The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-12

tween the magnates of the American
league and the National league comes the
end OF a baseball war that has been
waged unreentingly for more than two
years, and which at one time threatened
TO seriously endanger the sport in this
country.
The war was brought about chiefly by
the methods pursued by the National
: league owners, and particularly by the
advent OF Andrew Freedman into baseball
as the owner Of the New York club. Be
cause OF the inability OF Freedman to
absolutely control the National league he
begun rule or ruin policy which grad
ually brought about his retirement from
the sport.
But the experience with Freedman cost
every man interested In baseball n good
deal of money. The losses suffered by
the National league owners In the two
years the war was waged may be figured
Up at something like a half million. and
In addition 10 this, the services OF play
ers who were considered 10 be OF great
value as attractions for the patrons OF
the sport.
The success of the American league and
the knowledge OF its success was what
brought the National league TO terms. for
the ability with which Ban johnson
handled his forces. combined with the
support given him by the people was
something that could not be successfully
combatted by the National league mag
mates
But no matter what Mr.. Johnson's
ability and resources he and those asso.
ciated with him could never have sue
ceeded had not the people been with him,
and IL has been demonstrated that I'm
baseball. quite as much as in almost
everything else, public sentiment must be
considered and secured by those who
wish to secure public patronage.
The smoking of the pipe OF peace has
apparently put an end 10 the differences
which have existed for the past two
years. and from now on IL is assumed
that both leagues will work together 10
the common end Of giving the people the
best article of ball that can be given. Be
cause the teams Are in friendly competi-
tion in the big cities IL does not follow
the people will not offer patronage. The
best team In cities where there are two,
teams will probably get the major share
OF the attendance. but IL is up TO the
merits of the sport fairly and squarely
and the best team should win.
II has been effectively demonstrated in
Louis, that two teams can exist. and this
year the American league will have a
team In New York. which will place COM
peting teams in five OF the IL cities I'm
which the two leagues are represented
There Ia ample room for other teams, for
Baltimore, which was looked upon as n
possible locality for competition between
the two leagues, is still available, and
would well support team that won a
fair proportion of the games played.
The fear the American league would in
wade Pittsburg with Baltimore as debat-
able ground and with the realization that
the people were giving splendid support
TO the American league, was what
brought the National league to terms.
forced the retirement OF Freedman and
the overtures for peace from the National
league.
Ban Johnson made good all that he had
promised the people he would do. the Ma
tional league was compelled 10 make con-
cess1ons that IL has been affirmed never
would be made. and the conference has
ended with the American league decidedly
on tor. The American league has also
captured from the National league and
the New York, Brooklyn and Pittsburg
teams have suffered a great deal because
or the inroads made upon them.
In New York. where they will be great
interest in the friendly competition be-
tween the teams OF the two leagues. the
Belvllle as backstops; Griffith, Chesbro.
Jesse Tannehill. Wiltse, Adkins. Wolf
and Howell as pitchers: Camel at first,
Williams at second. Long a. short Con-
l<eeler, n. Mcfarland and Courtney in
the field. II will be seen that this team
I<eeler OF the Brooklyns. ard that I'm ad.
ditlon 10 seven first class pitchers the
TEAM will have a splendid lnfield and
what may be considered as an outfeld
Despite the hustltng Of McGraw. who
announced from TIME to time he has sign
cd about everybody in. the baseball world
worthy of consideration as players. he
has gotten in addition 20 the men I'm last
year team Warner of tho Boston Ameri-
cans, Mertes OF Chicago and Gilbert OF
the old Baltimore team.
In philadelphia the Athletics are practi-
cally intact the only man not with the
team team Of cons.equsnce being Dave Fnltz;
team will not be in the same class with
this team
In Boston Jimmy Collins will show the
Of FIVE new men. two OF them pitchers,
while he has also got Jones who broke
into the American league last season
with Baltimore. and who Is looked upon
as being one Of the most promising ~
young PLAYERS In the two leagues. The
National league team has got Piatt ot
last years Chicago 1merfcanS, Abbat-
tachio and Bonner 10 All the vacancy
caused by the desertion OF Herman Long
In st. Louis the American league has
fdenticaliv the same team Il had last
year. and the National team has % men
under contract. and Of these none arc
more than ordinary men. The team will
not be stronger than u was last year.
Comfskey was corslled for the Chicago
Americans Big I'D Dunkle and Patsy
Flahertv, both from the Louisville team.
who will line up on the firing line with
Callahan. Patterson White and owens.
while the innch and outheld will be
stronger than n wear since
Under these conditions - would seem
on general principles that the American
league has the long end I'm the cities
where there will be competition. In De-
troit there will be good American team
and In washinEton the American team
will be stronger than last year. The
Cleveland team VIII he In the running
from start 10 finish. I'm the National