg and Hampton will,
with another city to be selected, COM
prise the Virginia league. The vacancy
will not be filled until Richmond has
had an opportunity to secure fran
chise in a more important organiza-
ton. The Connecticut, New York,
Texas and California leagues will be
reorganized and others may be formed
this fall. Special attention should be
paid to securing compact circuit and
the maintenance of a modest salary
limit. well-equipped four-club league
is far preferable to an eight-club or
ganization with one or more weak
members. "a r
The resignation. of Mr., Lynch from
Presidents Young staff of umpires de-
prives the National league of the serv-
Ices of its best disciplinarian. Lynchs
success in controlling the players is
easily explained. He maintains the
dignity of his position and will not toll
crate tactics which other UNI pires per-
init. He checks characterization with
n fine. and if the offender persists in
violating the rules he is promptly put
out of the game. Mr.. Lynch will de-
vote his time between now and the OPP
ening of the National league race to
the management of a theater at Bridge !
port Conn. His temporary retirement |
from umpiring is to be regretted.
There seems 20 be little probability |
of MERGERS becoming an Oriole. Pres
fdent Earl Wagner's latest utterance on |
the subject is as follows:
.I could have disposed of Winnie |
Mercer for a big cash offer to the Bal |
tirnore club, but I concluded that if |
Winnie was worth all this lucre to the
Oriole management. he must be of some |
value to the Washington club. First /
MeGraw offered to figure one OF his