The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-17
SPORTING NEWS.
The National League Season
Opens Thursday.
brooklyn Is Again Expected to
Land the Pennant.
BOSTON FOR SECOND.
st. Louis or Pittsburg Chosen
by Wise Ones For Third,
With Cincinnati and Philadel-
phia Close Up to Them.

New York, April 17.-Almost the IN
animous choice for the championship
ball team of 1900 by the wise newspaper
men is Brooklyn. They place their be-
lief in the teams strength not only in
the admirable showing that it made
during the summer of 1899 but because
Manager Hanlon has added men from
the old Baltimore team who they believe
will assist Brooklyn greatly in retaining
the championship this year.
The Evening Telegram has asked the
baseball writers of the different news
papers in league cities for a prediction
as to the final positions of the clubs at
the end of the coming season. twenty
three of them believe that Brooklyn VIII
win the penrant; four are OF opinion
that Boston has strengthened enough
to win it this year; one Ph1ladelpnla
enthusiast can see the Quakers coming
in first; a confident st. Louis writer IS
of opinion that the St. Louis team has
chance to beat the others under the WIRE
while Pittsburg has one friend who be-
Heves that championship honorS are
about due for the Smoky City.
If Brooklyn is a strong first choice
this year, Boston is every bit as strong
for second place. seventeen experts
place Brooklyn and Boston as the nrSt
two clubs. They are of opinion that the
bulk Of the fight will lie between the
team from Long Island and that from
New England Three writers believe
that St. Louis will finish second FER
haps more would have wavered IN their
affection for Boston had it been certain
that the st. Louis club would receive
the services of McGraW and Robinson
1t is rather interesting to note the
opinions as to the CLUB that Will nIllsh
last in the race. Philadelphia and west
ern critics evidently can see nothing
very good in the New York nine, ana
their combined opinion. with that OF one on
or two others in the east, records M
teen selections for New York to finish
in eighth place.
Chicago comes second for eighth place,
with seven guesses, and Clnclnnau III
third with six
The two PENNSYLVANIA clubs are pick
ed for sure pennant winners in their re-
spective towns, while among the ira
ternity third and fourth places is the
very best accorded them.
Pittsburg has the strongest team
without any question. but has no record
of staying qualities, pronounced weak
ness with the Quakers also. Too much
will be expected off the Pittsburg boys,
and finding the journey long one they
are all the more likely to lay down
their heavy load before the driving
| finish.
The Quakers will hardly repeat their
| fine performance of last season, as they
depend too much on the hitting of two
or three men, who are likely to fall on
| in stick work this season against the
array of great talent engaged for the
big league. The Phillies are the only
one of the eight clubs not strengthened
| for this season, and if Pittsburg can
beat out st. Louis for third place II
looks like a low position for Richter
| coming champions.
The championship season will be open
ed next Thursday with Philadelphia in
| Boston, Brooklyn in New York, Pitts
| burg in st. Louis and Chicago in en-
| cinnati. This will give each city Dig
attraction, and the fans will be out IN
| earnest from the start, as indications
point to a banner year in baseball
The eight clubs of the league will
| average about seventeen players when
/ the season is under full Roadway. Most
] of these men will have regulations to
| sustain and will hustle to hold their
| places against the army of young talent
] fast coming to the front. Very few
| newcomers will be seen on the field at
the start, as the reduction from twelve
to eight clubs gave the old clubs
chance to strengthen from the league
PLAYERS already known to the league cir
/ cult.
The league will carry about 100 play
| ers this season; over one-half viii be
battery timber, lot of which is not fast
enough for fast company, simply car
ried along with hope Of accidentally
| running down phenomenon.