Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-19
MURNANE'S BASE BALL TALK

near future. For years Cleveland has
made good fight, to finish disappointed,
while Cincinnati has ever been counted out
almost before the opening, and, with the
exception of the time when that great
player, Buck Ewing. handled the reins, the
Reds had no chance. Cleveland, the most
delightful spot on earth to play a sum-
mer engagement, has never COPIED off a
real winner. although usually having a
fine team, while Boston and Chicago con-
sidered extremely cold in the spring and
fall, have carried off no less than twenty
two blue ribbons for superior excellency in
base ball, Boston leading with fifteen wins,
besides winning the championship OF the
American Association in 1891. Chicago is
second. with six National and one Ameri-
can medal. Then comes in order New
York, four; Baltimore, Pittsburg and Phil
adephia with three each: Providence, two,
and Detroit one. The first big honors for
Brooklyn was in 1890, when the league was
badly weakened by the loss of great play
ers to the Players League. The first PEN
nant to the Athletics was in II, when Bos-
ton, Chicago and the Quakers played of a
tie at Brooklyn, and the Athletics won out.
| believe the above to be an accurate ac-
count of the winners. although taken from
memory. Thirty-one of these champion
ships have gone to cities located close to
the salt water, while three of the four
cities failing to land winner are inland
and mostly with mild china ties In the spring
and fall and with extra long spells of warm
weather during the playing season. Heavy
teams are seldom winners in cities located
In warm climates, while cities like Chicago.
Detroit New York and Boston have on
up of extra large men for the base ball pro-
fession.
Frank V. Dunn writes me from Philadci-
phia to say that he is now a full-hedged
American League rooter, and will soon
show the public what poor sportsmen the
Il, Nh
Mr. Dunn has learned that running popu-
lar theatrical enterprise is like tossing cop
pers compared to closing a deal with
well-.-a,ned base ball magnate. The 5000
forfeit money is still in President Soden's
safe. with new combination on the lock.
The members of the American League
will hold their annual meeting at Chicago
next Wednesday. After discussing the
base ball situation the magnates viii wind
ND by agreeing to let Ban Johnson settle
the whole affair In his own way. President
Tavlor of the Boston Club Is for the long
schedule once more, and is for doing away
with the foul strike rule. In this connec-
ton 1t might be well to suggest that the
home plate can be made one foot wide In
stead of eighteen inches simply by placing
Il at right angles with the pitcher, as 1T
was a few years ago, In this way forcing
the pitchers to keep the ball in a smaller
circle and helping the batsmen.
I learn from reliable authority that the
class A alliance will meet In Frisco early
in January even should President p. T.
Powers call the annual meeting of the Ma
tional Association in one OF the eastern
cities as the result of request from a
large majority of the leagues making up
the organization. on the ground that Cali
fornia is too far away to depend on
quorum being present. Under the present
rules the national board has full control
of the association and must be made up
of three members from class A out OF five
selected- II might be good plan TO allow
the class A alliance to run their own bust
ness, while the rest of the association
handled their own affairs. the national
commission, acting as a judge in all dis
putes. Before the class A leagues COM
menced to agftate the National Association
was happy family, and no doubt would be
once more, II relieved Of the alliance.
This looks Ike the proper solution