Volume 7: Stories, 1871-1880 earneat any position. Peu.rce, or the Atlantica, Is an efll!otive oatoller for a abort man and has excelled. we eaw blm oatcb behind Creighton tn handsome style. Be IS especially keen In watching points. Dlcli: wUI play 1118 old position at sllort 11eld tn the Atllr.ntlc nine tbts Eeason. Here lie IS at home. E. Wbite, or the Forest City nine, or Oleveland, played In several games dnrJ.Dg 1810 as catcher, ·ana played well too. He~ tn fact, I! a verrpromlslog player fn the posi tion, ana mali:es an exoeuent change ca:cher now. Tile following are the batting averages ot 11rst base hits or the catchers or 1870, as tar as published:- 1' /ayerr. Club. .A•. Ptaverr. Club. .A#. THE PROFESSIONALS OF 1870. Pe•rce ••• AIIanllc •• •• ••••. •• (~ IAllison . . C!nclnnall . •• . .••. '1-te 8. King ..Chicago •.••.•...•. IHIO E Whlle.For. 0111, Olevel'd.Z-63 REVIEW llrO 2. Hodea . ..•Chicago •• . . . , •.•. 9-H McGeary. Haymakers. ••••••• 2-28 collttnulng our review of the aatchers of 1870, we 11nd HeVey . •• Claclnnall ...... 9-J"I Hlcko .. . Star •. .••• ...... 2-07 next on our ust of noted playere the name or David Bird· Malone . • Alhlellc .•••.••••• s-:16 0. Illlila . •:Mutual.. •. . ,, ., •• 2-03 Fergw&'n.AUantlc . . , ••.•••.. S-U51 Craver ... Haymakers ....•..2-{JO 11811 of ~he Unions, a model player In the position lor Rasi.lnga.For. Oily, Roctt'1rd.ll-ll8 Ewell .. . Olymplc,Wash'lon.l~ tnVhiclble pluck. We never saw a catcher alnoe tb_e daye J. Whi!.B..For. Oily, Olevel'd.S-00 ot loe Leggett whG could tali:e p1;1nlsbment wltb the cour The etller catchers referred to have JIG\. had their aver- apous endurance of Birdsall. In Paborbe had a wild hiS movenlents and erratic pitcher, when Oharley put on his speed, and ages made out ye=t.==:::t::!At ballswtde conseqaeat!J Dave had to work ltli:e a Trojan to save a A cat after a mouse 1100re ofpaasehit In Its the pitcher's position, and Is exceedingly elfecttve at they had good support Ut.ey could give the strongest nine centre than a ball sent In very swiftly and nebrly on a field. In batting be ranks among tile quick heavy tn the country a hard push for victory. Last fall BlrdJ&ll straight Une. The rule Is that the line or the swing or the who go In for tne "big licks ;11 but In this he wUI lm· ~mporartlyloa\ the use or b1s u.rm, besides havlllg a very bat Intersects the hne or a swiftly pitched ball at a tar Whits Is thoroughly American, a quiet workerL bad lland but he 18 now In nne trim for play and will be more acute anp:le than In tbe case of the curved Une of 1 qutck In perception, prompt In action, full or a stroq acquiSition to a prolesslonal nine; There 18 to a slow batr, and hence the chances for bitting the ball In endurance, all'S alive to the Interest~ of the Bill tor ·nave that he always plays "on the squu.re" and the centre u.re greater In tile former case than In the lat playa w.th ; and tbongh be has a sharp eye to the worll:llllke a be&ver to win. ter. Herein Ilea the wllole theory or pltcblng1 and the he always plays hls best to win, regardless of pti In our last we stated that we bad not A.ll!llon•e record, true art or doing eo oonslslrs of being able to change Tbls is the true policy !or all profess! •nat but the 11gures have stnoe tumeu up, anrl are 88 follows: iD delivery. and consequentlJ to alter the cnrve those who depart from 1t aot unwisely In Be played tn 60 games, put out 268 players-an average of the ball, so as to deceive the eye and alm or future profits for present small gains. of over 4-&nd asstet ed n t1mes. In striking at it. Much stress has been been made to secure the services of The Cblcago Club had three catchers last season. The tm1nm't.tu'"" of Imparting a btas or "twist" faithful to the club In wbich 11rst was Craver, who played In all tbe1rgamesfrom April In pltoblog; but experience bas shOwn the :dr~:~ :~:;;~:~~t"J:~il F!lltbful service and hOnest until the last or July. In addition, Bodes cangllt In 19 the tlitng very plainly an "twist" given to the n player's capttal, without games and Steve King In 16. Craver•eJ!)rtlftn oatohtng adding to the diOICuttles of the catcber•s post not benefit him mnch. White Is perfect fearlessness and quick movement, and he bas rendering the re-bOund or the ball as on nnd be Is therefore a New York a keen Bight tn playing up cloae behind the bat. .Aa a and eccentric as tn tbe case of a foul, the catcher for slow or medium paced pltcbing he ranls bemp: caused by the ~wiSt lnlparted \o the ball among the best, but with swift pltcbing has bis superiors. by the stroke of the bat tn bitting It below or above Like Ferguson, biB home position Is at short field. Craver the centre line or. Its diameter. The tact Is, tne r:rao was charged wltb dl8credllable conduct by the Chicago tlcal. results or a curved Une delivery, and good udg club and expelled without a fair tnal, he says. Tb1s ex ment Ill pitching, have hitherto been erroneously a trlb pulsion was made the basts of action taken by the profes uted to "twisting," and hence we see pitchers sacrt sional delegates In the late so-calleG-Niltlonat (f) Run& man Into bemg IJ)cely duped Into batting a ball which A.twal8r ...... """" 98 8S Is easily co ogbt or tlelded to the bases. Brainard...... , .. , .. .. .440 UO A.mong the pitchers having a peculiar style of delivery McBrlde ...... 626 628 may be n11med S.[tanldlng, of the Forest Oity nine, of Pinkham .••• •••••• ...... sso 361 H. Wrlgbt ...... 108 128 Rockford, Ill., for 1870. We first saw Spaulding pitch In llley.erle ...... 211 267 11661 In 11 match between the Forest Oi'Y and National Tboo. Pratt ...... 17 211 1-47 clubs, and be completely outwitted the National nine. He Mr. Thatcher, or the Chtoe.go Club, bas presented the b88 been wllll the Rockford club ever since, and now tor best statistics or pltcblng, Inasmuch as be g1 ves the re the first time connects himself with anotner club, 111\Ying cord or games plsyed, w•tll a rat base bitS obtained tr~m }olned Harry Wrlgllt's Boston T. pQtLy. Spa.uldlwr, in de the pltcblnll', and tile average or anoh hits, the otberd ll verlng the ball, holds It m Ills hands aa if taking aim at giving the rona lostend1 wblob alford no test of pltcbwg the btusman with 11 gun; ne tben suddenly Jowers biB as runs ran be obtalnea Jr~m tleldlng errQI'a as well a8 hands and dellvers tile ball quickly to the bat, Onere from clean bJla. Tba true record from· " blob to judge or sult ortbta movement Is to bother the at, Itt or the bats 11 p!Lcher'i skill IS to keep t !Ml data not ouly of Orst base man In Judgmg or tbe ball, but It bas !Is ilmwtaok In re tuts made from bJs pitchmg-wlliCb are to be charged quiring too muob time. All movements In dellrery should aglllnst bl• delivery-but to keep lllso 11 recor~ o! au the be qotck; at tbe same time due deliberation should be ob fair chances tor outs otfcrea from Ills pltolllng In til~ way served, oth• rwlse he will be burlled llnd consequently or ch•nces !or Clllrbes, ellber or fair or toul balls, or ot tnetfectlve as far as strategy Is concerned. Havtug seen opportun.tles otn:reu to aeJd blltsmen out 11t the basE a. 8panldlng play only tn a few games, we cannot re1er l'be Iecord should ue as ronows:- 't'olly to biB pecnllantles In his sper1al points of excel· Pttrh,.,.,, Imtinoe. lilt .BcJJ.t IIi'· ADt~lWT~· G'htltlaM. A.vwaqe. lence. Be impreBBed us, however, as bemg a very lntel Before closing our comments on the pltobers ofl870, It Ugent and aentlemanly player. 'WH not be out or Plice to refer to the features or the Some or the profell8tonal pitchers or 1870 were noted .., more tor their laborious style or delivery than anything else!. and among tbla claBB we have to molude Pr"tt, of amendments made to \be .l"oreat City nine, or Cleveland. How be managed to era• dep•rtment. Tills Btsnd the wort of 11 nine Innings game, pitching with requJred to pitch all balls the laborious action he Indulged In, we know not. He lower than knee high -cno:riulrifPrell seemed to throw bta whole bOdy Into the movement on der. These only ar~ n 0 Bend1llg In the ball, excess or Speed apparently being bls balls pitched out>ide aole atm. Unquestionably halt the succeBB the moe at ca•led by the umpire In tained with biB pllobtng was doe to the wonderruJ catch over1 sbould the pltrber tog of .James White. And yet Pratt hBB the mate of a umpu-e most call bo.lls on bases BOOd Pitcher· In him, be bavtog plnot and endurance been given on •nob bal1s must enough, and with less desire to send In "red not" balls pitcher that tr be thrOws another the game -mania with some pitchers-be would no doubt have forfeited by a score or g to o. The pitcher, more command or the bail. As In tile C88e of Spauldlnzr, qulred to deliver the boJI "bJgh" or "low," as the however, we are not anmclently tamUiar with Pratt'~'s chooses to call tor, tile rormer being a ball betwean play to comment SUlly on hla merits. He Is eVidently a and shoulder, and the latter between knee and worrer In the position, B.lld Is zealous In the service or These roles al'o IV ample room for strategic pitching, tile club be plays with. the same time that they prevent the batsmen from bavlog llr. Mcllnllen, or the Ha;ymatera Ia another or the too grell$ a Jatllude In selecting bal s, and prevent wild IIIIDle olaaa of pitchers as regards laborious action In de pltcblnll'- In cencloslon we give below tne Uvery, but more or a strategist. Like Pratt, however, be TECHNIOAL TERMS OF PITCHING. lltrlvea too lllllclltor pace at the cost of an accurate de The following &M mool or tho lecbnlcal 18rmo ueed In reference livery, and consequently reqUires an effective, plucky II>lh!J,l'&~l"':O.~:'l:"!.~~~~~ben the pitcher either lhrowo, jerko, or catcher to ftt.oe blm. llcMnuen takes tblnga good bowla a baU; or tf he at.epa ouu1de the linea or bla poattlon when Jlaturedly, u a general thtog, and nnfiagglngly ror vic mating anr of Lbe prelbDmary movemenu to dellver1ng the ball to tory. Certainly the Haymaker3 have bad no more etrect the b< or r he fatfa to dehver tt after mating one or oLber or aucb tve pitcher In lbelr nine than McMnllen. BIB pltoblng, hewever, Ia or that style wblch needs the assistance ol a m~v~~~s.Ball.-Ir a bAll be bowled along the gronnd to the bat, o.bange pltober now and then, as experienced batsmen tb~'lz'!J'.::::~~'i'l!t"f.:.'l,at:: 1 k . nalt lnftlc\ed on tbe pllcbcr are too apt, In orloket parlance, "to collar'' u, Cor aeadlng a ball to lhe bat. out of ~e aarTker'alegiUmate reaeb. CAancu.-Achance In base ball means an opportunity aftbrded otr the pltcbln2 for the Oeidereto put a phyor out. A pitcher lo never hpuntehed'rao lon.c aa hla pitching atrorda chancee for outs, no mM 1 ter how Z:':/e r;::e~~'m:Ot!~~~~~~~~:3 ~g~~ rb~;,ra~:·leasona th= of hlo delivery and oubotllutea a medium paced ball for a awt!t one. It ia very effective In 10me caeea. • H!l.ldux>rk.-Tblolerm lo applied loa pitcher who uoeo btl fudj[ m•nlln bla work and brlnga mental power Into play to aid pbylloal THE f'ROFESSJONALS OF I 1<~-JIIttA.-Thlo term Ia applied to a ball which lo pitched over 80 0 REVIEW No. 6. !~3ee:r"'t'b~~t:::,duo:!: g! r~t:c~u~'h o:fct:r ~e~l~~\~~b:n:~~ Among the pitchers who only took ll&.rt In ~ oam loatanee. p!11J!D of 1870, as chonge pltcllers, may 'be named Pratt, ce~:":f':b;~~'~·L;_;~e:C~rTt~e0~wtt!ro~c\~~'~ ~~l1t~~;n on the of the Athletics, a pitcner who Is more or a veteran even Punl.!hitl/1 the Pikller.-Tbe ~Ito her Ia 1/puolabeS" when tho ballo than McBride, Tommy raokln~t hlgb aa a pttcher when be plty along tbe ground to the centre or a triangle One or the most errectlve third base players of the pro rormed by the poettlone of the Jlltcher, 11rst baseman and reeelonal ntnea or 1870 was Sutton, or the Forest Olty n1De, aecond bBBeman at right abort 11eld, which almost In· of Cleveland. We saw blm make enme splendid plays tn varlabl{ gtvea tlrst baBe to an acttve runner, slmp:y be the games played by btl club In this ctt.v not only tn caUBe t lB a ball wblch tempts the first ba!e player to try catching dUDcolt Jiles, but In faclolf botiJ batted b&l·t, ana 4eld lt himself, and all bot old J)andtlget trapped ny stopping p;roundera, and In picking up a ball and chrow lt. LB.tlt season we saw E. l11118 and oUter notea 11rst base lng it swutly and accurately to llrat base. In tact, Sutton players try to Oeld such short ball81 and In nearly every showed himself to be a crack player, and they arec:not ease they !ailed. Joe Start judges tneae balls admtrably, pleotti'Ul)by any meana. and Ilavee them to •he pitcher or second basemm to Waterman, or the "Reda," played 11nely In the l!OBIIlon :tleld to him unless they happen to come within a certain last year1 bot still, with some few exceptions, hlB play dlatance which he II:Oowe be can get to and baolr. betore was not netter thv.n that ot the year prevlooP, 1 as gooo. the bataman can travel rrom hOme to 11rst. It Ia worthy Jl'red. Is apt to get the •·sulks" a Himes, and wben a player remark that these short hit balls are entttl8'1 to an • """' !'iMa ot gets a Ot or the ll:lnd on blm, Ills pi&JiB natnrally dete ~· ~ ttr.,B. &;;:· Iff o1 eamed baBe no matter· how poor the bit may look. No riorated bJit. He Ia a good, earnest worker, however, a:r hlt, be 1t remembered, lB a "poor one" which allows the Joaea .....110 100 2011 Ito 2110 II SID and pl&JB a very strong game when he reels Uke tt. The ave,..e {014 way) he oblalaed by 41•1dla~ a...., lollllll 1rJ bateman a fair chance w earn hlB 11rst base, wblle no The oldes~ tblrd baseman In the ntnee or 1870 wu matter how showy a hlt Dl&Y be, U It all'ordl a chance for Oharley Smith, or the Atlanttos, and In hlB day be waa any, lh• a umber or llgureo0~~ana. ""'k~· ...... "t.r~. """~K- a catch at the banda or a snarp and active l:elder tt lB a without a superior; Indeed, even now, after ten years of smlth ...... t.oo 4.80 s.oo 1.00 "poor blt." Start lB a qutet worke:a In hlB pos1 tion, a servloe be can show up Ill the 11eld In a style eanallng Jooea ...... 2.00 4.01 2.80 11.«1 ratthflll player and has always been esteemed lor biB the bes11 playera of hlB clas?, IAlet year Charleyls play Thla mat.. Bmllh the boat "'""• ooaatlag llnl - hila. Wow dalilflll oondnct as a Eon, Joe 1or yeara havtng been the was very variable; m one match be would play up to biB laltelbe aew -y. Dl1>14e lbe 101a1a by tho namber or llmea al t.bo 1101e anpport and comfort or an aged mother, bo.l, aad t.be •••rqe aiiUI4a deolmallyu tollowa:- llll!hest mart and astonish biB trlenda wltll some of hla 0. B. toe B . ~~.& The oooleat and most collected or the 11rst base plo,yera old time stops and throws; but then, again In perhaps Bmllh ...... m .eee .418 • 11118~0 la West. Plaler. Nothing ever seems to dlatorb Ius the very next game, he would play but little In advance Jonee ...... s:a .8111 .Ul • equanimity. In tao~ ble deUberate style or play acta&UJ. or a second nine expert. With Start to attend to the balls • ~a-:!:;v:":'~m"1~~=":PJ:a:r:,; ~~lf~ .... rob• him or much odbe eclat that would otberwbe attacn: he 11elds, Charlt>y lB quite at home, and, when be Ia, tt l8 Smlt.b'ecun-pftllrel- hila. to It, tor the qutet way In wbloh he will Oeld some or the not many balls that are allowed to p;et away from blm. moat c!l1lloolt or balls naturally leads spectators to think Cberley plays a &quare game and worts zealonsiJ from t.b!{~-!!!~\~~~'l.:'n~~· eqaal.Bmllh'l,llleD 1rJ fN]IOI'&t81l tbat 11 was no feat he accompllllbed atter &11. Fisler lB the word KO. f\Jbl ftwwol pellUJiar In thiS, however, ana tt ta a trait other players Nelson, o1 the .M:ntnals, tilled the poa1t1on or third baae ooold oopy wtth advahtage. Sll:lllnl and cool a P!ayer as for that club with considerable skill last season, bot hie ~~ :o ,~a;:~~ PIBler la, lt Is not lila only point of excellence; hlll quiet, JoDH ...... · ...... 110 ne sa& JP Sill 8 IICQ play was rather of the uneven order, hie temper being 0 aentlelllanl,r demeanor, the absence or a word of·«rumh an obstacle to his ~II 8nooeBP. He aoowea himself to be th~h~~~~~~.~~· w':'S:~l':J':..": ::::..~:~ .t:,~ ~.::.S- llng at badlY lbrown balls, or at erroneous dectslona by a plucky player, however, good In catching hiKh root o. R. bt. •ne umpire, are among the essentials of a model ball balls and In ptcktna up hot grounders. He played much 8mllb ...... :a.ao '-111 s.oo 111ayer wlltcb charactertae blm. In fact, were all profes better tn the early part of tile season tbari later. It mat Joaea ...... 2 .!16 4.71 S.:at llonal~ of the Plater type, the evils connected wuh the The averageo bytbe aew way would be lhe ume u Ia t.be tera a great deal with a player's success whether hts 1able. ,,..ea wOuld never have been developed or have errorte are tully appreciated or not. When a man 4nda h lo more lrQub1e to mate up au &•r no matter how hot or wtld ana tbe second base line. Wilen the bateman makes bts Stockman would throw, auke won ~ d manage somehow or 4rst base the seoond baseman comea up and gets near hla other to get hold of the ball In ttme, and Stockman did biUie tn readioesa to receive the ball I rom the catcher. lie tllrow wild and wicked quite olttn. ebonld remember that In & maJority of C88es biB duty lB That aentlemanly ball player, Gonld, of the Red Stock· to touch thetlaae runner, and thtslt would Ito well to do tng nine of 1870, ranks wlth the highest In the list or tne In au eases when the latter Ia found orr biB b88e though OJBt base players or last seoson. He Is a very steady tn eaaea or fool balls, not :ret returned to the pticiber, or p!kyer; holds swiRly thrown balls securely, and Is pretty when a ball haa been stopped by the crowd~ and &nan .ore tor quite a wtde circle 1rom his pneltlon. We saw thrown to second before being sent to tbe pltoher•s poai . )11m 11eld some red hot low balls trom George Wright- ttoo, no man can be pot out b.Y beln~ touoned when orr regular 11nger breakers-in line StJie last season, and tt Is bls base. The habit, bowevet', Is a goo4 one to get tnto, not every Orat base player who can accompllan the teat. as there Is then no likelihood or tts being fol'lfotten when A.lwavs silent, even onder the most annoying ctrcum tt becomes neeeeaary for a player to be touched. When :ittances• an eamest, rattbtol worker for the best mteres s the drat baseman runs &1\er the batt hit by the striker we •••.. C'f tbll ciub he serves, Gould receives and mertte the res second baseman should at once make tor the 11rst base, pect of all who know ntm. as he lB generally nearer to It than either the short stop Among the firdt bnse players who have for some ;ears or pitcher when b9J.ls are being hit between 11rs& &nd aeo. plllt oooapled a prominent pneltlon Is McAtee, o the ond basE& In tlmmg for a throw to Drat b•ee be ebonld Clllcago mne ot 1870. Though hi!!> play was somewhat af· he ante of bla atm, or, It 10 doubt, be ahonld let the base rected by a lame I.nee last season, he managed to guard be made, or otherwtae the obanoes are that an overthrew hla posltton 11ttb great skUJ. He 1s perrectty fearlesa In wm Jrlve hie opponent hiB third Instead or hls111'1t base. ft.oinlt the hardest batted and thrown balls, and Is very Hasty throw1ol!' ts·. poor policy except the basemen are ell'ectlve In etupptog bl\118 that come to him outside of a pretty sure ln setidlt!g'iu a ewtlt Jlne ball and \here 18 a fair reach. He IS moreover a nre thrower and a safe good man at Orst base ~,o bold It. When a player Ia on the bitter, and dtd valuable aervtce Ia the Wblte Stocking first base and another·on tlle third, the seoood baee!Il&ll ntne last 1ear. should be on the watch so as to mllll:e a prompt ret om of Doyle, or the Fo: est CltJ nine, ol Rockford, for 1870, the ball when the catcher throws to the aecood and tlle stands A No. 1 as a Orst base player ID that nto.e. Doyle, man on the tldrd attempts to run home on th11 throw. In addition to being a valuable aenetal player, 11 a 11ne There te ample time for a bal' to be thrown from home to b&tbman. second antl b&Ok to pnt out a plAyer running home, u tbe Carlton, of the Forest City nine, of Cleveland, played throwing lB accurate and swift and the· catobtng a are. Vf!rY llnely at 11rst boise last season, thouab not as stead· Tbll! was a regular point wttb AJJIBon and Swe&~~J 188t tly 88 he 11111 do. no doubt, when he has made It his 88880n. . . . · . home position. Jie tas a ~ood reach, holds not balls It mUBt be borne In mind by base ball playen this sea wen, and Is p:enerally v~ry secure In catching. eon that a player, ruontng from bome to Out b~ lB one of the beet first base players or 1870 was Andrew allowed to over-rnn hla base without running the rtak of AJilson, or the Ecldord Club. He Is anotller of the relia betog put oat, provided he promptly retoms ~ the base ble ll:tnd1 and ever since be bas occupied the position has aner over-rnnmng It; but should be attempt to mall:e his played n In llrat class style. second after over-running, then he lnees hla prlvtlege of retornlng. The rule Is conllned to tile llrat base, but It ebonld have applied to a•I, and no doubt the Amateur Oonven&lon Will amend lt to tb&t e11'ect. was second baseman who surplltiBed Sweuy, Olllclnnatr.s,last ~eason. when that Jersey player himself, which 1'1'&• not· always bts he bas not the belt temper m &be deal to do with trreottte an rll!h' aud. ill*'.... log player of the pv.•u·~ a~w Sides up ground mre catch, averasz:e or dropped lly bly the smallest or any man who p!aJed season. Be Is plucky wlthalruul taqes tne fearlessly • . Next to Sweasy comes AL Reaeb, oUbe Athletlr.a, 'he most sklrltllllelt banded second b~seman rn the oountrJ. Now.Reaeh Is one or the best nator.;d men In lhe profes. atonal clubs, and, moreover, a man or sterling tntegrttr ot character. In fae.t, m deportment he 1a a model Pl"yer. For the seven or eight years tba' we have seen him play we never heard him utter a prllfar.e word or make au llD· gentlemanly remark, even to the most exottlog oonteat. What a contrast does this style rof oooduo>pretenr. to that ot the 011188 ot players who cannot pl•y a Bingle tnntnga In a game without utterlug some blaspbemoUII word or otber. Some pl~yer~ think the uso or oaths and Elung p!VranUy quite sportsmanlike, and they Indulge In It more trom the habit or lm'tatlon than rrom natoral llluud to bear a player utter remarll:s aaoh as "W~y the b-1 c.m•tyer throw a t.aJJatratgbtf" or"-- ·1rnlrti!erltll' - qan•t yer bold a ball!" or "what ad--d umnlre &hat Is," and so on through the profane vtCilbolory. llow that we are having trained nines under dlllclpllne, however, tllla style oJ talk Is seldom beard, except among the lowes' order of nines or by the memb ·r.; of some temporarily formed nines fur holiday games. Reach madeaomeelllen dlrl playslnst year, and roralef\ handed player be at&end ed to his posttlon with great skW. Junmy Wood ,ts another of the claBB of aquare, good natured plnyer!l1 ~lthougb Jnmes, or late yfars they 88y, h&! allowr·d htmsell to get exclte1 oceastonaly.1 Wood hae a· si.Jie ot play pecUllBr to htmself, and It te w~at one mtgbt can a ·•country s~;yle." Jtmm.v hJB quite a hea.,y, farmer-Uke movement m his walk on t~e llehl, there te nothmg co:mtryln his play. AIWO'B earnest, and always worUu~: tts c~most to wtn, James ranks II.Igb at second base, and rte:~ervedt.v so l(,o, for lte iS thoroughly reliable. There 18 but one weak pulnt In bte piay, and In going arter a high ball he makes a llnlllll of ol'l.en, wbereas, It trequcnUy happens that a high ball by the aeoond cueman is b•t be has a ell&lloe to make. •
THE SP'£C1AL MEETINC OF THE SIONIIL ASSOCIATION • .& IIIIP«!IBI meettntr or tn. Prore~slonal :Asaoolatton was ,_14 oa li'rt()a,y_~venlntt, the Sd lost., at lrloOoeu•s and Dilllatdll~'s, uroad and Pllbert streets, Phlladelpbla, JIUrsn~~~tt to a oall tesned by .Mr. J&m•a N. KerD'3, the l'reltdef!'t or that orgftnlzatlon. At '7.4~ P. lrl. the meet. THE PROFESSIONALS IN COUNCIL. lug1ru c:alled to order by lrlr. J. N.«eroa, ancJ theTonow .& JfATIONAL A!IBOOIATION OBGANIZBD' tng cldlta were round to be i't!preeente,:-Athletto, or .All' llt'DLLJGIIII'I AND IliJ'Lumi'IUL RanlliSIDIT.!.TIOII', Phlladotpllta, lames N. Kerns; Beaton, ot Boston, J. w • AND A B.AJUlONIOUB OOII'VBNTIO!I'. Adams: Forost Oltr -or Olevelaud, F. R. Mason; Fore.& Olty, ef Rnokford, 1. B. Wr•gbt• B"aymakers II[ Tmv ona'e nan the profeiBionais, as a class, have not been •o. •o. Olark· Kektonae, or Fott Wayne, Horry Wrtglit'; lUI bredltabi:J represented tn tile annual legtatatlve usem Oll'llll'IC om\ National, of Wasblo~rton, N. 8, Yonnll. The lltaaes that bave been convened each wmter as they Oble.\go, Mutual and EoUord Olubs llllled to send del· mJabt. or course, there bave been exceptions to this egates and wero not represented. Mr. Kerns stated that role, but on the other hand there baa been one prominent the obJ•ct or the meeting was to perfect the organization tustauee, tn wlllch alarlnw etrrontery and utter lnoompe. or·the Profes~lonal Aesoctatton, and to enable the cham tenoe hal taken the front 11eat In the delegation from the . 'JIIOD&hlp commlt.tee to arrive at a proper conclu•lon In proreiBional orpr.tzattous. The reault has been one alike llIA&E BALL. ~ f
&J~~=~~:~::Uat cJmes AllisOn,- ot tbe For- o! and rrom the sample or bls seen tbe Olevelond nine games, to place him to the front rank as a re· pla,yer. T~e Cleveland club bave retsloed nine, and they have ahown Judgment tn so t.o him comes Bird, ot I be Rockford Dine, a stroq bot one we nave aot seen play aumotently often all his PolDte. Be l'IUik8 high, nowe ~er, In ""''""''Ul'Uo Eggler, or the Mntoal nine, bas tor several aeaaoGB befo Doted tor hta skill, betng a very sure oato,ber ana ac!.ive delder aod strong at the bat. He has aoue tatthfol aer vtoe In the Mutnal clnb tor the past three Eea&ona, and his record or 11.1 catches Is up to the bllfhtst Ognre. Foley p'a,yed at centre-Oetd for tbe Ot tcago nln~, and played well at times, bot we have seen him when he was not up to tbe mark by any me&na. Be ts naefnl In seve ral postttons. Oeo. Hallie a very acUve ~~entre-llelder.aod eapecl,ally strong In mating double playa land Olnb. Lite otbers of that nine, Sutton has proved 11.elder or the profeulonaJ nloea. true to the club he tlrtTHE PROFESSIONALS OF 1871. In relllllllln~ our review or ·the profeBBionals of1871, we now oeme to second base players. tlle list or wbom In· eludes the following names, 'l'lz:-A.ddz, Barnes~ Oraver, carey, Ferguson, Hattleld, Higham, &lmball, ueoonrct, Plte, Reacb, Sweaay, S'll'nndell and Wood, reepecllve Jj of the Rockford. Boston, Haymaker, KekiQuga, Mn caal, Cleveland, Olympic, A.thl~Lio, Ectrord and Ohlcago nines. Firat on tbe'llat comes Addy, or the Rockford nine, than whom ther.e ta no more eamest, bard-Working player tn In re8111Ding onr comments ou tbe professionals otJsn the position. As a general tbln!!', too. be Ia qwte elrllct we com~ to third baae plaJers. a pol!ltlon the moat diMcult lve, ani! wben he does bappen to oommlt an error be gen of t.'te three on the bases to Pllll well. Some or the bot. erally compenaates for It .bY Increased etrorta tor sncces!, test allcl most troublesome balls to 11.eld ara sent towards and some line piece or play or other. A.ucly has been third base, bealdoa wblch the blgh foul bliiB which raJ1 falthCnl to bta club tbrougb thlok and thtn, an!l be baa near this poelt.lon are the most dtmcnlt td hold or done valnabie service to tne Rockford nina In biB tim~. whlcll come from the bat, owing to the great bias While but few snrpaaa him In tbe position, he 11118 several ed to them by the bat. Tllim aaaln, the third lnftrlora. has the ahortetrt time lett Jum to ~ather for a throw, a~d Next ou the Jist Ia Barnes, ot the Boston, whose play In the longest dletance to tjlrow to Orst base of any m-tlelder, the majority or gamts we have seen him In bas been up wblle he also baa more strategloaJ points presented to 111m to the highest standard. Very wl~ely, the Boston club to play well tbau any of the tn-tleld posltlona; tor these have re-engaged him !or 1872. Barnes covera a Jargu reuou the tblrd base Is the moat arduous or any In the pleoe or ground In tbe lleld, and be Is especially eaeotlve 11.eld, e;ueptmg those or the pitcher and oatoher. In stopping and Oeldlng bot ground balls. Moreover, he Namttlg -the profeastonal thlrQ btliemen In tbe alplla never waots for a ball to come to him, bot 1.8 ever on the bet!cal order with wl11oh we started, we 11ret come to An· alert to meet It, tbe"8by making sure ot many short balta son. or the Rootroro Olnb. We never s"w nlm tn a match whtch wonid otherwise be mtued. Like Addy, Barnes IS Dlltll this sea sou, and then ODI.J 1n a tew games, and we an earneat and eaectlTe worker, mowfnr no rest nnttl k~ow nothing or his utecedents; bnt In the gamoa In the gtp.me has termmated, wblcb we did see him take part, be lmpreiBed us as a verJ Among the o•s we lind Oraver and Oarey. The former strong plqer. The Athletics entertain tble oplnlon1 also, 18 the well-known strong player of the Haymalten, and for taey have, IL Is said, eDI!Bged nlm as tnelr tblra base formerly their noted oatohel'. His record thls eaaaon m man !or 1872. I a two or the (lO.mea pla.vecl <•n the Union Ills new position baa been a oredltahle one, ancllo no re Grounds ..1nson made some splendid stops and throws, spect, during 1871, baa be failed to do Ills outy a1 a pJ'Oo and also several tine catches. He bears a rrood name tor !esslonaleeell:1ng to earn a goOd name as a worthy mem fattiUnl anti etnclent service. . ber or his olasa. Whatever his put errors mq·have been, Next on the Jist Ia Bellan1 or the Haymaker ntne, a plnCl:J be has this year placed to bls oredlt emclnnt servtce In playtr, a reliable wan ana a good worter. hls position and !altbrnland hOnorable conduct aa a ball· We nave also to name Jocrgoson In this position, and pJqer. or Oarey we know but lltLie, having seen blm we rellara 1t as the best he playa. Ferguaoo Is remu&a. p1av In but !ew game~. an.J then noc at Jus best. Peraon bly quiet In putting the ball on playera running to third, ally1 too, we know notblnlf or 1118 merits or demerits. He and bt· Is Wide a wate In plaJ tng poln ts. He and Pearce rann high, however, In Balti!Dore, and bas sllown tine wort~d beantlfolly together tn the majont.v o! the Mutnal plav thla season In several prom111ent contes~. games at third and short, and the players tn both posi We now come to Rob. Fer(luBOn, the captain or the tions need the auletance or eao11 other In pl1lylng them llolUIII nine, w bo opened the season as the second baae up to tbe mart. FPr&J made some spleodtcl stops and mnn o! tbe "Green Stockmgs," and closed It as gnarQian swtct and accurate throws to 11rat base dunng September or the third, besides occasionally doing Clnty na pitcher and October, and Jlkewlae some cltmcult catches. In r~cc, nne! catcher, In the latter position excel)tng. First or an he Is one or tbe lew third baaemen wbo have excelled In let us state that FerJtUson Is tboronghlJ "on the sqnarf. '' the position during 1871. In fact, there Is no more reliable man In the professional Third bue has always bOOn a weak point In Che fraternity In regard to honorable and m&hly pla,-. Nat lllne, and tne paat year wu no exception to the urally a ball toaaer, the moment be dons bia uniform 11e Meyerlt>, though a~ gt>oaral p;ayer not· be1q up knows nothing but tbe game before him and how to wtn the nece&!ary mart In "head-work" in playing thtrd, He It, and from the lint to the last Innings be pla,ys ball as biUI shown good play at times, Is a laltllful, square ptqer, the saying IP, "up to the handle," without "let up• I or good natured, and always tries bls belt; but wben It "haotr. down," no macter what the odmcleocy aa a !Ieider, and Is a demoraiiSIDi element in a effective third baseman, that really being bls strongest nine Wbloh no wise club manag!f will allow to exist In pnaltloo. his orgaruzatlon, for no ma\ter bow altllfnl a player Joor Next 11row1er may be, be olnleta It by hts contJDnal tanJt 11ndi~r to snell a degree as to entirely prevent the quiet and nn· obtrusive :llelders from dotng Joatlce to tllemselvea. .A line player, who has that lollrmlty or wmper, may be borne with In the hope or rerormallon; but, a player wno !orgels bJmseiC so tar aa to losult an nmplre, and lays hlmsel! open to more serious charges, Is untlt tc occupJ any poattlon Ia an honorable proteaslonnl club, no matter If he were a second Orl!lgbton In point or pla,ylng atrlll. Tne third baseman oJ the Oblc11go Clnb next claims Ill· tenllon. Pmkham hse· been a mao this and, tllererore, bas able record as he I• able lelt or course, that November 25, 1871,; lA&! BALL. RULES OF THE CAME FOR 1872.
THE PLATEB.IJ OF 18'1'•• Pltehtac and Pftehe.... Pltehtllg tn base oall has been brought down to more olaselence tban the originators oCthe g.1me ever dream ed or. T.be dutt~B of a nrst-class pitcher now require a far greater amount or sktll tllan tormerty appertained to the position, and especially IIIII! a marked Improvement In tile s ryte or the·dellverv or the ball to the bat been no ticeable within the past year. A feature or the past sea· son has been the satlsCaetor.v rnnnntr In which tlte new rule, recosrnlzlng underhand tlirowln!l' to the bat as a lelfltlmate rorm or !lellverv, has wor~ed Cor the II'OOd ot the This p\tonlnll', or rather or delivering tile been tn vogue since the days of bnt It WBA only In 1812 that the ~n'n~,~~:~~:~~~~~~~I was repented. An elTon was old o~ause a~ralnijt an nn ln •npport or a repeal or general fell to the method of aeJtJV~IUJl~g In mind no matter w swift the ball to the bat by thla or that apeed must always be govorn•d by till! nblll/11 IJatc/IIJi' to stop and 11olel 1M btlll. If, therefore, a pla.ver IR tonnd wbo oan •lther pitch 11r throw a ball to the bat with more than ordtnacy speed, no rule Is required tf prohibit the delivery wb.lch ac1mlts ol It aR the spe•d lts•ltl~ prohlbltorr In Its etrcct, rrom the lack or any player able to stop· or hold the hall trom suoh a dell•er.v. Therefore so long as the speel1 Ia only such as w\11 ad· mit or the ball being caught behind the bat, ~ucb de llver.v, wllether IIY underhand throwlnr or jerking, Pbonld be regarded as legitimate. Bn t ape•d Is no longer regarded as the point of excel· lence In a pltollor; on the contrary experience has con clusively anown that mere speed, without the acrom pan:ylng essential• or a thurou~rh com manti or the ball and jnd11ment .an lte delivery, Ia too coatly a reatnre to he made available In winning matches except agalnot, a puty of the merest nro• In a practical knOWledge or the game. The great es8entlal or snoce~a In tbe position Ia tltll a bUtt!/ to o11t111it tM IJntamnn. If you can B(lhlevc this object by Intimidating 111111 by your speed, and thereby dece1vlng hiS s1ght, well and gond; but this cannot he done against experienced and plucky batsmen. The sclenttnc p11cher now fl·doys Is he who. with the ol as tbe reliance 1.s npon his to support hlnl whom on to hol4 the ones he can aend In some replar shots. A pluckier tacer ot "red hot" balla from the never stood In the pitcher's position; In· deed, he rearleSB of the. ball In this reapect. He oan endure well thronab a lout pme and bears pUDI.Ihment l':ltlullrt becoming "demoralized." It won•t do tor a pitcher to "loae hll head·," fiB the BBytng Is, because Ills opponents cet base bits rrom hla delivery and become deapondelit bee&nse rnns ate being obtained too rut or too easily• . Half tbe battle lies In aever knowing that yon are beiDa detea,ed nnf.ll the game IS actnallytoat, and nogamellllost unUI tbe last part or the last lllJllngs Rives tbe vlrtor:r to :ronr opponentl!. While 1111 lnnlnge Ill lett to poll np In tbere II llope, and the pitcher who practloallJ reallzee $bta tact b:y his style or play Is the ma" mosfllkely to win a game IIIJBinst att·ong obstaolea. One or promising pltcllers or 1872 was Britt, or the Atl'R.' e. He Ia natnrall cool, bas nerve command b e ball and swlrtness of delivery, as well as being tilt poSIIflssor ot consl(lerable Jndrment, which sperlei!otlli llaprovtnr each year. Be deUvers In the style ao Cummings and Mathews, bot as yet has not as mnch command ot tbe ball. He Improved In last sdaoon ma~rlally, and wllb good Bnpport to punish as a aeneral tbtng. WolterB1 or the Cleveland nine or 1812, chance to dlspia:r his skill last Reason, had a rather undisciplined and lnhar· snppar' 111m, and not being himself too rrood a • temper things did not work Bavtng speed, endurance, pluck, com and considerable experlenoe and Jndg. ment Is a Pitcher who, With a nine to snit him, would lie ver7 troublesome. His partnen, Pratt an(( PallOr, or tbe same nine also snlfered trom the lacli: or barmonlollll&npport, Prati depending more on his pace ror -IIQCcess than anything elsei while Oharle:y•s wild delivery Ia th.e thing that bothers toe batsmen Ia his case. The latter, belag lett-handed and a 1fne !Ieider, mates a use till change pitcher and Pratt,• with hiS speed and re markable powers o/ endurance, Ia a very useful man. The last we have to notice Is McMullen, the change pitcher of the Mutual nine, whose line display In the left lleld was, however, tbe feature or his play In 1872. McMullen Is a lett-banded pacer, rather wild, bot never theleea an etrectlve player when he does not get his mad up. THE BOSTON CJL11B, There Ia now good reaaon to believe Ula& &he above Clnb1 aa referred &o In our Ju&, 11'111 be thorouabl:y vaa~a antJ a Drat elasa nine re-eatabllahe4 at u.e We Clip the lollowlng A-om the Boltolt B~ ln8t.:- or napn or the 'Booton uooclatlon have commenced ne. tOward oeourfn« the memben or the old nln~ aU or :...CS ~ tbe exoeptlou of !loVef'ji, It I• believed, cau bent-on· 0 1 lniOt to play l~~~n~~Y.=u~~dh~ t t'C:~:!~:tE.,:tog.n.; otben WJIJ follow. An adloni1MICI meetlnlf of the trleuciJo or tile J&IIIO W&l bald In Bractet(•o ltall l< evoniDI' and 11'&1 at!§l,lded I>T aowa.u oflao perooua Jlr. Bled prealded and Ban.)' Wrllllit acted &I oecrotai'J'. The .tlnt.lillllne• wu !he preaonl.atton or tho re110rt or the oommlt!ee preT!oUI(y appointed to devlle plana Tbll .,... made throW!h Capt. lflcbaelll, tbe 118eretary of the oom. mitt... It oontalaed ftnt, a propoeftlon to tbe atoetholdera or the Booton A.aoctatlon that tlley endeavor to mate trood all . 1l8ld •-ento on the atoot.._ and that they surrender 100 ahares00 o? lbelr lloot to tbe Bolton .,_ BaH Club which It wu pro- -.!to fonu; aaaond, a propOIItton to the new club to -ume th!'Adebls or !be Botlon ..lloclolatlon after tllo lftlltr tbtlll ban m... e ell'orll to make rood lbetr unpaid aaseasmelll.. Tblrd _f.,,'f:"!el~ ~he ,~~~l~t!~u~n ae~pt what II due lh6m 11 810 :;:•Ddrttou ,.be.. alaoh made that a~ t:_:t 0:0, .:'; :., ';,c;.:'.; e P ayero andeomely remembered In cue 1 a our 1 ot lUnda exloted, and ~onolber tbat thanks be e:.lend~ 111 lh":,_lloekbolden ot !be Booton ..t.oolatlon for tbelr limo tabor10 fCe ~!'ney In oopfpbort ot tbe game. Some dlacll!lllon followed -eptanoe o l e report, dnrlnr wblch Jolr Conlre~ent, treasurer, aecretaryl board~ dl'::~ commented on Start, Goold, Dehlman, A.ltlaon..t Mti!Jl, penon may 1-.o..:'! ~ me':n'"t.e";' btb;:~i!~'i~lb..:lthp:~vlde. Any Mack and Malone, respeetl:vely or the Mo ~nal, J:SOstofl, -ent or 810 In two lnstatmeu~ The conoi!tutlon :::~~~~ Atlantic, Ecklord, Baltimore and Athletic nlnea of 1872. mpo"..'r\r 'tOJotedl and the aame committee wae au horlzed re: The remainder or the lint-basemen or. that season in· Y· awe a a 1uture meeting. C. H. Porter wu1 choaon10 b elude McAtee or the Troy nine, Carlton or the Olevelandsd aoclomallon preeldentl and J . C. Goodwin eeeretary The latte~ and Murnan or the MansOeJo nine. TUe former Ia an ol W&l authorl.ed to r~e ve ouch &!!6e88monts and feeoao might be llrst-baae player or the heavy bUild and tough order, mHadUea next before Saturday the next evem"i meetmg· . Adjourned to meet In BraCkett•o plucky In faeiDg bot balls, and generally very eaectlve. Belore the era otatrategle play In Delding MeA tee .ranked very high. ·He Is sttll a. reliable man, especially when surrounded by old Haymaker players. In laot, we ques tion whether the old original HaTmaker team would not THE PLA.YER8 187'~. play 88 sucoeasrulh as some o the nines aoeeeedlng The Ba•emea of the 8•••••· them have done: they o1ed to work together so well. Like pltoblng and catching In base ball, bf\88 playing There Ia nothing like having a nine fam11lar with each baa shown a marked Improvement dll11ng the past year, other•a play, fi'om experience In matobes aeaaon an11r aome ot tbe ftneat b88e playing ever wltneued marking -!Ou. It wuln this that tile malo strength ol· the old the season or 1872. The points, too of tile tllree poslttona Atlantle nine lay. The ai>eence or anytblng or the have been made more dl&tiDot, and eaeh base Is now eeen kind In the Mutual nine bas been its weakness &o reqllire a pla.yer to guard It who Is perfectly at home season arter aeaeon, Carlton allowed eome very good In the one position he occupies. The eaeentlala or base play at 11rat base last ae88on, bot, lllte others In playlne are a a ronowa:-At :llrat baae the m111n polnc Ia to the Oleveland nine, the. unsatlsfaotory character or be able to bold the hottest thrown balls with aure handa the manl'l(emeut, or rather the lack or It, practical· and eapeclally to slop balls wildly thrown. At aeoona1 l.r wu a drawback that materla.Jly Interfered wltb tile point require& tile use of more jadgment In watch the &UCQe88 ot all the players CO!DPOslng tblB nine. Ing the pttobiDJI; and batting than Ia neceeeary at lint, The tact Is without a strong authoritative management while at third tbe moat dlmcult t88l In b88e playing has at the be ~ d ot a professional hase-ball nine, tile loose to be attended to. Baae plu.yers au require to be qulek cond~tlon or things, wbleb necessarily prevails when and accurate throwers at silort distances. A long throw· there Is no discipline or proper en'orcement or the club er•s powers are wasted on a base position. The beat rulea, Is very ~tam aging to tile Del ding jlklll ot the nine. thrower or tbe ln-lleld Is needed at third b888 the poor It Ia all very well to aUou ol tbeBe amen4mente, Mr. AieL ably well last season. Force played In the Troy ntne In Devidaou of the Mutual Olub '"'" the only man who 1872, and atterwards In the Bll.ltlmore Olnb, the latter ol aew the ad~11t~e of the new rule, and be aocord· which he materially strengthened In a ver1 weak spot. lnll7 •oted for tt. Both of thloe amendmenta were The veteran short-stop oJ the·country Is ulck Pearce, or thin deftlatecl by a wte of 11:1: to one. With tbe az. the Mutual nine or 1872, of which he was Cl&ptatn as well. aept!ou ot the two ll'lll.. above referred to, all the But Dick, finding that he could not obtsln the reqnlette llllllgMtlon1 p..-ted In ~e new oode were Tery authority to discipline his torce, wisely resigned his geoeran,. appl'Oftd and endoned. RealiEI1111 the position; not, however, until he had made his team one work tlult bad beul oaved the delegatee by the pre or tbe aharpest llelatng corps ot the season. No player Is pu&tlon of the •• roles, by a nnanlmoua vote the eo tboroughly versed In playing the potnts of the game In fOHowtog reaolaUon of thank.l to Hr. Chadwick wu the tn-fieJd1 nor are there any so qUick to perceive the ld!lpted: weakness 01 an adversary's play In more cool or critical Bf~ That the secretary bf' tnat.rniLed to tender Lo emergencies. Bnt Pearce's play and his peculiar char Xr. JIODIY Oloadwlck or New York the !banta or lhlo acterlBtlcs are too well Jrnown to need comment, Sumce .Auoclatton for bia etroru 1o behalf t)f our naUonal game It to say that this year he will be at bome again In the aa4 that h6 be furnlohed wtth " eertlfted copy or tho old club, and, IC we mtetali:e not, he will show what he can a""'nded rulea, u adopted, for publloatlon In hta boolt. do veteran as be Is In the ranks. On motion of Mr. Young, tt wu voted that, waen l)lck Is the originator of that strategic style or batting tile OODTelltlon a~journ, ft be IQ meet at PhUa- known as "lair-tool hits," the most dlmcolt bll.lls to 11ehf, 411phia On the11nt HoaGay In Maroh nezt. On mo. as well aa to hit properly, that there are. Any momn tiOD of Hr. Bouatoa, ttaa aeoretartea of the varlouo batsman can hit a fatr ball to the out-field, but It takes clabo oo recommended to taaue req11eata to memoon considerable judgment, a qUick eye, plenty or nerve and ud otben to abstain from any clemonatratlone of sklltol batting to make llrst-!lase by a well hit but lair-foul approval or dlaappro'f&lln regard to the dectalona of ball. When It Is well done, It Is a certatn btt Cor first the umpire. The queetlod ot umplrea next came up base, and any hit that ensures one base against sharp for oonolderatton, and Mr. D&Tideon thought that fteldtng shows. sklllfnl batting. aome better method of oelectlng them obould obtain. McGeary, ot the Athletic nine, displayed marked ability In New York and Pblladelpbia, there would be no as a short-11elder last season, and with experience he will dUIIODIIJ In obtaining gentlemen to aerve 111 tbat 01\o excel, but, In having to act as ohange-catcher he neces pacltJ who could give eaUafaollon to botb clubs at a sarily got thlnga mtxed up at times. The 1act1 Is no JJ14Ioh game; but elaewbere, ezperteace bad sbown player can really excel in any one position unleu he piays tllat trouble wonld ensue. There abould be, 111 hlo It constantly and reels hlmselt at llome tn lt. nlon, a Board appointed to obca.e aultable um• Radclllte, ot the Baltimore nine, Is another old 1. lio aotlon wao taken 111 t.lle matter. No tur whd adopted the short-fielder's position, In which ~r balineao being ooCore the Conventlcll It ad· rapidly attaining a high position. · jolll'!led, ' "llaclr," of the Athlettcs, tned to play short·&top The memben then aaoemhled In the dining-ball, bnt the eJ:perlment proved a costly one to where a generouo collation bad been provided by N. A. Apollonlo, Jr. After josUee bad ooeu done ani>rt:iieiil. Be wae "at home' at drat-base, and · to the good tblnga oet ootore tbe delegatao, Mr. Por ter propoeed the bealth of the aeveral olnba repro· IBnted In tbe Oonvent1o11, calling up lor brief apeechea Me11ra_. Houaton, Reed, Doualau, David· eon, Bedell, Yonna, &lid, In reeponae to the tout •'The Preea," Mr. 0. R. Beyam of The Borlngratnlated on the judlctoos selectlona tbe majority ·or and as the cbaroCPsare that be will be better suoported tin, Lau;r:hlm and Nevins. or tbe Resolure• ol 1872. all round than he was last year. the rlvall of the Boston& players, l>rooerly placed and well caplalned. will .nem have made. None bav~, as yet, placed tbelr nines strong_ team. und on their ow1o llellrrs who •~cond, the change would not be advantageous. Geo. cannoc help,lt even Wben ltJs pao·r.v wtn. "Dng" Alilson, they have no choice but to place McGeary behmd the b11t, too, tsloellnPd that wav, and Rhlny W<• lters 1• nnorher he b~ log the onty regular catcher they have, though 11o Wright will, or course, be at ahort.fteld; and with Leon ardi\ Barry and Schatl'er In the oot-lleld, the team would especially when the 11eld fall to eupporr. hlll . pttohto ~. Tile cMnge catcher Is to be appointed, we nnrterstand. Ot others are onlv so-so, except Swaodel, wno Ia a very course McBride wlll pile~, and ror change they will have be Of ly placed. It Is to be hoped that the "Reds" w!ll Flsber. wbose great speeo le his chief reco:nmenllatlon. not again mar tbelr reput•tloo by playing "exhibition•• quiet, gona-noto.red plaJeo·. Now. tr the Resolute m 10a Jo•or llrst baseman they have the untried Murnan, and the ~~:ames or enrerlng the lists or proze-money tonrneye, as gers can only harmonize tliese dlsrordan t element• Into old A No. 1 llrat hasemsn or the Er.kford Club-a model theJ cl!d last year-at least, not onto! tbey have played all aoytblng like workong order, they may th 'D hope tor lo his day-At. Reach; and or the two we prefer Rear.b, their championship games. J o fact, bJ the new cham @Orne 9et.v good r eMUl ts ln the. shape or fair plav. But It Drat because he Is tully as strong In bls position as p lonabop rolPS no club can. the Resolute Is to be run In the same a lyle as It Wl\8 las~ Murnan. Is an old campaigner, and reliable In every re Next on the a'phabetlcal list comes tbe Mutual Club. 1ear, lncreued pla.vlng strengtll w!ll be or no avail. s ;;ecr. For second baseman they will, or course, retain of New York; and the ntayerR wbo, It Is said, have ar •he r esult Will be deleat. Harmony Is a great • lement. F sler, who played creditably to 1872. For third base ranged to play 10 the Green StockiDR: nine or 18TB are surcess In t.he worklns,r of· a ptore.•slonal ntne, and wltD· lhey have the choice of Anson and Sutton; and as Sutton Btck9, llatn•wa, Start! Batlleld, Nelson, Holdsworth, out It the best 111en-aa regards the Individual skill or Is tile best of the two, espeolall.v In picking up ground Gedney, Egoler and B gham. It Wll8 stated In a Phlla tbe players-wtll MI. balls, and moreover at lwme there we should prefer _delpbta paper recently that Mathews would pitch for the ln' 1869 the Cincinnati worked IO"ether wltll aearl:v him, placing Anson In the ahort-lletii In the absence of Maryland niDe Ibis season, and Ihat Bllfh&m w•s to play thOrOUJib IJ.armony, anrl tho result was uninterrupted any othei" regular short·11eld player. No man should re with the Washington Club; but at tbe receot coovenl.loo sucO< •a. In 1870 tlley did not harmonize, an ·t the con place Cuthbert at lett Jleld, a position he 11111 to perfec toe former relinres•nted the Mutuals,_and Rl~ham 'lnll sequence was a series or defeat~ which te•l to their dill tion; and ror centre tleld the club could not do better also be wltn t ~ Mutuats this year. This nine Is strpng memberment. The only dllfereoce In the experlenoe or than pot Sensy In his old place-the more old and re to all t>)[Cept the eeaentlals or a good captain and a the two seasons• play was In the matter or working liable Athletics yon have Ia tbe nine, the better ror your chang•-pltcllcr. Batlleld wlll have to control hlmselt gelher as a harmonious whole. Tho plAyers were the chances ror that pennant, Messrs. Athlettrs-leavlng bel ter than he did last year before he can act as eap1aln s11.me, bot there wne not tbe same harmonv Harry 8 with any success; and wtthoot a change-pitcher they Wri~rn\'s encceas with his Boston nine ba~ beeil largely ~rt~ ~cM'~n~~a.!'sg~ls~'~~~~~~~~~~~~e~Lt~ l~! ;;!f~:r~~·:i wll be badly otr In case Malhewa should happen t~ attrfbutable to the attention lie lias Pllld to this lm present engaged, this seems to us the best way or plac accldentall.v get Injure~. They Wlll be just 88 srroug be• portnnt matter or ge~tlng nine plovers together Who Ing the Athletic nine. hind 1he bat and In pitching as last season, II we may Womld wort Well In harness. It IS exactly like pnltlflg 'l'he Atlantica next olalm attention, and as they have, jndge rrom the result or the sPaaon•s play; and also In two rust trotters to a wagon. They mllv be Dexter& to we belleve, fixed their nine and placed them well, too, the tn-lleld, tr they wort harmoniously tolletller. We point or speed, bot If tney won •t ron ·In harmoaf to anggestlons may be oJ no use. Beblnd the bat they have notice that !bey bave sandwiched the qnlet Balds worth gether, a three-minute team tbil.t toiU can beat them out placed the active and emctent Barlow; Britt Is to nave between two constitnt!onal growlers, and the probability and-out. Taking only the playing skill or the Resolutes charge or the dellvery of the ball, and with the support Is that the former w!ll be Rubjected to a red-hot Jlre ol Into consideration, they undoobtedly have a stronlf nine he Is to have this seaeon. he w111 prove troublesome to words rrom second ond third bll8e8, ll he sllould happen Allison l8 a 11ne· catcher and Wolters a very ell'ectlve and score base-bits from. The Atlantic bases wlll be very to play loose: and even It be plays op to tile mark, experienced J>ltcher, and they have three excellent base strongly manned Indeed, for Dahlman Will attend to the cnane<>a are that when the others mnlf In the men In Mtke cate thoroogbly OISROIISeY the tlelder. 'fhls twisting of and a Rockford player In their ntne, the Be was the v1ct1m or a species of oonsum ptlon very pre: the bai!I'>Y Onmmlngs Wlll bother Hastings considerably, Philadelphians. Thns they have two more aur::.ong sporting-men, so one or his confreres to- ll!ld lie lVIII h11ve t.o be more tbon usually active to save than the Athletics, who have one Brooklyn mao In paseert balls. As Craver wlll be the change catcher, be nine and one out. CALLI!IG Fom.s.-ln calling fool balls the 11ftt must .call "foul" the moment he aeeY til.t the 'b Is falling bo.ek of the lines of the bo.oes, anc\ J~Ot 'I'll! , a• formerly, until the bo.ll touches the grotuld. No ball Is foul unle•• It touches the ground baek of the bo.se llne. If It touehea the line, It lo fo.lr. OVERRUN>IING FmBT BASB.-The umpire, when a plqy er lo running to !!rot base, must wateh the play closelY, o.nd If he sees the baserunner tun to tlie loft, o.ftet 'l'llklng ftrotbue, he must aet aa If there were no law granting the privilege or overrunning the bo.oe; &8 the runner, In the ease of overrunning the b~se, forfelta the exemption from being put out, unless he eUher keept otnilght on or turns to the right. The best plan fa for the runner to turn to the right, If he overrun• the base at o.ll. 8tr11811TUTBB.-When a subatftnte Ia presented to run a. base for another player, the umpire muiot aok ihe eo.ptain of the ft'eldnine If he objects to hltn · If he dooa, the umpire m\lot rule him out1 as the captain of the fieldslde can now select the substitute. , . Da.uno G.uo:o.-Shonld &ny even Inning• of a game end with o.n equnl ocore-provfded five have 11een played, not otherwise-and play be prevented b)' ll storm of r&ln; eto., or b)' darkness, In au ell eo.oe the umplrQ can declo.re a11r&wn game; bnt uudet ;Jl.O other circumstances oan a lt'llllo ))e ul, !IIIIo mn JaUst decide ou.eh player out at once. So he inud \lilt oo.se of a. plo.yer on the lla.ttlnJt'lllde who ill1 ball, or des!Jinedly 'aiiOWil It to ldt him. STOPPDIG 11ALLB FOULLT.-No pla.'ler oan ll6 Jllll M on any ball that ho.s been atoppe or oanght loy 11 ftelder with his hat or cap·; and If a ball be 10 ~ the bases can take a ...... 'l1ie ,.,: isaa follows: with his ball,
following Ia the section governing the profea. slonal clubs: Sxo. 7.-In playing nll matches, nine players trom eaoh of the two oontesUng clubs shall cnnaLltute a full field, and these playel'8 must be regular memben or 'be alub theY rflpreHeut. Thel mnst also not have be~n mem ber• of 1111y other baseba.l club-whether in or out of the Pro!esslonRI AfiAoclation--or ba.ve played In any match- ~(~-:,'~~~c~nth~~h::e cl~b pi~;· iit1~1.~o.~~f.:f~\~;!~ ~~,o~a~g Apa·U 1st of the HeRROn they play In ext:cpted. Every ~:~~~\~~~~~~ oF~~~ti~0gaan~ 8~h!;~dm~~~~h\"~f,; ~~e~[Li!~~ tn'fbof this secUon of the rule~, conttldert:'c1 a member ofthe ?~~eg:I~~J,\afns ;~~~ti ~h~e:11ot"~~~ec~J~l~~\1tut;c~~%~r::: o~1 pQ&ed to each other. player, have plnckielt him, however, and we have · Act. yet tc see the man could stand bta paoen long One of the weak points In the pllly or without beln(l badly punlahed. oatcbera of Iaat aeaaon WllS the babU Atla Brainard to stUIIln elrectlve'pttcher, though It milking oonstant appeals 10 the umpire on "•••ttrA••~·· "oalled baUa," and otqer points on which 11 now some sixteen years alnce we ftrat saw him are aaked. Especially was thta apparent In play. The expe~lence be had •• one of the famous Olnctnnatl "Bed StQilldwz.. "aiifeaa_!o:nal~pll•)l he may po-1 u a player. At one time Commtoga Ill and their could have commanded 18,000 salary for a aeaaon'a tenllanoe at the ma.tct•-g••m~•~a play. Now be obtain• but a third or that amount; partlea wllo wer• and yet, aa far aa btl pitching goea, be Ia even a en• the reomorence of any aucb better pltlf'er than before. Straightforward, manly ad the proleiBional arena during the aeeaon of !I'IIB PITOHBB& deallngta the only rnle that pays In the long rnn. e• B~oral;lle and faithful aervioe Ia so plainly Never before -• such fine play ahown In ~e Martin ia oonaldered the only legitimate pitcher the moa• paying policy for a proreaatonal play.~>r tc pitcb111g department of the game or hueball ullll~, tn the profeaatonal lraterntty-tbat 11, be Ia the only &llat it Ia very otrange that anyone ehonld tng tho 1eaaon or 1878. It wu exceptionally a 1e• player who Uterally pttcbea or tcaoea the ball; and to hia own tntere1ta as to lake the oppo. son or atrateglc play In pttcbtng; and llad the sop. but for bla thorough command In deUvery and the which In the end generally leads to peen port tn the fteld been at all equal tc the akUJ ahown judgment with which he playa atrategto potnta In well aa ,Ie .. or obaracter. We are glad by the leading pitchers, the acores of the champion pitching, hta aimple toeaea would be badly punished, lotte._ 18Dt In to THE CLIPPED by the lhlp oonte1ta during 1878 would have averaged one The batting Ia getting tc be too akllltul ror the slows, ~~~~~.~~:~~~ tl!e profeaalonal-club m&nagora, half leu than they dill. Experlenoe baa proved COD· and Martin, therefore, waa Jesa effective laat year tl elfort will be made tbts coming cluatvely that, In order that the player who deliven than ever before. When be pitches fast he loses class of the "frauds" who have diG· the baU to the bat may have fUll aaope tor atrateglc command of the b&ll, and Ia then easily punished. of profeBBional, and to employ none play he molt be allowRd a atyle of delivery allmlt Bfa record Ia good for faithful aervtoe. &.Itt.tl101~tlply reliable pl&yera, no rna Iter how lktll· ttni'ot a oomblnatlon otapeed with accuracy of aim. Hugh Oampbell of the Iteaolutea pltc!led with oon others nu.y be; for In the caaea of the latter To "pitch" a ball to the bat Ia almplJ tc loll It, alderable effect for that olub In 1873, aGd he would tbelr ~ might b11 detrimental tc the club employ· either slowly or with apeed. If It be tossed alowly have done better with mere control of temper. A ing the!ll. During the seaaon ot 1878 some of the -• Martin toun It-the ball can very readilY be ball-player needs tc be aa much the master or bla f!neat play In the ll.eld known to the annals of the aent In tc any particular point aimed at; bot If It be temper-that Ia, poaaeaaed or what. Ia called "nerve" R&me marked many of the champlonohlp contests, attempted to pitch It awtrtly, command of the bailie -• the bll11Brd BXI>Ort; and a bllltardtat who allows and a deolded improvement over the play . of the Jolt, and the result Is &wild delivery, auch aa noed his temper tc get the beat of him might aa well quit prevtoua 16111100 waa very generally .,xhibited. tc charaoteriEe the pitching of Bannejlan of the old playing at once. The ''nerve" to face danger Ia one Should the new rule of ten men be adopted, we look Union nine or Morriaanta, or Ward of the old Empire thing; but the ••nerve" to reatratn passion, and to for a still further advance, which there Is yet room nine of thla city. The delivery that admits at once keep oool under trytng clrcnmatance1, Ia the atyle for, by the way. In reviewing the play of the le&IIOn, or great apaed and complete com maud of the ball Ia of nerve a ball-player needa a1 much &I he does the &B hitherto, we ahaU take up each poatt.ton and com the low underhand th~ow, made with the arm awing nerve of cour1111•· ment on the plaJera who excelled In It; and by way tn11 nearly perpendicularly to the aide of the body. Zettletn wa1 the pitcher of the PhUadelphla nine of beginning, we ahall comment ftrst on This atyle of "pltchlnl{"-lf we m1y oall It ao-waa of 1873-the nine who, after they had, br harmo TRB CATOREB9 OP 1873. tlrat Introduced by Cretghtcn, who united a rapid ntoua play, practically gl'SIIped the cbamploiUiblp ADd ftrat and i'oremoat, In our humble opinion, pace with the moat thorough command of the ball. pennant, quietly let It be drawn out of their banda atandl Jame1 White or the Bostcn Oinb, agalnll!o Prior to Crelgbtcn'a doy, slow, otrategtc pitching because three or four of the team no longer worked whoae integrity of play not the breath of auapwlo!l waa the order, and the ab&J'P "potnta" and the beau In barne1a with the otbero. exl1t1. Ae a player, White Ia remarkably active tlflll ftelilng dlaplayl now cbaracterlltiC of the game Britt waa the pitcher of the Atlantic Dlne.of 1878, none more 10. lie baa a quick sight, la a pretty sure were unknown. "Bioggy" battln(l waa then the and the worst punished of all. catch, poaaeaaea good judgment, and Is equal to the rule 1ptnat the pitching of Tttm Van Cott of the In our comments on the catcher& of 1873, In the beat In pluck and endurance; but, above all, he Gothaml. adll Frank Pigeon of the Eckford1, ths last taoue of Tllll !JLIPPBB, we simply mentioned the atanda A No. 1 aa a thoroughly honest and reliable model pttchera before Crelgbtcn Introduced the dll· tact of Bickll being dllabled, and of hie not playtng pl&yer, and he Ia one who&e d&tly bablta of life ahow gutaed underhand throw. , to the Mutual nine afterwards. Itappeara, from ftlcta that hta honesty Ia not simply a poltcy, but a princi Such 11 the aktll attained by batame.n of the pres~ we have learned tbta peat week, that the 1tory of btl ple Inherent In the man. Another plucky and elfect eut day, that If the pitcher were to ba oonftned to a dlami1Dl trom the Mutual Olub wu falae. In Bop. tve catcher Ia tloott Baatlnga. Quick In actlou Je~lttmate pitch, the result would be either large tember laat lllckl wu enpged to catch for the ateady and quiet In play, with plenty of pluck and acorea and long and tedlona l{&mea, or the rule of Pbtllldelpbta ten of 187'; and, when It waa mown, endurance, he atanda In hta poaltlon aurpaoaed by callln11 balla on a wild deUvery would have tc be that he had left the Mutual&, Interested parlie1 none In aupporttng good, steady pltobtng. McVey, ab&ndoned. The option of a lwlft llllltvery bae been atartad tile 1tcry that be had been expelled teo, Ia t.nother good catcher who has an honorable abown tc be a neoeaatty of the fame, and to m&ke on account of oertaln charge• made 1111a1DBt him, reoord, a rather quick temper being about the oul;o thla apeed elreottve, the etyle o delhery muet be Btclla, when he heard of It, went to Man.. objectlon tb&t can be brought against Wm; wb11e as ouch u to lldmtt ot a thorough command of the ball. aer1 Cammeyer and Davidson, and obtained let a player behind tlae bat, or In facing a pitcher he Ia Tlleae enentlaiB are combined Ia tlle low underh&nd ters from them statln(! that no ancb chargea had accu•tcmed to, th1re Is none better, Then there Ia throw alone. 'Ihta atyle mt.rka the deU:very of all the been made, nor waa there any ground fer them. Olapp.-one of thoae quiet, reticent fellows, alwaya awtlt pltcben of the profeoalonal cbamptonshlp With thele he went to Pbtllldelphta, and -• at once elrectlve, and generally to be depended upon for good arena, and lad aeaaon, •• the aaylngll, the7 "bad It replaced on the team for 187,, the oluh having IUS· aervtce. Certainly, ClaW Ia to be relied upon, and down to a 1pot." " ponded negottatlona during the tnveatlgatlon. In the Athletics hr.ve acted wisely In retaining him. To Dick McBride of the Athletic Olob, take him,.. Jn•tioe, Ulerefore, to Mr. Btolu, we prooeed to oom The tact 11, club managers commit a mistake when tn all, we do not hesitate to award the p&lm of m ment on hia play durlnl!1873, aa we did the 1eaaon they &Uow a good, faithful worker tc leave them. premacy tn pitching for the seaaon of 1878. The av before, when he carried olr the palm u the beat The beat-humored catcher of the profeaa!onal ten a erages of eamed rona ahow him to have been the catcher of that year. ot 1873 waa Tommy Barlow of the Atlantica. Tom moat dUicult of &II to ''punish." or tc earn baae·hltl llickl ta known u the 1wittelt thro'l"er who atanda wu under a cloud at one time; but, from an tnvestl from. But what we have apecl•lly to pratae Dlc). foP, bebtnd the bat. Bell one of the ea&teat and moot gatlon of the charges brought against btm, we tit& aalde from hta well-known tnte~trlty, Ia hll ftdellty tj) graceful of oatchen, and never did a player in hl1 Attafted that they were baaed upon the tllallce of hla hla club; fbr the latter alone he de1ervea a han,. position r- the moato or a hot ll.re trom the IIWift. 100\1881'11, and we beUeve btm tc be an lloneet aome gold medal •• a juet tribute to fllltbful l&rvio6. e1t deUvpry with more determined pluck and oour player, aa he certainly Ia an active and earneat bile. From the dq he ftnt oooupled the position o(~•r age than did Hicks thll t.. t 1eaaon. lie Ia a man Be Ia remerkably &gil& In his movement&, an4 at In the At.hlettc Club up tc the present moment, Dklll occupying a good aootal pdaltton. Exoapt the nmor tenda tc lnaconnte pitching very ftnely. Be 11 one baa atcod bte gro1llld. aa an Athletic Plater, bon~ above referred to, we have never heard anythillg or the bea\ of the new atyle of atrategtc ably and faithfully, and he 11 the only plteher!'hO lll!&lnat hialntegrity of character, and we think he and he lal• 1!9&80n earned m&ny a tint baae haa ne'Oer roraaken hla olub. We do notaay at Ia too tnteWgent a man not to regard reputation aa outwitting the pitcher by bla peculiar atyla pJayeratn profeaolonat clob1 have not alegut te the r.•• eaaentlal of a proreaalonal player'• •noce1a In& a Joue.hlt, It .,... noteworthy how Tom waa rt11ht tc better their condition by joining other In h 1 vooatlon. AI • oat<*r be Ia noted for biB tavored In th1a respect by the crowd at the Union clubs; but when we aee a man eerving ona club :f!&r peouu.. style of play in lllall:tng d1111.,.. catcllea of Grounda. Whenever be made one of bla patent after year, the natural aupposttton 11 that hell&a foul bounda, and especially In olrnttilla' tailurel to btta-he atmply allowed the ball to bit the ba~the workett honorably fbr Ita beot lntereal.ll, and tbatof bold ahal'P fty.ttpa by 1k1lltul oato~~Jilg of the erowd would laugh and applaud him; while, it any Itself ta noteworthy. Dick te qulek-tempared, 11114 dropped ball en the rebound. Be ilrath• too.quick other olub player pf the out-of-town nines atteii!Pted be baa 1ome other ftlulta; but what are t'l;ley w~n tempered, but tbla 11 a fault which ha ta gettln8 1nch a tbing, they would htaa him. weighed in the balance or hla hOnRat reoord? W~n over nptdly. lie 11 unque1ttonably on• ef the moat Craver ot thl! Baltimore Olab of 1&73 11 one o/>.~be he rettrea from the fteld It will be with a repntatlba elfeottve catchers there are, and certabllj no man oan ptuc*l•~~ 111 the trat•mtr1 and ~eAt; tbat thoueanlla of dollars of even ftllrly earned monet equal him In oatchtng for Cumming's d1111cult blaB lilltlital':ofl!fl:u; 61'01111 . laJudf• wa1 done hllll hi. could not outweigh. deltvery. We aball next refer to the hue-playa-. Ohloago iiO!ne y8lll'tl ago, bu$ lid a h~~D•t 'it'bYk•. JIIMII, Next w McBride comes the tutalli(lent and pntlt~oo then baa foUy olrlehhiillfecta of the· false cbarget manly AJ. Bpauldln11 of the Boaton Club, who laok• made ln. t~ oltJ, and ~n!aJer~ haa now. ._ bett.tl~ only McBride's experience to equal him In evert repulaHOlt for fil.r ilea lllf. Craver Ia good pitching requisite, while In reopect to oontrol ol where In the ll.eld, but his forte Ia p§oloae temper he rather excel& Dlok. The Booten Clt1~ behind the bat while racing ateady p f •' oould not have aent 011.t a bettor representative of ilot mind the paoe a bit, ao long u the tver.r the American bueball player than Mr. Spaulding, ·The ·Phlllldelphtano b&l'e mllde ll wlaa and tt Ia not a matter of 1nrpriae that he baa been so so useful& man. aucoeaatultn hl1 mission. Both on and olr the ball· no fair show last 1e.,.on to .,._,,...... ,.,.,~,.,.~ field he oondocta htmaelf In a manner well calculated iJ~ hii•,n,~for~r.l~~f 8e~~ to remove the pub11c'a blld lmpreaaton •• to prole•· nine 111 which atonal baD·tcSiel'l, created by the actions of the 1 weartng, gambllng apeclmena who form the few a ftne catcher black 1heep or the ftock. In fact, be baa tenae of any; and with enough tc know that ftllr and manly play, and honor· auch a pitcher aa will no doubt &bl~ and faithfUl aervtce, are at Jeaat as much thll ea dtaplay more of his be baa done tor aentlall of a profenlon&l ball-player ae hta akUIIn some aeuona past. Bta deatnBBs Interferes with bla the fteld or at the bat. We preaeot these two players abfl1ty to take aU advantages oft'ered, llut this Ia off. as model pitchers of tho fraternity for 1873. aet by hll being a steady, reliable player. Bigham abowed some excellent P.I&Y behind the ID point ofatrat~glc a kill, and In his ability tc deliver bat during the latter part of the aeuon, when he the ball, Bob Mathews perhapa equals the beat. Cer Jl>qed Matthews' pitching, and' he wd1Uevertt.lgamea tatnly, aome of the ftneat play shown In the way of tor the Mutoals by hla catching. Dtcllla rather care strategic ll!tch1Dg was r.o:htblted by him durlng1873. leas in bta habit&, tmpolatve In temper, and In some The 1wittneae of hla delivery Is rem&rkable for a reapeota not a model player; bot we think he can be player of his alze. But-thla "but'' Ia a hard wcrd relied upon for honest service. lie oomea of good, M&tbewa doea not take care of himself. No man ceo honeat crlcketlng stock, and has a worthy man'a expect to excel in any II&ID8 requiring pbyatcal skill reputation tc auataln. Be Ia strong tn akUilul bat· unleea he ta of temperate habits. Eapeolally Ia tctal tina, aa all cricketlng baseball playera are. abstinence requtetta during the playing aeaoon; and Farrow oanght well for the Reoolute Olub, In the profeBslcnal ploy or who negleota this rule Is aura whose service he baa done faithful work for several to Buffer trom It In the lOBI or power. No word baa aeaaona. lie ta a very good catcher, and with good been ut1ered against hta Integrity or play, and we believe Mathewo has always tried bta beat to w1n; training, and In a regular 1tock-oompany nine, 1 would show marked improvement. &nd when be baa failea and been badly "punlahed,' Rlcka was catcher for the Mutual Club until dta. tt waa booauae of his ne~Ject tc be In proper condl· abled In July, after wblcb he was not placed In the tton to employ bla faculties to the beat lldv&ntege. nine again. Malone oaught for the Philadelphia nino. Fisher, the change pitcher of the Athletics during lie Ia aald to be the wealthteat of the professional Ia the swiftest underhand thrower of the players. McGeary occasionally ployed as catcher prt~e,aeJ,ont•l arena, aurpaaalnR even McBride and tor the Athletic nine. Snyder waa the catcher of the both send In balls when Wasblngtcn nine; but, according to hie statement, Bla He no right to be there. the old catcher of the Marylanda- a fine a reliable one, too- did not catch reiJU· aeaaon. When In training, BJIIy used to quite mark behind the b~ho acted It baa and the thllrd-!llue_m'~ ~~. 111 extent u to make fair-foul eare of play for earned buea. By the dnc\lon of a "rigbt-ahort" thla "fair-foul" 1111e would be put a atop to, antt, moreover. It enable all three of the basemen to attend to their dutlea beUer, and thereby give them greeter faolll tlea for atu.otlve baa&-play and at.rat8l!IO opera tiona. In taet, the ten-men rule Ia the onlyeft'ectual remedy agalnat buea being earned bJ ftllr.foul hlta, beald81 p1ao1ng the lnAeld In proper form and glv lna b-playera better opportunltlea than they now po••- for f111)y ooverlnlf their poeltlona. • 11'IBST·BABB PL.I.DBS. In the Jtat of the 1lnt-olaaa 1lrat.baaemen of 1878, honeat old Atlantic Joe Start worthUy takea the 1lrat poa!Uon; f<>r not only 11 hla 1leldlng record equal to the beet, eepeolallY whea -take into CODalderatlon the.fou' ~~~~he had to contend agalnat, bnt like a bright partleular a tar does he ahlne forth for hla unqueatloneiliDtearlty of character. For thla he !1 known u "old reliable." a name won not only by earne.P eft'OPta to do hJa beet to win ill every game he playa, but eapeclally beoau1e hla record Ia nn talnted by a 1lngle aot unworthy an :llonorable ball· player. Bealdel bla aii:UIIn bl1 poaltlon, be Ia one or the l'Uteat bue-rnnnen In the l'raternlty; and aklll ill thJa respect hu beoome an Important euentlal of auoeeaa In a profeealonal player, 88 much ao, per bapa,M that of being able to bat well; for It Ia of but ltt61.e adw.atage for a good bitter to earn hie baae If he 1&118 to obta!D hla run by akllltul bue-runnlng &f. terwvda. Start not only e:roell In holding hot balta, but he Ia very sharp In picking up low grounden; he Ia alao a anre or.tcher of high fouls, In (aot, Joe 1a a uttp-top" 1lrat-baaeman-qulet ill hie demeanor, earnealln hla work, falthtlll In servloe, and alwaya to be reltedon. Next on the llat we plaoe Everet lllll1a Of IMt year'a BaltiJDOJ'e ten, a 1lnt-olua player In every reapect, bnt 81P8Qtai1Y good at 1lrat bue. Milia II one of the beet-humored men ill the profeaatonal arena. and be pol-l a good reputation for boneat and falthtlll temoe to evary profeulonal clnb he bat played ln. He 11 very qulok In hla movemente, Ia a aura catob, and very active ill ble poaltlon. The Hartford Ohab di4 a wlae thing In aecurillg him aa their 1lnt-'t.Hman for 1874. One of the moat eft'ectlve 1lrat.baaemen of the eea aon waa Dehlman of the Atlantic, a younlf Brooklyn Ita of German parentage. Debtman labored under a1111plolon of unfair play at one period of the aeaeon, bnt nothing of the kind waa proved &gal net him; aud TIIJC PL~ TJDR8 OJI' 18'1'3. It there Ia anything In an boneat-looklng face, Dehl· man ma7 be depended upon for fair play. Some of ftiiiD-BAIJIK.U(, the 1laeet 1lrat-bue play we saw last aeuon wae that The pqsltlon of thlrd-bueman hao become the of Dahlman In aeveral llnt-olaae matobee. He bu moat dlflloult of the three poaltlona on the ba&M, ae banda that will hold any ball the ewlfteet thrower that player bu the longeet dlatance to throw to !!rat can send him, and be Ia very qnlok and active In hJa bue, the sborteat thue to throw In, and the bardea~ movemenla. Certainly, bla errors were few and tar hit balla ~ 1leld; be alao bas the most dlfll.oult between. ·catobea to make. be1ldea whlob be baa lately bad a Manning oredllably played the position of llnt new duty to tuldll, and that Ia In attending to "lair baleman In the Boston ten for 1878. but In technical foul" blta. It Ia a little alngular that the delegatea phraaeclogy he was regarded aa rather "light" for who worked all day, recenUy, In trying to hupron that team. He Ia, however, a very good, aemoeable the code Of rulea 1ent In lor adoption by the CoD'fBD• player, Is quite reliable, and a good man to hne. tlon, abonteet Glenn. who played the poeltlon In 1lne style for the :pla;JerL Waahlngton Olub, Ia an A No. 1, always to be counted · No other man' filled tbla poeltlon aa eft'eotnally lut upon, and therefore the Olt.IOIIIIO m&n~~~~en did well lleUOD •• Bo'o> Ferguson of the Atlantlce. Trne, be ln 1ecnrlng htm. did not alway• tbrow wtth judgment, bla look of Jolack played at 1lrat bue for the Philadelphia nine, that thorough control of temper so euentlal to lno and tried hJa bMt to help ble oompanlona win Ule oeaa being at tlmea quite a drawback; but the style pennant, aa did Devlin, another strong and reliable whJoh he ploked up bot ground-balls e:roalled pla:ver of the Phlladelpblans, who Ia to play the anything ever before seen on a ball-1leld, no one ap poaltlon of lint base In the new OhiCIIIIO team. proaching him In ~Ia reepect. Hie quick throw M. Campbell attended to lint bue for the Re•o• ing, too, was noteworthy; also bla sure catching of lula ten for laat aeaeon, and he played up to bla old fly balla. Hla e:roellenoe In picking up dlfllcult standard. He wu alwaya very eft'ectlve In bla wor)l:. grounder& 11M been attained by practice In band X. annge play Dahlman take• the lead, be hartllg ball playing, lind olnb managers will ll.nd that prac 1 Juaa the lN!It throwing trom short lleld and third Uoe ill the !Widtlall conrte will be more elfect' bale. lii>st to him etanda Oampball; then Maok, he In tralnillg their players than any gymlla MIIIJ and Glenn. Start had a poor aver1111e, owing to llnm oan be; tor It trains to the eadnrance of fa the ba4 throwl:ug from third bue. Every 1lret-ba•e· tigue,• naakee ·a ·111111 apecllllly acUve, tongbena the :o>an of the aeuon of 1874, etanda aquare on the reo bll!ldll, and tra!U. "a ball-player to 1leld the moat ord. c1UIIcinlt of pou.tld·balla, bealdea training hl8 eight DOOJID.BAO PL.I.YUL ll!lt'ter tban aa)'thlng else can do. Fer11naon Is re Thera- some eplendld &eoOild·baae play e:rblb I~~~~Uably well poated In the rules, and baa a better TDJD PL.&.Y&"8 OJI' 18'1'3. Jted tn Ul'IS, and yet, eorreotly speaking, moat of the Idea of the tu11 requirements of tbe game than moat OUTJ'IZLDIIIB& aeoaoid-bueman'a work lay at "right abort," es Jl}ayen; be alao makes an o:roellent umpire. In pealaUy In lleldlng ground balla and abort blgh-lly fact, he Ia r. utnral ball-player. He Ia fnlly reliable, Formerly, the three poldtlona In tha onl1leld were too, and ftarl•l 'lrltbal. He Ia a fine oatcber, but retarded In a far dlft'erent ltght from what they are balla. On tbla aCrcst line of tho position from "One .ban." Then the next unfair ball-not a wide old 1tyle, and aloo captained the team occaalonally. Is ooQIIted u one again, and the next a.e two, and the Baif was the oraok player aonth of Philadelphia at the home-baso tho C·• mmlttee decided to be one foot, JIIea&w:inl! fl.-om the coruer of the base. third • u "TWo ba1la." Thne nine unflr.lr ba.lls mtlllt oentre field. George Is also a line lir.t.baae pla7er. .S_at;;. S. Shottid the b11tsman, when In tlte net of atrlkinllat be de!Jy~ before the bats;m.., can be given hla baae Donnell:!' played at oentre lield and aa short-stop ft61M&U step ou~fllde the UneR of hiA position the umph·e on called 'balla, In the Interim, however, he ean be for the Wuhlngtons, and did good aervloe In both must-calt ••vonlHLrlke,11 nnd tbrcu ,.uch toul su·ikesllhaHJ'ul aent to hill 'baBe on three ba1la sent In In en~, pOtlltlone. the batsman nut. If H. ball ob which 1\U ·h strike IR cnltc bA lftbq .~pen to be "widea." Ryan ooeaalopally played In the outlleld for the 0 1 Supll<*l' the 1lrlt ball Ia delivered and the seoond Phlladelphlaa. He alwaya trleo hla best to win. ~lr!a~~do.rl. ~~t' :~~~u ~b~\l' ~~ ~~~: ~~~?~~~;~~.c •;,~~!~Vu~e 8~fl 0 1 and tJU,rd fol'8 •'wl.dea." In such case two wldea wt,U Bellan-another honeat player-ullleted the MD· ~!:: ~~Jf~~~\Jo:c~i f~ :t~~~.~:~~ t~~\>:~~ f.!~;:~·1~'}t'~~1tb~ have been called. Bnppoae that after th1a there are tualll In tbe outfield. ouL being pnt out aent Ia kl ouciceae!on three ba1Ia that are either not BIGB'r-F!ltLD:&JI8, In questions affnctlng the order of •triklng. the um OYer the ba.ee or aot at tbe height calied for, then the The rlght·llelders of 1873 who regularly occupied pire must be governed by the appondcd section: umpir'e calla "One ball." Should three more nch be the po1ltlon Included Pllr.e of the Baltlmores, l:lech 8RO. 6.-Any batamnn falling to tnke hiY ]lOJ!.itton at the senlli>. he cella "Two balls." By this time two wldee tel of the Phtladelphlas, Flaher and Reach of the ~:}o1~eh~~~~~<'b~trb:t~~~~~~~~·o';."~c:~~ ·~ t~r c~;~r o~~~.~~r~~~:··:;~ end two ba1la will have been calied, and the next wide Athlatlca, .A.ddy, O'Rourke and Birdsall ol the Bos renaon or ltlneMR or tnjurv, ur by cummut of the cnpt.nina uf or called ball pvea • base. tou, Bo7d of the Atlantica, Booth of the Resolutes, the contesting ulnf'-K-I-IIm11 bl• fh:clul'od out. Wide balls do not oonnt, ln estimating bella, for Blelukt of the Wuh!ngtona, and Martin of the Mu Bh<>~~ld any mo.n whose turn It Is to appear at tbe called balls. tuall; and all did honeat aervioe In their position. bat retuoe to respond to tho call or the umpire for After a little practice the rnle will be found to work Sweu7 lllao played In the outlield and at aeoond In the striker, then the umpire must enforce the fo~'ll'- ve1'7 easily. Besides whlob, hal! the responalblll.tr¢II lOme of the BOlton games: but he wu not In good caiii:ng balla lo taken off· the umpire's shoulders. m trim Jut 1euon. Nevin played In the Reaolutes and infx~::_Anv b&tRmRn refnf'tng to ff\'k:B hf11 >O&Ition n.t Lbe the aectlon aent In to tbe Convention we called a ball 41d good aemoe. bat wttbtn thi·ee trttnutefl Rnor the nmpire bRH called for after two 'IUllllir balla, but the Committee made It The chllDlpiDn "throwlat," who can aend a ball~ the atrlk.er, shull be declsred out. three. Expel!ienoe In play this se&aon will, we thlnlt, feet, - Hati!eld of the !lutuall." INTEBFERENOE show this to be too great a license to the batsman, Thel'Q Ia quite" change In tho wording of the rules and l.vger aoores Will be the result. The rule of call applic.ble to ~my Interference on the part of the ing wides·Will oblige the,pltcher to learn to oommand players, either with the umplt•e or with the side in the the ball In dellvel'J more than waa neeeeNt7 under Jleld. For instance, Bee. 13 of Rule VII states: the rules Jut aeuon. The umpire sht\11 n~q uh·u Uw plll.)"l!l'ft on the l>attfng 8lde )Vho·are not t~t t.be bu.L, nor t·mmjng the bMKus to keep aL DJUD BALLB.-"Tbe rnle which makes th!l ball cltad a dtataoatJ ot nnt. leBM thun Ofth feet fl·om thn 1lne of home for the time baing, both for putting playel'l! out and for running t>Uee. Is a.e follows. It Ia section 10 of ~ fr~~~~~~~~~. b~~:~~~1~ 1~1t~~r~r,~' ~~ 5n~t~\~r~~~·.~i~~1~ Rule IV: RUQC only to be p~rmltted tu npp1-oKch the font lhtH not 10. Ail b&llo dell,ered to the bat whlch •hall either touch '~'-'""~ ....,,, .• nearer ~ban flftecn fNlt to ronch thP. )lhlyel'8 t'lllllllnJ;t tho the atatlker'l ba,, wtthou\ being atruck at, or hit the tiat& baeea; and no plnvm· of thnl side:, nut enga;.tnd nt the bnt or mao'a ·pel'80n While Btandtng tnDle resttton, orwhtch shall in running tlw tmNt>i'l, ~o~hnll he twrmittf'd to cntt•J· tUe lntleld, 81 ell:cept tn (l&AeR of lllnt'FU m· injul'y. Either stdP. Jlel"l.dsting t~'u~::r~nPY!Y~,: ~:flZ:e :Uf~ut~ ~:e g:r~~rd;:!: }:tt!~Z!,"!{~~ :.~\~~./ulo ~bnll tmlfer the pcualty of a. for 1 be.;::,~:.:fl~C.:h~ i.nended the code we sent to The o~ect of the rnle Is to prevent any such inter tbe Convention Introduced under the head of "'IIFid&'' os ference 'IIF!th the field sldo used to be indulged in ba1Ia & clause that conflicts wl th the section when tho uLn" side would crowd rouncl the base&, lng dead balla, when they illserted the words and by their language and nolso either lnthnldato or u to IIOilch hla per110n." When any ball sent In 1!1 bother a blll!o-player or licldcr RO that he could not the pitcher touches the p&l'!IOn of the batsm&n,'the r~~his game. The umpire ls expressly stmted umpire mllllt call "dead ball," and no baoe cao be b e rules to be " tho sole judge or fair and unfulr run, player be put out, or run. be *' nacoord ns to
.April 11; 8AS£1ALL. lz' ,.. • It II e e one month In of rune to a match for tha to nine rune to a game, the avengea renldng from 10 to On other hand, there wu but one -Al>rll-durlng the a•&IIOn of 187' when the aver&RI'~ of rune to a match for the w!nnln11 nlnea exceeded nine, Wblle In Ma1-the best month of both aeo.- 1nna-the anT&ge for 187' waa down to 8, tbo.t of 1878 waa 9. Tbla shows Improved lleldinl!, and, aa the ball remaln•d the oame In size, weight and material, we muot look to Improved rules of play aa the oauee oftbe advance movement. In the record of the beot.-playe~ 11amea In the professional arena Of 1873, we lind but two ~~~W•• marked by soor•a of lees tboa ' rnna for the winning nloeo. and but four wltb aooretl of 5, while but nine of the sesaon 's games were won bJ of 5 for the winning clubs. In ..... aoo,...• 0 111H, however, there were two games won by au!.:f-=: at · . to prevent &D\' ~-c-_ ,., ···•· ~ ooorea ol t to 0; oeven Ramee by soorea of not 11 movements to atrike nt the ball i OV~r 8 rnnl for the winnlnl{ aide; twelve gamel ~e same Ume bo IR fareventr.d from atandtng too won by ecores of ' runa; and no leas than ell!ht ::':e~w'lit:: o~~r:r.:':~t: ~~ J~~: ::;:~~":atsman een won by 5 runs for the winning nines. Here allowed. to al&nd aa he wao before the Introduction or tho Is a total of nPBrly forty Rtmea marked by aooree of 6 and less fnr tbA wlnnlnR oluba, Bl!lllnAt a tot&! of :~~:~:::t~\~~r:~t~~:r t:{~:\::!!:\ffsertl!:n t~:eb;~~ i but 15 tn 1873. Tbia fact alone evldenoea marked im cUataut from It, and not farther than three feet from tt, provement In the lloldlnl! •1<111 l'f profeoalonal play. white he baa three feet of ap&ee furward and backward of ere during 1874. It Ia only by statistical data of this ~ ~(~~t'~~~h:r'~h~ 88b8alr.h"{:~~.,t".::~<;.~~~t!N"t~n .t~~ kind that sncb Improvement In play can be shown. t.u-ther torw&id ef the base than he now !11, he would galt\ Another tblnll may be noted as a fe&ture of the seo. son'a play of 1874, and that Is the growing llklnR for ::n~:.~~r::;:nh~~:er;:~ahtt~~t~h~~e~~ ~htr:.~rr~~~~~~ a na, wea the 2 to 0 contests hPtween ~~r:;ft~.~~~~,·eTt~:rr 'il n~·~,~~~~n~~~i~\{:· ~~r~~r·tt:! tu~Uce or tbe rule whtcb tnrficrs the penalty of eallln/i the Mutual and A.Uantlo and Mutual and Phlladel· •atrlkea" on tbe batsman whenever he fall& to hit at a ba l phfr.nlnee. which haa beeo delivered to htm ovel' the botne·bue, and We now come to the 118C0nd qoeaUon, relative to at thfl bel,1bt cR. lied for. Neither CAn there be in the caae FBAUDt1LENT PLI.Y, of pnntehlnJZ a pttrber ftlr the delh·c1·y of bal1s •mt or all In regard to the suspected gamea of 187,, while there can be but little doubt tbat the TU!es agaloe.t rrs:~r~\~~e.~~~:i.~~h:c:·~~· B",d ~~~= ~~~.~H~fieat;,~·:l~~hT:~~~ ~uti'ed to call a wlrte b~ll P.verv time the bnll Is eeut IM by playerapartlclpatlnl! In bettlnR and pool-buylnfl were 11 to oome extent evaded or violated. there Ia no doubt ~b: C~t~be~~R:~t,hoe: ;~K~8t~ns~;j:tl:~)rrzhl: b~~~:::~;~~~~~ of the fact that the new rulea did have • reatnlnlng tothnl helllrifc,.lf/f'O'I~li orovM"tlu~ 00tanvm 1 1f~ititm; or be. on nlnea governed by stock-company r•gnlo.• yond the reach nf hilt bAt Oft the IJirle he ~riJ.wt t'rnm; t)r ro But there Ia too much rea•on to auopect that 111r f)f)tf' hi~ IIMfl as to be ont of ffdr rmu·h nt' hb bat. wsa considerable fraud lndolf(•d In by the IT ere are four lnRhtU\'CS nf 11nfnlr dellwn·y whll•h should of unrellablea who crept Into the arena ~eaJ:!8:e~~~r~f:!~'~~~~:n~~~~e:r~~t~~ },~t;. ~a:~~~?r 1~ 1 ~e~~~~i the form In ·wblcb tbla fraud appeared to tbe rule whlo\treq.ulrea "'bHih;" to be called, In nd\liUon In the "aelllng" of bets on conteatll be 1 8 lost by oo maov lunln~a· TUDB. Thus, It ~~l:v:;;h~ •ga~~~ t"h-:~~re t~:M~~~l\·:::~~~~e~t~b:~~~~~c~ ~: that pools were · bought on a club's wiD· J.rt\ctorlly, Awing ahtefty to the t'nct that it hn!'t a lt•ndenc.v match In one er two lnnluga. arrangements ~fafs0:~~~:~~~8c~:P~~6r~~JI11tl\~ftn~~~~~h~~~~~~d ~:~r~:\!t~~ made by the knaves of the teams to "sell" dt0lcu1ty whA.tever tn oallJng them. It ts otherwb;e, hnw· to the extent of thelnnlnga' pia:; cooCPrned, e\·er. In the C8R6 or culltn£( bnliH; ~lltllt IH qncetlonabte "throw" the entire game. But It frequent whether the punishment of au lnac.'t:urate rlelh'fU',V of the tile Intended fraud on the aln~le In· ba.ll by the pitcher sbonlrl not be limited tn the Cl\lltng of not be conoummated exoopt at the ~~'t!d:!tiin~11poefctR~!tt:1~ t~a~h~~n~~,:~p~ 1 ~l~e ~l~c~~~~':n~~~~ ol the game Itself. To tbla extent mente for 1tnueglu play. But of the uttHLy n.!l w~ll ns ju.:t. as much a feature In tbree of lee of the rule of 'WideR11 tbere tbuu he no denbt tu' the of the Unl~n In 1874 as In 1878. mind of any unpt'PJudlced otisen'P.I' of the WIJrktng nt' the of this evil Ilea not ao much In the nt~w rules, for tlu&.t aet:Ltnn ~~~ &K nec~ !"l'ltU'.\" In gnvernf,,g a fair deltvttry of the ba.ll 88 the I'Ule or Cilllfng "strlk.t!.H" il Jaws, 18 In the action of olnb· In tbe caRe of fair bn.tting. to engage auspeoted men. The prlnctplo to work &lllewltng the rulea of whose constant a.BSOcts.tel!l eRCh Is ur ullack and queot.lontererl npon the Jaetly, In the public who p&tron- to reS(ard t•l lhe lntro ~~!:~~el;~,~":lle1~:;; Make It costly In dlmlnlshed kft e1· !leMon we arc A to lower the reputation of a club In them· tb•n the man&jlero will sudd•oly dis h&t>e won't pay to employ anapeoted men. and then there Is a chance that fraud In profeeslonal base ball playing will vanleh; bot not nnW then, most 1111· aoredly. · Next oomee the queetlon of TBB ATI'ENDAllOX A.T IU.TOBX8. In dlsona•lng this qn.eatlon, the element of the tariff ol admission to l~olosed 11rounds oomee Into the eatlmate with conilderable etrect. In the early days of professional playiDI!, wben crowds of ten thoound docked to see .llrat.-clasa bl8eball matobea, the charge for admi&Bion wsa but ten centa; and ~hat, too, when gold was ~t 200. When tbe roah be· gon,to.dbl\lnleb, and a crowd of 16,000 people, at ten lli!Dte a -mblaw of from six to aeven tbousand at Cwenty.ftve oeuta admllll~n, the reaecn ao&lflned wao a falling-of!' of lntereet In the game. To this cause, too, waa attrlb· nted the flutber reduction In the attendance at ball match•• when tbe tariff wae railed to lll'ty oenta, Now, In reRard to the juotlce of the lncreued prloe estimated by the rnle of value received, the oharge of halt a dollar to wltnees on exciting contest at hue ball of over an hour' a duration Ia certalnl:r more reaa onable than tbo.t of r. dollar to vrltneu a great boroe race, which Ia deolded In a few mlnutea, But this Ia not the light In which to view tbe q11eatlon. Tbe 111ctla, weare In tbemldstofhard tlmee;andbalfadol· Jar Ia more to ua now-nd will be for a year or two to oom-than even a dollar was ·before the paulo; and to tbla fact, mainly, Ia the falling-of!' In the attend ance at matches during 187' due. Tho.t there baa beeJl. !0118 or attraction through the doubt of fair and legitimate play between some nines, Ia unquea. tloned; but the malti cause II the lnablltty to meet . the expenae of vrltneulng two or three gamea a week a& half a dollar admlaalon. Moot as•ureclly thla taooe hsa atrected the attendance at match•s In Phlladelpbla and New York; If not' In Ble generally, a wlee policy In this matter eeema to point to the reduction r•""'""_. of llfty per oont. as the thing to be done next aeaaon. Lastly, we come to TBII WOBIWIO OJ' TBII OW Dt1LB8. And here comes up a qu•atlon requiring careful ccn~lderatlon , for the au null! revialon of the rules ot baaeball Ia a matter that baa great ln8.uence or bad on tbe future Interests of tbe nation Al the subject Ia one wortby a apeclsl we defer until our next lnue the dlecusolon queatlon of the working of the new rulea dur· aeaecn or IH?i. S-":VENTH ar;·nu'LI!i. Tho Play and .I:"JLa:rers. THB PlTOBERS. It la surprising how few there are of the profession al class of the fraternity who study up the theory of their game, or make themselves 11\mtllar with the rnlee and their correct Interpretation. Eepeelally Is this a weakneaa of pltohera, when they, of all players, moat require to be thoroughly pooted In every rnle. U they read the books on the subject, they seldom remember what they read. Every profeulonal player of a nine ahonld be dlreoted, by his olub-managera, to atudy up the rules Immediately after the March Convention of eaoh year. Laat season there were dozen• of profeeal@uaJj who for the Arot time knew what this, that, or the other rule meant at the close of the season. The beat to become with the. reviled code la to In
were only famllla.r with every rule as eaJ.led for. But of all the players, the pitchers-who ahonld he thoroughly posted-were the least up In their parts In a knowledge of the rules of the ~rsme. Though It cannot he said that the reanlt of a conteat depends upon any one player of a nine partlonl&rly, It Ia cer tainly a fact that suceesa depends more upon h~vlnll an Intelligent and weil-tralned player In the pitcher's poaltlon Ulan upon the abllltr of any other one play er. With sharp deldera and good batamen, a game may be won U the pitcher Is not up t? mark In 1'6· gard to apeed or endurance, eo long aa he 11 posted In the "points" and well np In "headwork" bualnesa. But he may have the best of support, and be as fast aa the faateat In his delivery, and possess other es sentials of effective pitching, IWd yot fail or success from hla lack of knowledge of strategy, and t'l-om not thoroughly knowing the rules, and with them the full points offlay. A silly habl Mathews had, and which other players copied, was that of wasting !he drat ball delivered, by which no less than an avar1111e of forty balls to a match were pitched for nothing. It Ia a "point" to put tho drat ball over tho plate as swiftly and a weak play to waste a single ball. jectlonable custom granted to pitchers allowing them to have substitutes In bases. After a leugtb:V inning In pitching, the pitcher happens to be the first or second suoh a thing may be excusable; but under no circumstances. For the very same reaeon the stop or ostcher might claim e:retnptlon fatigue of base-running. No man on a be allowed • substlt~Jte to run bases !or actuslly disabled from running tor injury or Illness. Prominent among the graduates In profeullonal pltoli.lng of 1874 was Bond of the Atlantic first saw him play, oome years ago, In Athletics of Brooklyn. In wllloh nine he atop; and the of hie led ua to then as he has ohnwn 1oh• n••eo.t. "'"''" son's play, position "'degree of speed and with headwork pl~>y , rank already. He all endurance, deld!ng skU! and the ball; and, Improving In he baa done, gives promise to excel tton. Moreover, he has good sense know the value of "' reputation !or It there Ia any aport In which Integrity aoter Ia the best capital a man can work Is In baseball; and moot essential la it to a who, of all players, has the best chance to play loose without discovery. It Is for this very reaaon that p(tohers like Spalding and McBride are werth thou sands a year, where others, possessing many but not all of their essentials, are not worth so many cents. Of course, all men claim to be honest and reliable, but all ~~~ do not back them up ao clearly In the lm· porian t matter 88 bA · wante It placed for special pointe of play In pltohlng. An cmrve which laao fatal moat batsmen. Cum Instance of thla occmrrefeilalo:ual Manning auooeeded hlm, but, bla work well; but, of 1111J.Ydeliver us from he was not dlftlcult to l'Unlsh. those ooneelted, egotlatlo ho ~hlnk thll)' !or 187G, aa he dellvero know b•tter ~anyona e•-.· ""t no on• illlll be lllegll1 next seaaon, taec!> theJD..alll'\lilns• ..Jlo "" active th., made with the arm awlng1 may bo In tbe field, or how they can etop, below the hlp. The moat catob or throw a ball, such playera are not fit to play 1a made when the hand Ia In a model, well-trained team, and eopeola11y are they ground, so as to send In a rising unftt to play In support of strategic pitching. the most deceptive to the b&taman•a Never before did a oea81m's play on a ball fteld 10 ueed to deliver with hie h&nd not strikingly ahow the importance pf-eharp baBe-run the ground at tlmea. ning 88 an element of auooeu ln"l'illatoh u did the ohanse pltohera were Bachtel, Pabor campaign of 18a. In taot, not forgetting Harry Wright's dodgy de JWIJO•RUN!IINO and slow balls 111ternately. Is now 111 muoh a eolentlflo feature ol baseball 88 one thing In connection with the pitching pitching or batting. Indeed, It la, In .acme reapect a, we desire to call attention to, viz., the mis the moot dlftloult part of the game to play well. takes whloh were made in regard to changing Activity of foot Ia of oourae eaoentl&l, bnt·what are pttobera during a same. From the number of ques moat needed In a flrot-o\ala base-runner are ooolneea tions we had to answer, too, In regard to the mean· of judgment and promptitude In perception, u well lng of the rules on this point, It would appear tbllit It as plenty or that ateadineao of nerve known 88 was not generally known that the rules admitted of a "preaenoe of mind," A m&n who Ia hesitating in ehange of pltohera during tho rame. But this baa his actlono wlll never run bases well; on the other alw&ya been the rule; not, of course, to take In a new hand, a man mWit not be Imprudently rlllky. But pltoher In the ulne during a game, but to place he must be daring and determined, and posoeas any other player In the pitcher's who 18 .Judgment enough to know when to start, and prompt 111ready In the nine. Many the ness auftlclent to go when the time oomea to make a wording of the rule, that move. The Boston Club nine won more g&mea by mwe au exoeptto11 ill their skill In baae-runntng, last oeason, than by any olher point In their play. All men cannot booome good baoe-runnera; there muatbe eome portion of a nine who excel. The reaaon Is that the requisite ?~~~J~~~n!~,:.,.ru:~hlf'::th~=:!Ja ar:r "!d~';. pert player. O~e mau will be a splendid runner, thrower and fielder, and yet lack the judgment and nerve to excel In baoe-runulng, though he Will faoa any ball that comes to him. Hut the nerve of COlll'llfle and the nerve of judl{ment are two dllfer ent thlllll&. A man may have the nerve to face the .cannon'a mouth, and yet laet the· presence of mind -the nerve of brain power-to -hie him to meet other Ieos dangerona emergenolea. Just oo Ia It In the matter of facing a hot and dangerou ball boldly, and having one's wlta about him In running a baee euoeeeofully. The season of 1876 waa marted by aome of the flneet BABE·PLAYING ever wltueoaed. The style In which aharply-hlt balla were picked up and quickly and aoonrately thrown to flrot baee by third-base player&, the certainty of catching exhibited byllrot-baaemen, and the rapidity wllh which eeoond-bUe players handled balla thrown to them to touch b88e-runnera with, were a feature of the -•on'• play, Nothing elae ao utonlehed the apectatora at the baaeball matches played by the Boston and Athletic Clubs In England lalt season 88 the play of the b88emen In handling the bill! thrown or batted to them. It Ia now well known that every one of the three bases reqnlteo a apeolal otyle of play on the part of the baseman materially dllferlng from that of the olhera. A player may excel on flrat baae who oonld only play aeoond tolerably well and third base aot at a11. We noticed that aeverlll ftrst-baoe· men played their poaltlon laat season aa It they were put there only to e&toh balls thrown directly to the baee. Thla . IB a great mistake, as It Ia. perhape needless to remark, The llnt-buem&n should be an aottvejlelder untU the ball Is bit to lho field, after which he should become a butmlayera. Hi& play In hla pooltlon last oeaeoa equaled the belt on the Aeld. He hall eome bad thrc!Wing to contend with, but ••be was there aU the time." Dehlma.u la, moreover, a relia ble player. It ie play a.ll the time with hlm; no boy- 0 ~~lc~t::;:te~r:,~ :o:!'!tJ~:t%:::e~t~t 0:.!.~~ when they thought the nine had a "oure thing."
THill .RROII'Jil8810l'f A.L 8EA.80N 011' 18'7§., TENTH ARTICLE. Ba1eplay ancl Baaemen. Last aeaaon an element of weakness, In a majority of nines, pre'Yafled In the form of "chln-mualo" ud Ill-natured uohaftlng," In which basaplayero pretty genera11y took part. Joking II 1111 very well In its way when it Ia lndulsod In good-naturedi,Y, but when the so-called jokes are characterized by sarcutlo alluBiona to a companion'• weakneaaaa, or by lrrl· tatlng oommsnta on your adverasr;r'a style of play, It baoomea an evil which olub-managera should sup· pre01. In some nines of the profesalonlll areu& of 187{ one baaeplayer would not apeak to another, while a third would oommsnt 111-naturedly on every play made, good, bad, or Indifferent. Indeed, a aplrlt of tault.ftndlng prevailed more or lesa In every alne, and it had a very damaging elfeot on the gsn eral play of the nine In whleh It wu permitted, Whlle we net care see a ulne play !Ike party there 1e a value In the rille or uohln-mualo," aa It abould make tt areua. aure to 1te ~·-~·p;;;r,~im~ nine,and
THill PBOFB8!110NAL TEAMS OF 1876• . The Ten Rell(aaar Club•• Ten !'911!la.r bueball clubs Ol the _profe08lonal cla18 wUl enter fer the champtDnoblp or t~e United States thla oea oon, viz., the eight srook-ccl!lpany -clubs of Brooklyn Boo lobo, Chtcago~,. Cincinnati, lfartford, Loulavllle, Phtladei P 1&, and Sl .L.onlo, compoalng the L~ne Auoclatlou · the Independent atoct-company Club of New Haven; and' the National Aaooclatlon stock-company club or Pbl~lphl&. '!'he h~e clubo will oonteot for a hundred dollar nnant .or t e I;eague ehamptonobtp and lhat only while e other cluba wUI enter tbellsto fortbeehampiQJJoblp ofth~ Unlted St&teL Below we give lhlloll&ID.Ill ofth'll'"playera oompoatng the team• of the a Dove ten clubs~ togetbet \\1tb •ucb com· menta on their reapectlve obancea for •uceeu tn tlie coming camp&~ as their playing atrcngth seems to call for. We ~::~~~lub Jn alph&betlcs:l order, anct therefore com.
A.. J. Reach, captai~~lio!;!'k~~~f- . ; .:.utam K. Coon ~ :es!Qn D. Fisler,lot b.; William fcuoer, 2d IJ.; Davtii D~vt31je, ~r.. ~~~:-a:d Af!~t"H~d :r1~?~?T ':i!:"1aJi ~J 1876, Dtc'!l'xaiirlde was tho t'alth?.';l and eOective pitcher of the AtbleUc Club, and for the pa1t 11lx or seven years their 11eld captain; and In no year was biB pltclilng fteld tng or batting more eo·ecttve than in 1876 nla play In his poottlcn on the lut Weoteru tour ot the Ath letic Club In that :l'e&r being tho beat ever exhibit ed at the hands of &D Athletlll Olub )11tcher. Fer aome 98-Use or other-not for any doubt of bl1 tntegrtty ot play, however, for that bas never been queatloned-hia aervicea have not been aecul'ed for 1876 and ln thia we tlllnll: lbe club has made a great, If not a r~la:l mistake. It lo true that they have seoured. In Knight a promising young player; but time Sa neceaaary Lo give him the requttilte ex perience for the poaftlou, and aa yet he Ia practtcally an un. tded player aa far ae regular campaign work ts concerned McBride 'knows every prominent bateman In the proreS: atonal arena, la famtUar wtth bla atyle of hlttlnt know• hilt weak polnta and hie strong onea. and that Jt:Dowledge fs half the battle with such a 10o.d strategic player as he is. It wtll be dtmcult to rep...,e Dick, and bts aboence wtll be felt before the seaaon Ia b&Jt over. The penuant can searceJ he looked for In Phlladelphla, through Athletlo hand11, thl~ aeuon, 11 llcBrtde dQe& not. nMb·t In tbA effort On the baeea they have two fine player.. h1 Jl,l•le r and su'u.oo and Meyerle wUI do to attend to ft. tmve postUon in tbe abience of a stronger man. Force ta all right, too for short-atop anc.l the outfield Ia very atrong eo far u iiaU IU\d Eggle~ are concernedl· but wbat Fouaer 1& we k.Dow not nor liow well Ooon itS go ng Lo aupply Clapp's plaoe. Th6 i'm may w1>t-k ~ to a atrong point, but ft 111 not A eba ton team as oo':::er Reaoli muat be fully aware. N~xt he Athleitcll THE BOSTON CLUB. 11!~';,7. Wrighi;:"nager; Jooeph E. Borden, p.; Timothy 0 2d b.; 1Va~; c. Sc~~ler~M"~~~~l~td~e~T}_ oi:,n~srr: James O•&urke, c. t. .i. John E. Manning, r. ' t . · Q'ec;;rg~ wprtl!ht, L .. : Fr&nll: 'C, Wbllney, aub.: and wiluam B. aria, aub. Thtaie an e:r:perlmontal Lea.m. The aece.8&1on of the quartet..--,"'htte, tfpaldln&, McVey and Barueo-de atroyed the Unity of the team, which tor four aucceaalve yeara carried elf the palm or supremacy to·lho pro!eoatonal arena. Even lt these 11eeedera could be repla.oed W1tb ptayera equally u reltablel akUltltl and ..penetlc ed the taot that would neceN&rll,y J&cll: tho unity of action and the training together ao a nine, whleh the old 1eam poaaeaaed would &loqe render 'it questionable whether the aame 4f.e ~ gree or aucceu oould be aehleved withE Whatever Borden · to, he Ia not a Spaldlna, that ts to. Speed is euentlal, of course, but. what Ia pace wJt tegy? And what, In fact, lsjudgmanl without the oom enbe ball lu delivery to prollt by It I White wm be i11I$y mi.. ed good catcher aa McOtnley IL With Leonard U:11800nd base the absence Barnes wJU be felt 110 mUch and t.he third )>aoe short fteld be as well attended to ao ever, whtle outfield wtll wea.kened to a.ny extent. But th" be amalgamated Into a ttm.e; t~nd w h•n Jt 1s u~~~ c:fe¥:'r!~ta~~n~,Set!ri ~~= .-::::~·.. t~o,_pe_n__ nant. for Boston c.10 not
THID PROFESSIONA.L CONV.I!lNTION. The rooma of the Athletic Olub, PhUad.elphla, will be the aoene of a very interesting meet1n11 of dele pte. trom the profeaolonal oluba of the country on ){ondr.;y night nft1t, March 1, and the conventl.on to be held that evening promises to be the moat lm· portant and lnllnentlal held by the Asaoolatlon elnee Ita organization, Deleptea will be In attendance from the stool< company and oo-opera\lve profeaolonal orgr.nlsatlona of Boaton, Hartford, New Haven, New Yorll, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Waahington, St. Lonla, Xeoknl< and Ohlcago, and In aU twelve regular clubs will be dnly represented, The b11alneaa neoea11117 to I I.Ji'<:!~l~f.;..,.JJ,• be trtuie&oted by the convention will Include the election of omeera, a revision of tbe Aaaoolatlon'o con· stitntlon and by-laws, and the adoption of the re portll of the Judiciary Oommlttee and that on rules. The Jud1oiaey Oommlttee will meet on Jllondo.Y morning to act on tho oaaea brought before them; IUld the Oommlttee of Rules wiU be In aenlon dur ing Monday to revloe the code of playing rules, wllJoh t.hla year will not require much alteration. Every olnb wllJch conaldera ltaolt a professional or· pnlzatlon ahould be enrolled •• a member of the Profeulonal Aasool&tlon, even If It doea not propose to enter the champlonahlp arena. It to to be hoped that thorough harmony will prevail, u hitherto, at the convention, as It Ia to tho pecuniary intereste of the profeaaional clnba that thl.lahould be the regular rale In aU their legislative proceedings. The dele gatee Will be gentlemen who, In charaoter and lnte~ll· genoe, will rellect credit on the Aaaoclatlon, and we look to them to conserve the beat intereata of the game by their proceeding• at this meeting, Our re porter will attend the Oonventlon, and THB OLIPPD will contain a detailed account of the dolnp of the prof.. alonala at this Important meeting.
Wll a veterans third heads at one Ja~t . etforts to place a strong Ola\l'a IOIIIOD of 1876 .,.. an nlnea. They all lost eight rt~~ard to teatlng P.!tcbe" and that a &wilt onrve-pltoher who z Borden and Mo(,1tnle1••an· command of tho ball I• more coatly from 1111 Bradley and Bro•n-tb~t of delivery than he II effective from bla the wu atlll more of an experiment. onne. Borden:s tbrough hla not turn ontao brilliantly.,. antlnipated, mand of the ball, Boston Club one reason belnl that there wu no training head in IIIUlleB which had a the team, and no anlted effort in the way of ftehl team In MAy and Jane, •nppoTt, and tbla dllconraged any lm!lrovement In geona pool lion the record of th~ pllohing. Tba anbatltnlton of Zettleln and M .. by depriving them of that preatlge lone for Xnfaht anc! Coon• wu a mlot.alle In fact, bad previously helped them ont th• •••~on'a managPment wu a mlatakA through· plaoeo. In the selection of that out. there really belnll no oae bavina tnll pc.wAr to pitcher McBride-who wu oadly control tho nlllf' a11c! to lnRnre the obedience neoe•· another Important tact wao loot sary to train a t ...m prr.perly. wu that tbe generoJ. Introduction c::"J:~~'~lt~~~~ The Cincinnati'• pitcher• would havfl been more IIvery made the algh t ofthe bataman ao sl efl'eclive If tloey hill h..., a trained IDJlporling t~am; had beceme a oomparatlvely euy t&Bk bnt In thlw olab, .. tn th11 ease of a mojorlty of &"Nl~O>I!.::..•~ut even the beat of the otr&111bt pltchero. Hart others tnll rontrol wa• not had l>y the nart&ln In lord Club, In their poaaeoalon of two onned·llne olllce 'and tbe result w•• a lack of dleclpUne, with pltchero, appeared to poaseu an advant&jle which I•• .;nnmp•t>lm~nt of lnofi'ArtUII support to the promloed to give them a winning lead In the cam· pitching. Flaher did not toke care of hlmoelf, and palgn; but the early part of the aeuon'a play of the DPon clld not ~ave proper onpport. Hartford team showed that there waa an Inherent 'the BMoon'o experl•nce, 11 far u pitching and pltob· element of weaknesa In their team, which more than ~rtl ore concernetl, bao nnmlotakably pointed out to otfset the advantages they otherwise possessed. Tille elttl>·tn&n&JI•l'fl tbe neCAo•lty of having m~n tn the element of weaknell consisted not only of a lack pool linn who are obli11erlby exprlll!l rnlea, Involving In,.;~,.~ of unanimity In aupport of ~e pitching, but a l"'nalty of lo•• of 1 oeoeon'a pay In naoe nf viola· a aort of jea:onsy as tu which pitcher waa to be lion to keep tbem••lveo In !!Mil phyolcal rondltlnn. over·ro~:ri>ta:e;:~t~t;~~wra:n,ln thAI League· known aa the Tegular mau. Bond seemed to have A pitcher, or all m•.n In the flaM, NUOt be otrlotly • •.,.,... •. "'c'-·" were ftraC.olaes the Inside track In regard to obtaining the beAt temperate t'lnTinll hla ••••on's oervt~e. or ono(IOII 11 wu oome apl.endld work. support In tbe early part of the ••aeon: but, after ont.of the qnoot!on. There I• another •••entia! of Btyle of pl•y now In vegue, the he had exhibited aome previously unknown and anoc- which wutn a meaonre loot •l11ht of lut outl!oold•aro oJ.IIet.llld on an equal fooling lll'('garde the · rather objectionable trait& of character, and Anally ••1111on,' and that Ia the n•cesstt:v of providing a coi!-etently attend to tile duties was d!Rmissed from the nine with forfeited pay, catrbeT for a pltrher who oan work with him so 11 -playing d&J.I, the left-ftelder Cnmming~recelve d united aupport, and then proved to nnderotanc! his style ofpllly. The two poolltona wu e outAeld,rbnt tblaldea hae to be as etl'ectlve u Bond-In fact, more so, aa be are 10 dependent on ~aob other that, unleae t.hts long since exploded. In faot, If thCil'8 \)e any was not so hard on his catcher as Bond was. And 11nlon of forcllll ran ho atl.a\ned, hotl1 plllyeftllfft In· one <>f t'b,e thtee positions whtoh r •qutHa IJIOI'8 akill· herein Ilea a point worthy of comment. While a jnred. AI we said before, It io the perfeot fa. tul p)f,y thananotber,lt Ia that ottherlgut-l!eld,for team Ia not complete without its change· pitcher mtllaTity with rach ot.her'e tJIRy that hu made the right•fielder hu the moat frequent opportunl· and oatcher,lt Is advisable to secure tbe aervlcea of Spalding and White oo etf,•etlve togetbor. With· tlea ~ throw out men on the b-. Another pe· two men as pitcher and catcher who can work to. ont tblo the beot pilch~r onr\ II•• beot oot.lber onUarlty of outl!eld·play In the old da;ya of the getber so well that aothlug but an emergency will will fall to play np to tholr mark. I• It any wonder game wae that of oonslderlng a player to be call for a change. Much of Bradley'• onoceuln the that. the oeaaon'e play ftnd• onrh a r~cord of pltoh· only required ·to attend to balls Wbtoh came early period of bla career waa dne to the fact lnlf fdlnrea aolt bae ohorged agolnat it, when It I• fi~~Q;~~;i within blo reacb-tbat ia, If the lefl·delder aaw that he bad a cato'ber In 'Miller whe waa conoltlered that snob dr,.whackA were allowed to a ball going to oentre.fteld, and not coming towardo in every way ani ted to blm; and hla very hla own po~lllon, be never thought of troubling etrectlve pitching tbla past oeuon ba• been large· exlet "' eatr.bers and pltohero new to eaoh other: bhnaelf to eUber get the br.ll himself or to aaalot ly due to the marked ability ot Clapp in his pitchen falling to keep tbemo<•l ve• In proper con· bla brother ftelder. Things are very dlfl'erent now, play behind the bat. Take the beat pitcher In the dltlon before matcheR took place; ratober• 1nd however, aa the outftelder who does not back nphla fraternity and the best catcher, and place lhem In pltrhere lndnlalnll in Ill temper and apltlng one an· compan.!on'a aoth1t;yla of no account. Ten years their positions, /acing each other, In a match for tbe other: anc! plteber• illoronraged hy alaek of proper ago a double-play from an on tdeld assistance was a flnt time, and, well a• one may plteh and tho other field anpport. owln~ to the abo•n•·e of the neceoaary rare \hiDI, except In tbe h:astance of a lucky throw catch lndlvidnally, their want of familiarity with clnh·ml\llallement. WA have left the qneatton of home by an outftelder, who could thtow a bun· each other'& points of play-atron11 and weak to· rellabilltv 111 a pitcher to the iaot, aa at 'hie c!ay It dred yards wltb ease: but any double-play from getber-makes their work len e!!'ectlve In Ita ?e· te acarceiy neCOMary to point out that eoeentloJ. u ~~~~~;._~' the ontfleldtng which put ba•e·runnera out In anita than tbat of on Inferior catcher and pitcher the very flral .-qui&Jte of • player 111 lillY poottlon. ~ Th~re wae perbape 1•01 "eronked" work Indulged rtinnlng to second, or on whlob runners were wbo have been playlnl{ to!l'elher seaoon after season, thrown out at ftrat baae, W&B almost unknown. and wbo run in harneu like well·olled macblnea. In In tho pltcher'a poaltlqp lost eeuon than for aom• Harry Wright was the drst to exoel In .flay. Thlo was a drawback to the ncceaa of the Booton yPano put: but atlll enc,lurb wM done to blot the team, In that at no lime did they have a pitcher rerord. thnnah never 110 Jlghlly. It Ia to the credit ~~!~~~:u:a !~eb.:\J!.t~!~dto ~~t::3!f.ftw~~ob ~~ and catcher In position thoroughlY familiar with of Y,bthewo that be -~the meau ot e:apoelnl! one sent In to second base ilurrylng the base-runners to each other'• play. It waa hard oa McGin •fl'••rt to l>rlbft blm to play falsely. aad to dl'llw forth &considerable extent. Tbe faot Is, Barry was the t.o have to ahare the odium of Borden's tbe otatement from a prominent pon!Meller tb•t drat to "read ap" the atandard booll:a of the time and delivery, and It was a aevere test for "w•-th~ !IOQioolleno-are all or ns open to arran1111· to study his bnalne10; and the lessons he then learn· and Brown to train with new men m•ntaof theklnd"-tbatl•, to bay playel'fl and to ed, practlooJ.Iy as well ae theoretically, en1bled him ·Manning and Bradley. It wao also a sell when chances ofl'~r. to teach others aa ably ae be baa done from 1869 McBride'• ouccen that be conld not to 187G. As things are now, It ia 1 poor outftelder catcher, Clapp, to give him conl!dence wbo.dnes not cover twloa the amoun& of ground tbat aupport, It was the familiarity ol was covered ten years ago In the three ontfteld poal· Spalding. and Spalding wltll Wblte, that tiona. to that pitcher's aucceoa In 10 many gamea tbla Tbe prominent left.fleldera of 1876-playere who ae&aon. led In having the beat fteldlng averages, viz., the II another thing which clnb-manage?s, In largest percentage of obllllces accepted-wore Leon· pitchers, ahonld oonalder, and that ie the ard, York, R,van, Glenn, Treacy, Cuthbert. Ball and of securing a pitcher who will have 1ome Snyder, the latter of Clnclnnall. All of these played hit catcher. Some pitcher& laat seaaon their poaltlons In good style, some of them exee!Ung on their catoh•ra becaaae in their recorda In single games. For general actlv· tty, promptneaa and accaraoy In returnlnll the boJ.l, the tmpoaotbtean Inaccurate, taak ~~~f~~~:~ ~:~~~~!~:~X sound judgment In studying batsmen, good coJ.cula· It will tlon of high balls and aare oatoblng, Leonard bore ln 1 off the palm, York being oecond on the llat, and Ryan third. Ball, who made anch brilliant Dlay at times, does not reach the hl11h ftgnr•• of the o~hero 1t••••JII""'· 'r.lflll In the average of o~ancOiaOoe.l'tad. Of centre-fteldera, IDnea bu tne beot average, Eggler a tanding second and Boldoworth tblrd, tba latter doing fllltblal aex· vloe In a team in whieb that style of work was tiona!. Then followo Plb, who le-.ds Rem10n, Bastings, Jonea, md O'Itourke. In the games we oaw the latter pia)', he did not appear to tnll ad· vmtlge; and It was In these gameo, doubtleos, that he lowered his average. Jones did some 11ood ser· vice In the position, but the beat centre·llelder of the Western nines was Hines. He did some tall playlnllln tbe games we eaw him ln. Iu fact, no better play waa ever exhlblt•d In the poaUJon than Blues marked his fteldlng wltb. In 1876. Of rlgbt·ftelders, pl•ylng regnlarly In tbe position, Blong bore oft' the palm, Higham being second, Pierson tblrd, with Whitney, Addy, Allison, Booth -of the Mntuale, a good, honoat little player Clinton and Chapman folloiVIng In order. Tbe riMht·tleld bas apparently become the regular posl· ~~~~~~~ tlou of the change catcher or pltcbnr of a nine, and t hence·but few rigb!·lloldero are enabled to becon.e .,..,..,,,,.,..,., thoroughly accustomed to tbe play tbe pcaitlon re quires. It Is getting to be rep,arded as the best tulng to do with obange-pltchers and catchers to pnt IIWI~·~i:U~ltll tbem on first ba>e. Tllelr regular play in lacing and • holding hot boJ.Ia, trom either batsman or pitch· er, tits them better for ftr•t-b&se play than any other point In the field; besldea wbioh, tlloy Ret biore l'est there. At any r~te. the rlgbt-lleld bas become not to have a regular man with the points of play enough In base-player TJIJII LlDAGUE CLUB TEAIIII!I POa 18'f7 position at cover The playere ol the six Lea&ue clubs tor 1877 ground-bite, the to •• ball have all been engaged, and mosLiy placed In 1- This season tbta a short-stop'• to be reeordtd as an error. It tlon-atle!u!lt for the opening !>lay ot the ae8110~ p to be attended to more frequently partially atop suoh a bit boll, thereby k> May, wh,,o the championship eoutesta be In season, owlog to the cbar•'*'r ot more than one base being made on It, The llet. ot.the players ot eMh club Ia as (ollow~: · nod accurate throwing Ia an eaaentl&l in the hitting which Ia likely to mark the aeason'l 1. play, and the fact that talr-foula will be fewer thlrd:bu1 ~il\b. Walt, lat b. Slnotli,, o Peters took the lead In the record of 1876, Dicke)' Ororket's rule-"Bo sure you're right, then go 7. Jl'orrlll. ,..,. , ' Bartle8, lid b.· Olllltbett, i e Pearce being eecond and Force third. But the molt A ahead." second· baseman, short-stop or pitch t· GMuttofnl . Wf 11 'hSd t, • L.• Al'etero, noon, Sda. 1 b.. ' J'Jb,Addy, c. r t.11 •. brilliant ebort-tleld play of the aeasoo was that or er may try a qu'lck throw lifter mufllng a. }?· beonaiil, I. Glenn, I. f. Kl'llller. (. George Wrlgllt, who still ranka u the ohan&ploa ball, II the tlret-baseman Ia rollable In atop 0 short-atop of the League arena. We have been av ping wide balls, not otherwise; bnt the thlrd 12: 8h:.'j!;~ r.~. ~· o. t ~· In b. prieed that the St. Louis Club allowed stlch an ear:n· bBieman should never throw a ball to tlrat base -~rt R?IORD. LOU1I!IVILLio 8'l. LOl:!l.!J. eat and eO'ecUve worker aa Maok to leave the illn~. · "A ..,..,... ~der, o. Clap~ o a.tter failing to hold the boll on tbe fir&t d ..h in kLArkin, p. Devlin p Nlctwh.: p Fully reliable, plucky In taclng hot ground balle, tleldlnR it, 118 the chances are ten to one he makes a a. lltRrt, 1st b. Latham 'lit b Orott lat b. quick In bancl!U!g theiJI, •nd generany loOlCnrate ba wild tlirow of it, n le very showy to get a ball In 4. l!Furdnelr, 2d b. Craver,~ b.Md <1.0. McGeary 2ti b hla throwing, Mack did some excellent oer>·lce ba t!me !0 flrat baAS Which bAS uothereTriple
-playa wbre frequent last aeason; Which the new pitcher does ble work. feels like lt." Carey played a telling game a.t a)lort· and when the bases are all oooupled and. the pitcher vlllee rest on the chance of Devlin's tmtm•ov·An>An tleld Jut season, his recovery ot balla wblolt.li6 ftJJe ~ttendere, perhaps, a dozen these poeltlooa auoceestull '1to.ne or the otberor to llnd one who can with~· !would be diJDcult bohitb. To maoaae club nli:e"on.. ~~lltl!'y, attend to t ag, to run the prota e eld Ia one both on and otr tbe fte~~ 1rna!, machine entirely, tor. Now and then e • a qu tea dltrerent mat tlon of talent may i! r~:".1• aome rare comblna ae to enable him to attenJ' to1 ~:ne lndlvld ual 80 but, aa a general thin e double duUes, every prote88lonal ol u b ~~ l~a':e r the lntereste ot to tb~ee two dlotlnct and r we men to attend two, also, who, llll.e their S,:J"'~e1ble Poeltlone; h arneea together. 01 • 11 wort .well In There le still eomethl . club management wbl ~g elsa In tbla matter ot that Is the cuetoiJI ot bgtdl needs retormlnf, and a oertetn degree or r ng the lleld-captaln to runnlnl ot bla nine eeponelblllty tor the prop~r with hie control or his wbll~ oJDolal Interference hie InI! uence over the men e allowed to weak~n enforcement or diectJ>:f &lid .prevent thl'l proper Be careful at tbe aula ne and club regulations. either the buelneee ma;t whom you entrust wltb duties or tbe lleld-capu.tagement or the club or the you do find men lltted t noyot tbe nine; but when them the Injustice to bol~~:he PO&Itlooe, don't dt> tor blundere, faulte and em to a reeponalblllty which are really due to ther;;;ra In management olub oJDclal. e tertere.noe ot aome In the case of co-o to llnd one man wh peratlve olub teams, U le eas self; but when ero:ll: ~ run the mrwhlne btu!. oeroed, With tbl'llr larg mpa~y teams are con peneee, and the lm e ea ary list, heavy ex- for1 the moral and p~~~~ :::1':,esa ot look! of out t e that two men are re 1t o 1 the men, then vlded.altentlon to the lmqulred to give lhelr nndl- ~0 ~~~co-operative brancro~:t duties. But even a uelneea lntreglty r h e proteealonal base eeeentlal ot eucce88 Who c aracter Is 81111 the manager, the team ~Ill ere you lind an honest houeet work. There a generally be round to do witness the case or Oh re exoeptloos ot ooure& quanet or knav-butpmao and the Louisville eult ot such manag 88 a general thlnf the re. :rllht will be just eu~':e~~ :S that or BMry oeton Olub bas al oneet team aa the !r&DI~d. Look at t:aya had etnr.e it wsa llret or eentatlve team of e &quare record ot the reprp. compared Wlth thatt~f ~~tropol!s tor 1877, as were run under the name e teama which live or etx ror the aa he would lllr.e a .been run auaploea, ll.elder. • catohen 'olng up close to the bat when .there are time a metropolitan team hal been It must be borne In mind that no Diu no be8e8 oooupied by runners. tire control or Ita O.eld captain, who hal not only captain a professional team without In some 1'he moet prominent League catch~rs ot 1877 ahone out strong In hie regular position, hut also or other giving umbrage co some one or two were Alllaon, Snyder, Brown, Clapp and Harbldllle. diSplayed marked ablllty In the O.nanclal huel· nine, The game cannot be played without Blolr.8 did not pl&y long, he not being In a physic neea or hla team, all the work or running the being committed, either or Judgment or al condition, owing to his lame lee. Bastings, Hartford nine or 18'17 having been plaoed In the worlr.; and the captain hlmeelt Ia just ae too, waa a brief sojourner In the Cincinnati Olub, and Miller we never sa.w. White played but raw hands or Manag• rand Oavtaln Fl'rguson by Mr. llrr aa his men, and when he doea he Ia J:rt! qllell.~ Bulkely, who hal been the. liberal and wealthY ly apt co act unjustly. But when thla games In the Boeton nine aa catcher; and QrQwley did very little work beblnd the bat In the Louta aupporter or the club alnoe It began Ita creditable occur In the oaee or a captain who Ia ll'e•ll·lltD<~W• record at Hartford In 187,, CO do hie beet tor the good or hie men, vlllo nine, he belng v~ry serviceable In another The oareer of the Chicago Club thl8 paate8680n by wltheut an expreBBion; not so, however, poeltton. Dorgan we saw play In one game-, and presenra a atrlklng lllua~ratlon or the cone~ · your captain who rules biB men arbitrarily we were not forcibly atruclr. with hie style or oatoh· quenoea or some or the mtstak~B made In club pens co commit himself. lng. Outaide the League some ~plendld worlr. management co which we have alluded. J'or In· We have fJ:'t!Q.uently round captalna who was d011e behind tbe bat, eepPclally by Flint, tegrlty or character and general ability and Intel· possess moat ot the ref]Uialtea or the position, whom we are Inclined to think bore olr the palm llgeneo In the bualneaa or running a b&leball who laclr. determination of character. Now a in the poeltlon In 1877, he having the hardest kind team, Ill'. Bpaldtng ta u.e equal or the bQBt, B7 patent captain should lr.now ao such word ae or Jleldlng to attend to. Allison played aa a fair hla line play In hla poeltlon, hla J udcment In latlon. The captain who hesitates 1a Joel. change-catoher, and that waa all. He plays the lel~lnl hla team, and hta general emoten07 In having once decldM on a partloular couree post\lon abOut as well aa he doee that or any In -acini bl8 rune, tn 111711 be toOk bla new team cond uot or special line or ao~lon, let him stand to tho Jleld. We have an Idea that he would do h18 co the platlorm or the 186100'8 championship, It llrmly; not, of course, with that mule·llke ~ ben at eeoond baae: but he ill oettalnly not up CO and there duiJ reoelved hie reward. But this stlnaoy whloh w111 listen to no advice or aounc! the mark of a regular catcher. Among the out -n he had toO many trona In the lire, and suggestion, but wltll. that determination which al. aide ·catohen whom we &(oW play was Hotaling or In hla attempt to Captain tile nine, to run the ways reveals a man or atrong character. Exampi& the a.a.r nine, and hl8 play showed him to be A 1eneral buetn- or the club, and 11ot the aame Ia a great power In one appointed co govern men. No.1. time ~D~Wace !!Ia own baseball bueln- and "Do aa I do," should be In the power or e..-e.,. atore, he undertook more than any one man good captain to say to hie men, and not "do aal could properly attend to, and the result Wal tell you, and not as I do." The eBBentlale of a ana. a me.aeureable failure. What excellent man· ceSBtul protesalonal nine outside or their aclual agement can do was shown · tbla ae.aeon In fteld-work are honesty In their service and - the 8U00888 or tho Beeton nine In I Winning the brlety In their dally hablta, not to mention a championship, a euoceee aohle.ad 80lel:r by the proper attention te the amenltlea or aoclet7 lll eu~erlor play consequent upon the better train their and manners. · Ing, dtaolpllnlng, and management, and not by RJ!lVIEWilVG THill SEASON. any marked superiority or plaJlng altlll In the FOURTH ARTICLE. team Itself. Tbe Pitehtug of 1877. It Ia left tor Olnclnnatl CO present the ezample Hitherto aclentleta have contended that the or that pernicious lnterrerenoe or club-directors curving or a ball through the air, exoept under with the du\lea or a ll.eld-captaln In the rauure or the tnftuence or attrtwtlon and gravity, was an Tbe , Jmposslb111ty; but the experlmente made during the atrong playing team wblcb Mr. Blkeck en The play behind the bat the past seaaon exoelled l&ged co t<e the pennant to Olnolnnatlln 1877. the baseball se.aeon or 18771ed to the dlsoomO.ture anything ever before wltneBBed In the profes or the cellege profeBBOrs of mathematlca, the prac sional ll.eld. It waa an exhibition combining BJ. tical demonetratlon of the tact by eeveral or the the perfection of ll.eldlng elr.Ul and the leading curve-pltoners or the seaaon opening the taotnrs of a hot and dangerous deltvery, eyes of the le.arned men or the oountry to a noted catohera or the da:r have evidently tact In the science or motion of which they were BEOOND ARTIOLJ:. down to a pretty ll.ne point. Many a previously In lgJ)orance. It was practically dem cap rains of N ln"•• reputation tor elrecUve worlr. was bullt onstrated In Olnctnnatl before over a thousand a l8 somewhat amusing to notice the peoullar ~~~,JI!Ijlc•n foundation or hi~ catcher's play behind wltneBBe.B, Including several prominent mathe· ldeaa en&ertalned by oerliiLIU club directors In re- the bat last aeaaon. This was notably the case In matlcla118, and the experiments made were thor gard to the duties of a lleld captain. Judging the Instance or Nolan or the Indianapolis Club, oughly auccesstul. The trial occurred Oct. 20, and from the eelectlona some of th~m malte, one more than halt th" games won by the noted nine the result was published In THE OLIPPE& at that mlgh\ auppoae that the only qualiO.catton nec88• or that club tor 1877 being the result of Flint's sary was that or being a good !Ieider. While club splendid catching. What a oatoher Is to a pltoher tl~~~ theory of the curve Is a very simple matter directors were particular 1111 to wllo they selected in helping him to win games waa very etrllr.J.ngly when It Is examined Into. The curve Is produced 68 their pitcher or catchm', they acted in refer- 111uatrated In the oaee of Bradley, whowaa n.ot halt by Imparting to the ball a rotary motion, whloh ence to the captain's pot'ltlon aa It any man or tile eo elreot!Ye In 1877 in the Ohlcago nine aa he cauBBBit to revolve on Ita axle, similarly to the nine eould 1111 tltat place without dtmcult)'; In 1876 In that or St. Louie, oWing to the spinning of a top. By this motion double the when the taot Is, tho selection or a captain should tact that he had no auoh splendid catcher amount of friction through the air Ia lnd uoed on be a matter or the ll.rBt consideration, as on a good aa Olapp to help him In the White Btook.lng team one Bide or the ball to what Is produoed on the captain or a team depends half Its eucceaa through as he had when he was In the Browns. The com- other and tb.ereby the horizontal curved line a season's play. It Is perha)>B unneot'f&ar)', position of the baJI baa a great de.al to do with the throu'gh the air 1B the result, Tile mod"' optr~ after the past season's experience, co polut out to character or the play behind the bat, this having of lmpartlllg this curve to the ball Ia thus dBBOribed club ·directors the Importance or avoiding the been plainly shown In May last, when the ll.rst by R. a Hammond of Olnolnnatl. Be aays : error of past years In holding the OHoptatn to 6 League bal1 was superseded by a very hard and responsibility for the conduct or hie rurn, whlle lively one. The latter proved to be so damaging .:lk~~~~b~~d~~n~\~~~b~~t8~Ulev~l~l:gt~~ \~/1 :g the:r withhold from nlm the power to govern them In ita elrecta that the League directors had '<> oall the right, but"" pltchtng the ball out ot the reach or the properly, by aJiowlng club directors to Interfere for one lese hard and elastic. In the mee.ntlme batter is desirable lt must revolve aud curv" \.0 tD6 with him, a1 they have hitherto been accustomed the batsmen had It all their own way with &he pltober•e .Jolt. Here to wber.e & lelt·banded pitcher hat! tile &Civllolltage, as moat ball81'8 are right-banded. For • to do In tar toO many Instances. pitchers whlle the hard ball was In use, as It was rbrbt-band pitcher to de this tbere are several wa:vs· one Tile time wati wllen tile task or captaining ,., almost Impossible tor the catohen to hold the Itoto ~r•w the thn!llb &s far &8110Ulble towards the 1lttle nllle Involved but little •kill, and required but 6 liard and ela.atlo ball when sent in with the fu11 linger In holding tbe balj o,nd In ilra.wtnlf, the atm. back to small amount or ability, oomJJ&ratlvelyep~aklng; speed or the underhand throwers. A fPature of but that was when discipline and tral nlng and the season's catching was the general introduc. f~~~\~g ~~~b~e;,_~:~~r":.~::2J ~~:dta s,:r1':.i.W~~~~~ proresatonal nines were unknown. In tbesl' days tlon among the best catchers or the leading nines ~~~ ~·:)::~.~ ~:e ~:~·.::ug;:~,",!"..:~~~n'~t~~~nfi,~,!,'t" or high-salaried prot~salonal tl'ama, lioweYer, er the rule or a prompt return of the bal1 to the In Ita position tumlng tho ball as It leaves the hand. with the large pecuniary Interests involv ~•l, the pltober. Thlela doubly advantageous, aa it not Club managers, as a general tblng, the paat aea dUties of the field captain become of the blghl'et only tends to keep runners on their baBes, but It son got In'<> quite a ruror about engaglne ourve Importance, In a.mateur clubs a captain oan enables the pitcher lo talr.e advantage of & bate- pltobere, especially thoee of the claaa WbOIIB torWj never have full control of hie team, as they are m&n's being olr his guard Rlld not ready to strike "lll'oB ;re&t ~~~ u ll<>ll .,. the curve. Th8Y veluntary players, and oouuot l.Je made amen&· at a ball sent Ill over the bBSe. Bome calcbers who seemed ,to turn up their nNea at any man wile ble to any strict obedl~uce 10 rules th~y do not excelled in playing oloee up behind the bat marked ••b•dn'~ got the curve" aa well as the nerve. More approve of; but In )>rotci!Slonal c1Ub9, where thelrplaylnthlereepectbyveryelrectualstopplng over; tqla claaB or managers went In tor a curve proper dleclpliQe and sysr.emstlcal training are and catching of walat or shoulder high balls: but pitcher without any regard to the neceaalt)' or the very Ute or the organlzR.tlon 88 a euccossrul they failed In properly handling those dtmcult having &IBG a splendid catcher to baclr. him up, team, 'he onptaln has tlutlea to atte nd to requlr- elde-ball8 which gener&lly yield baBes on wtthoutw)lloh his speed and curve would be com lug marked ability and epeclo.l to lent. paaaed balls. AlliSon and Harbldge played very paratlvelt "ijseless. The result or such a course To be a auoceestul cavtaln or a llrst.ciABs pro- dllrerently In thiS respecl. While Alllaon caught was neoe... rUy failure. WheJPB Nolan would r-tonal nine Ia to be one man out or a hundred, In the beet st)'le or the art In awpplng and have been· had he not had such a man aa The ll.rst great reqnlslte Ia thOr<•u gh oentrol or tem- low balls to the left or hlm-thoee to the Flint behind him may be. judged by the t&l1· per, combined with strict lnt.>Rrll)' or ch11racter so dlmcult '<> StoP-he WBS not 110 11.re of that ftne pltciU!r Bradley, who had no and a proper CODI!illera~lnn for the l>erooual wei· returns aa he should bave been; one competent to support him behind the rare of lite m . n. Tben comes ll<'rfcct r ..mtllartty """""""'•e. the other hand, exoelled In bat, aa he had when OI&P'P was his oatcher In 1876, with all polnra or the game, IOgethAr wltb a 1100d was apt te fall In stopping and Miller In 1875. Look at Bond's success In l'<'PUU.tlon a1 a jren~ral playur. Ho baa two ways b&lla which AlliSon picked up 1877 with Brown to back him up, compared to his or lnau11ng obed lence to hts commands on the fteld so beauUtully. Allison played a magnlllcent wor&1 In 1876, when he tailed to act In harmony -the one is by arbllr~lnte or thll game and the· poBBeselon of who had to race such a "pacer" aa he had for a pion team, and one year In the Ohlcago nine. We sound jul'lgment In the position are ooucerned, pitcher. Snyder is a worlr.er, active, plucky and en- were glad to see that pitchers played with more but thll want of thc ee tmportl\nt eM•entlals, a con- duriJ)g, a ftne oatoherfora pltohertogetlnto worlr.- care last ae.aeon In throwing to baBes, to catch trolled tempPr and a kindly rPgard tor the per- lng famUiarlcy with ee.aeon after888son; and there base-runners napping, than ever before. ThiB sonal interests of their men, so nullity their is more in thls eelf-aarne work.lng-together than custom Is more to be honored In the breach th&n o~her qualities aa to reudel' tliem unO.tted to seems to be l!reamt ofln the baseball pbllceopby or In the obServance. More bases are given through properly govem a team, some club dh'eoeors and managers, judging from errors reaultlng rrom tbls throwing to bases by A quick and ungovurned temper Is a fatal ob- the way they select pitchers and oatohers who are pitchers In one game than there are players put stacle to a captain's succe•s. .A. lt!Db&Linate, be- heard from Brown-never from White-not only time to collect his wtra about him aides Increasing hie liability to commit further because that lr.lnd or think Is not fn accordance to udge the ball; a qutclr.er delivery has the errore. This rule practlcal'ly works In this way: wtth the "Boeton plan" or what a catchor's play elrect. Many a bateman, or the heavy A nine Is In the ll.eld: the contest I• close, every should be, but because be Ia naturally rather retl- hitting order espeolally, htl.!l been sent to grief In runlelmportant, and all the players ..re nervously cent. He taoed Bond's hot mualo the pBSt ee.aeon being called out on strikes, owing to U: e way the anxious as to the nnal lsaue or tile contest. A In the pluckiest man.ner poSBible. If BradleJh&d pitcher has bothered him by his qulclr. and sccu hard hit ball Ia sent to the short.!leld; h aving had been such acatoher, the "Reds" would never have rate delivery or the ball over the bue. a twlat Imparted to it by the pitcher, the moment pounded the Whites 88 they flld. The failure or .A. point or great Importance in ptt.ohlng1 whloh It strikes the ground from t.he bat It reoouuds the &83110n behind the bat waa McVey. The lat- has been lost sight or lu a measure dunng the 1 8 11 tor curve-pitching the past season, Is the :~ld6; roec:es:':i::en;n~~lehtht::"::,r hf~z~~t~~~ :r~~;~'i~WJ': tl~~~ a~~ ::!nbt":·~~;" J'o~O: •n••~r•u.,u•K or the obange of pace In the ball. The •·muJr'• .U-Qr !et It go by him. Apparently he com- change behind the bat for a few innings, but hie has this telling point or play well at mite• n, !ilr-tn reality not, how.. vel', Nuw how hands will not stand the teet or continuous service wm frequently cause the bateman to do •~fllllSBes of captains above n.lhtded to act In facing swift curved-pitching, Hie po.rtner chance to the lleld tor an out when- In suoh acaeet 'J'he ordlnary,lnoompetent eap- In catolilng-Anaon- la only a change-catch· curve tails to bother him. Of oouree, a talnwouldatoncetakethe llelderto ~taslr.openiJ, er; It Ia not likely that lie will everreach the of pace must be dtegulaed, or It and probably abuse him for hiS "blundering neoe88ary point or exoellence as a regular man In we ll.nd the subject or pitohlng so work;" where&a the right man In the right plaoe the position. Both these catchers are too prone as to require another ohap\er, , as captain would quietly malr.e~ a note or the to that demoralizing habit of Indulging In "tallr.," play In his mind, and when the II. elder came White is a. model or a ootoher In thiS respect, and in at the end or the Inning he would BSk him how a catcher every umpire likes to stand near, It was he came to mles the ball, and then point while Anson, M1Vey, Bloke, Higham, tt al., are out w him what to do In similar emergencies. In the dread or umpires. In tact, the wonder Is othllr yords, the former would simply lndu)&e In not that umpires do no better the.n they do, 111-temper at the expenee of the unlucky ftelder, but that they do their work halt as well, ocnsld· whlle the !attar would act with proper oollaldera- erlng the oonruslng &nd irritating questions ror \ton for b1a companlon'8 feelings, and u.Jir. to him judgment, llleultlng comments on their deci sions, and the constant llre or remonauance theJ are subjected to by this ci&BB or catchers and players genera!Jy. A peculiar habit all the catohers had last aea aon of lnvarlabiJ going up oloee behind the bat after two strikes were called was half the time a uael88s one, reaultlng only In the !088 or chances for long foul-bound tips and high foul balta. or couree, when an:r men are runntng b&888 play behind the bat Ia eeaent1al; but we REVIBWING THJD 8BA80N, nnxARnm£ efllieoou throw u JU* The Pltcbta• or lU''f, I>088il!!lon of pluck in facing striker at 1lrst bue; or In giving our seoond ohapteron the pitching of balls; third, the judgment to IS home eo awlrtly as to render It 1m- shall comment ac length on the rules 8&l7 at the oo\ by sk1U or tor the catcher to atop It 1n time, an.va·rn''"" the delivery of \be ball, a subject wblob the control of temper eulllclent with plap whlab may be legitimate errors and most lmpOnant that the oommlttee annoyance of poor suppOrt In the field or ot pun- yet maf be Intentional misplays. It all de rules have to consider. The first point Is lsbment from the batsman: and, laatly, the en- pends upon what the ohataoter or the short question: "What 1e pitching?" To pitch a durance to bear tbe fatigue or steady work In a stop Is. For honest and etrectlve senlce in the In ooaeball, 1• simply to rou 1\ to the bat. long and closely contested game. Speed without position in 1877, Peters or the Ohloaco ntne bears This 1e done by .,lther a slow or a swift toes. command of thll bailie too costly; while the want orr the palm; Sutton or tbe Bostons, and Bammr Now, to pitch or toes a ball to the bat swirtly, and Of courage and pluck In the position prevents a Wright or ·-th~ Lowelle being next on the llec. at the same time with any accuracy of &lm, le pitcher from using his judgment with elfect. Pearce of the Rhode Ialands sustained hie high something very rew square pitchers can do. We Without a Jlltcber uses his bead In his work be reputation as a short-atop laet eeason, and Oarey have yet to see the first player who, by "a square becomes only a mere machine pltober, one wbom did exoellenc service In the Hartford up to August. delivery" In pltoblng, could send tbe ball over any experienced and skillful ootsman can eaally Foroe, Orav11r, Neleon, ~d Nicholls all played tbe baae, and at a specified belgbt from the punteb. llnelr 1111 rat aa pitching ability wae con gro1,1nd three times out Of six trials, In the old fl5;V:;>J,;,.,._,... _ _ cemed. Tbet oan all play ball In tip-top style days of'the square pltob the delays &rlelng trom wbea tbet 'want to: but, unluckily tor the tbe wild delivery of pitchers who aimed to Imi teaml' they played with, ther did not always tate Orelgbton Ill speed led to tedious conteets of feel In proper trim. They bad too manr "olf three and even tour hours' duration. We re REVIEWING THE MEAIION• .San" u ftll u "too many telegrams." Nicholls member games, when Hannigan of the old Union ~IXTH A RTT~LE . was sbort-etop in the Loulevllle nine when nine or Morrlsanta used to pltob, wblob oocupled The a .. ae•pla.t·la({ or 1877. llABPt· pl&:rlDR h tLK llrt-a.t1y tmprov~d wlthltt the ,,ast two were defeated by the Roobesters by 9 to 1. over three boure as a regular tblng, He pitched or three RPiuton.-. ~Mm e VPt'Y ha.ntht me work havlog been a painful faot that lees honest senlce was squarely, but, trying solely tor speed, could not a.ccomplt Rh~. Morp "nd more ha" ttA.ch poAltlon grown dered in the position In 1877 command the ball. We have seen a ootsman to be dl111tlnct 1n ttfl p..auJia.r points ot play, r~arhom8 or since 18M. watt until thirty or forty balle paaeed him before ptav~"' now beto~r required on ea.ch bA~te, The method ot playing AI firot bl\08 h&ll beon opeclally Improved, the one came within ratr reach of the bat, from tble Joe Rtllrt otyle being tho model pl&y. Formerly all t.hat 01888 Of square pitchers. Strategic pltoblng W88 wu deem~ nec-e&fUifY in playlo& thts position was to the order or the day twenty years ago, among 08 euob pltobers aa Tom Van Oott or the Gothame, ~~g1~ r~~1 ,oo c!'the ~H:e ~::e~Mc:p':bf,:n A~au;t!~~J:: Frank Pidgeon or the Eoktords, Thom or the ~~~~"~~? ~~~0re:r~:=~f,l.e ~~~~~n:;:~~f:. 'h':,t;'::~~~ Empires, Bixby or the Eagles, Russell ot tbe bM l•cl to ·& ·obange In the play, the reoult of blo hn· Excelelors, Dakin or the Putnams, Bums ot the proved tnucllei:leiiced batsman, enables the sklll- 880Ure base-bits without dlmculty, It comes straight from the hands and Is eaaler to judge, therefore, -·"'··~·~'"'"~'"'line or a slower delivery. ·----···--·:--·-:--co-mmand or the ball Is worse than aslt not only olfere chances tor soorlng bases on oal!ed balls, but It leads to more b8888 belag run from passed balls than It ylelda chances tor outs for the llelders. Blow pltoblng Is entirely out or date. All styles or pltcblng when aided by thorough command or the b&l!ana1 good l udgment, and backed up by good supp<>rt In the field, are more or less elrectlve; butelow pltoblng 1e the least advantageous method, One rule or success In delivering the ball to the bat, whlob was largely observed In 1877, Is that wblch we may call "how not to do. It" - that le, to eo pltoh the ball as to send It out or the t&lr reaob or the batsman without Incurring the penalty or called balls. AB a genoral rule, It you have a catcher wbo le prompt In ble returns, and you can send In the ball with a telling curve, the beet plan Is to pitch over the base all the time. It Is a hard task tor the bateman to be kept on the nervous etrerob of having to be preparl!d to meet and bit every ball sent In to him. As a general rule, few batsmen are reedy for the llret ball, and etlll fewer prepared to meet a ball fol lowing a straight one not hit at. The b&rtl est balls to judge are or course those which come In with a ourve; but the curve must be steadily followed up. It won't do to send In the ourve when you do not know whethor the ball will curve or not, as In such 088e nine times out of ten the ball won't pass over the base, and It Is therefore wasted. Henoe the ad vantage of a thorough command of the ball with a straight delivery over a ourved-llne delivery, where the curve Is not at complete oommand or the EIGHTH ABTIOLB. ,.be Umplrlnlt oC 1877. AJ170D& would have Imagined that the r111es e.dopced for aelectlml umpires for Leacu&-elub matches"in 1877 would tlave worked satisfactorily, but experience showed that they did not. To Miaet three oompetent men to ~ In the position tor the eeason, and to appoint them aa League 'Umpires for the cltr they represented, and then to obooee one olthese 'three by lot on the day of the match, certainly seemed a very fair plan; and yet It failed to work aatlsfactorlly. The tact Is, one of. the most dll!lcult problems connected with the na. tlonal game Is this self same matter of selectlng RillVIEW OF THill 8JllA.80.N OF 18711. Impartial and experienced men to~ as umpires l!'Ili8T A.BTIOLB. In matches. In amateur circles the task le not Professional ba11-playtng baa come to be a regu. near so dllllcult as amJng the professional class, buetnees, and as such, In order to be suocess because no money Is dependent upon the reeult. tt has to be run on business principles. The Apparently the question of how to secure good essential of a suooeserul business-man Is In- umpires tor a season's campaign, and how beat to character, aud the llnt requtslte of a choose them tor matches when at command, Is ,s~•Lcoe8sful professional baaebe.ll organization Is something "no fellah can llnd out, you know." Its 0 mcers and p!ayen shall be honest During 1877 many charges of crooked umplr· this primary element or honeet work lug were made, and It Is worth while asking and servtoe a club, and there will be but !tttle whylt was, In view of these wholesale charges of grumbling on the part of a club's supportsrslt It traualent work In connection with the umpiring should happen to fall at the end of the season In In St. Louis and Louisville, especially In regard reaching the coveted goal of the championship. to mutual chargee of corruption made by Umpire But once let a suspicion or Inward "crookedness" Devinney of Loulsvllle and Manager McManus of enter a club team or a professional club assoola. st. Louis, In which, too, UJllplre Burtis of St. Louts tlon, and you may bid good-bye to any llnanclal was mixed up, that the League Board o! Directors It may atm at, as much as you wUI have made no ertort to get at the truth, and tailed to In· suoh oase In regard to a creditable repu vestlgate a matter having such an Important bear or what use are professtodal associations Ing on thetutureof the League Association. That the League and Internatlonal-unleee they something was needed to be done by the League It a notnt to Insure thorough Integrity of at their December oonventlon to obviate the play In the clubs they respeouvely control? The abuses connected with umpires and umplr· moment they tall In this vital point of their or· lng In 1877 was very plain. Besides the q ues· ganlzatton, they oease to have lnll.uence with the tlons atrectlng the Integrity of the umpires of public, and become obnctxlous to the Interests or the past season, there was the existing evil the special class they represent. This has been of the of~ repeated and Insulting abuse of um- the expertenoe or the past ten years. The orlg· pires In League-club oontests by players who tnal National A8800latlon conserved the Interests either poeeessed bad and unoontrollable tempera, ot the game unUI It came to be controlled by a or who were Interested In bets or pools on the corrupt class, when tt. tnoontlnently oeased to ex games they played tn. Silent acqutescenoe In the Ist. The Professional National ABsoclatlon, which decisions of the umpire Is a rule essentlsl to the followed It, did good service In the cause of base permanency of the game. Certainly none but the bal1-playtng until It, too, came under the blight captain of the team should be permitted to q'lles· lng lnll.uenoe of the pool-ring crowd. Slnoe then tlon the accuracy or legality or a decision; and the League A.esoclatlon, though narrowing Its under no circumstances should a player be al· sphere of usefulness by Its tendency to become a lowed to dispute the decision or an umpire unless close oorporatlon and a monopoly, has been useful the question or an erroneous Interpretation of the In presenting a barrlt~r to the growth of the evlle rules Is Involved. In all C&Bes where the errors oenneoted wtth profeBBlonal play. The Interne.· committed by the umpire In rendering his de· ttonal A88001atlon, whloh sprang Into existence clslons are errors of judgment only, tllent trom the want of an Institution wide enough In acquiescence must be the rule enforced. Some Its sphere ot operations to control the entire pro of the best umpiring or the past season was fessional class, was last season greatly weakened done In Jlostcn, It we may judge by the test!· bylts playing fast and loose with the question of Jllouy of the captains of a majority of the visiting supporting honest play, But by this time the nbles there. Ferguson-a good judge-said that blunder or a le.ok or unanimity In any profession· he et with the best umplrln& In Boaton or all a! assoolatlon on this vital question has been too cut he visited. In Brooklyn, where we were per plainly seen to be likely to be repeated, and there so cognizant of most of !be work done, we In the past aeileon's experience In this regard will kno, at, 1111 a general thing, the umpiring was be ultlmately'benetlolalln Its results. fatr a Impartial. There waa now and then ex· During 1878 honeet play In the professional ceptlo Instances where errors were committed, arena wss the rule, and not the exception. There but til were nearly all errors or judgment, as was no just cause tor any ~!on In expelling far aa saw. Where pool-gambling tnll.uences "crooked" Jlayen trom I.Ngue nines, as there prevaU. partial umpiring Is next to an lmpos· was In 1877; and, though there were several club slbUUy. n aome way or other lnlluentlal buyen expulsions during the season, they were entirely of pools 11 bring Interests to bear so as to Insure tor the comparatively venial ortenses ot tnebrle· declslonl vantageous to their side. This Is the ty and violation ot oontract servtoe. And lust greats le In the way of any legislation calcu- here we beg to enter our protest agalnBt the In· lated to d fair umpiring. justice of applyln~t the same penalty tor minor This 1 season the experiment will be otrenses that Is tnlllcted tor that worst or all evils tried of nc the umpire power to punish play- or proresslonal play-"erooked" work. At the en who guilty of any or the abuses connected recent League Convention Hall ~le misinterpretation of the Iaternatlonal Association wtll follow the right rules Is ooncerned-the lnll.tcUon or a llne path so plainly pointed out by the experience of of ten or twenty dollars, to be deducted professlonal·assoclatlon legislation during 1878. trom the otrender'e salary, wtll be ltke!y to have a m.. lcal ertect In taming the noted ohln-maslc performers. TMJ:e Is no ooubt of one fact, and The Lea~rae lea•on o' 181'8. that Is that It le Important that It shall not be Once more \he Boston Olub has won the League known to &IIY but the captains of the contesting ohamplonehlp. A feature or the past season's njnes who It Is that has been selected to umpire play In the League arena was that the oompetlng the game; alld the more extensive the clrole of olub teams were more evenly matched than ever men to choose trom as umpires, tbe lees the before. So far as the Individual play!J)g strength chance for opportunities !or corrupt lnll.uences of each team was concerned, It was •l~t~ost a toss· betnc brought.ro bear. · up at the start as to whtoh would wtp. True, the One mistake made In selecting men to umpire veterans of the organization had the advantage games ts that of supposl~l that because a man Is or prestige, but the new teams were strong a DOted player, he Is thl!l.'efore most oompetent euo~h to largely ottset this advantage. It was to act asl udge. Some or the poorest umpiring we not long, however; before the Inherent wMk· have seen during the past llve years has been at over ness and strength of each team beg~r ftelder to Jack or tl.eldtng sltlll In preventing rune be put .a runner out. They are also chArged with Ing eoored on atngle hits tor one base. However, errors only when the:r tall to catch or stop In view of atattetlcal taote, It te unuecesear:r to a ball, or throw wildly to other pitchers. Called argue the question; aulllce It to ea:r that the sea balls may be th6 result of poor pitching or son's work or 1878tull:r establishes the soundneee ot strategy, while striking-out may just as or TD OLIPPD theor:r that "it ilfihome run with the same pa.oe that they try to ·when, however, a · pitcher po88688es the com nouneed tt an error, "when the ball hit h18 hands steal trom first to second, and tbe B&me wben mand or the ball which admits or his sending and hemutred 11?" • . · they Bre eaeUy sent round on a three-base -In a curved line-ball just where he wants It "Simply," responde the aaribe, ''becllouse the hit. Theile nAver husband their strength tor to go, he becomee a "bad man" ior any bate ball was hit too hard ror him to stop It t!Urly, orltlcal emergencies. Then, too, they are apt man to meet, provided, or course, that with He dJd well to keep It from goiDg to the outll.eld." to elide In when sliding Is unneocessary. Your auoh command In delivery he also knows how "Well, I shall give him an error rot .It," 8618 aldlltul baee-runner alw&18 bides his time tor to avail himself or strategy In his work. The the OnP, sharp running, and never attempts It mere pltoherehould study up the position he occupies "And I a base· hit," s&18 the other, ly tor effect, There Ia one re~~ult or sharp when racing a ekllltul bateman, and that Is thl8: In just this style wae muoh or the scoring done base-running which hae a very Important etl'ect The bateman, we will aay, wante a low ball over In the proteBBional arena In 18'78, A pitcher on the le~~ue or a match, and that Is It lnv,.rlably the baae, one n~arly wal8t high, Now, the whole would be charged with earned runa and base-hits demoralizes the oppo•ing lnfiAld. The selt-aame aim or the pitcher should be to send him In him by one aoorer, while another would qulokneBB ot perr.t>ptlon and promptitude In every other kind or ball except the one that he .fteld with the errors, thereby relieving sctlon eo essential In auCC688tul base-running are wants; but In doing this the pitcher's utmost . In ra.ot, this error buslnees 18 so Ill just as nece110aryln the Infield-play opposed to It; skill must be employed In dl8gutelng this re. 1:& rules, and so Improperly attended a,nd, whell they are found w&nt.llll!:, your sharp rueal to obey the call, not only trom the bateman, really beoomse a question whether It riner has an easy la.Bk In staallng round the but from the umpire; tor a pitcher has frequent would not be beat to aboll8h the error oolumn In d mond. · ly to pltoh against the umpire aa well ae agatnat the score altogether. The League system or scor very aeasen eeee each or the three positions In the bateman-that 18, he h68 to work so ae to Ing In 1877 waa a farce In two or three or Its rules, playing the basel! more and more brought down prevent an undue number or called balls, and to and It was but little better In 1878. Charging a to separate and distinct work. Last season there lnduoe &8 many called strikes aa be can, and pitcher wlth""" .fteldlng error tor the delivery or was too much or the old style or llrst-base pll\yln this must not be done by the plan or annoyance """' unfair balls wae one or Its absurdltlell, and dulged In, and too little or what we oall the Joe by frequent appeals, but simply by deceiving the crediting the pitcher wlt!J. a .fteldlng aeslstance Stert style. The dltrerence Ia this: In \he old judgment or the umpire aa well as or the bate when the bateman waa retired on strikes waa an time playing at 11rst b&BB, all the base-player wae man. other. Then, too, charging an tn.ftelder with an expected to do wae to stand on hla base and take OUrve-pltohers should remember tha\ It 18 fre error tor not holding a hot line-ball on the .fty, In every ball thrown to him within reach. Thla quently a good point to play to drop tbe ourve tor and another tor tailing to pick up a red-hot was the style In vogue when Wadsworth or the old a ball or two. In tact, this must be done when a ground-ball In time to throw out a runner on a 'Go'tham nine used to spread his han~s to take In change or pa.oe Ia made, tor the curve Is the l'B@Ult base, were other mistakes. Another matter con a straight ball, as also did Price or the Atlantlos, ot speed In delivery, and will not tollow a slow nected wlthaoorlng waa the habit many reporters Pierce or the Putnams-not Dloky Pe1 rce-Sam pitched ball. And, by the way, we here state that had or crowding \heir soore with special detail Yates or the Eagles, and others or the old school. lt Is a fallacy to Imagine that a pitcher has several figures. It there was no preliminary report de These were followed by Peareall or the Excelsiors, eurves at command In delivery. €lnly three are sorlblog the JJl&y, It would be well enough, but Berkenatock or the Athletics, and atterw~~ords by poBBible, viz.1 the one resulting In the caae or a with a oolumn or description before the score, Gould or the Olnolnnatls. In those days going slow toee or tne ball to the bat, whloh Is formed only a eummaey soore 18 required to .ftnlsh there oo: the base to capture a widely-thrown ball was by the attraction or gravity, and the other two port. thA exception-or late years Joe Start has m"* beln« the curving or the ball to the right or the We do not nee the talrneu ot cred!Ung the bate- .it the rule. Hie play is the right one. The 11r'ft.. lett, just aa the pltoher Imparts the. rotary mo · man with what 18 actually the result or errore by l!a.etlman, It he playa his position up. to the right Uon to the ball so that It revolves to one side or the .fteldlng side. But we have not time or space mark !!flto~ never allow a ball thrown to him the other. In this IBaue to dlscusa the subject 68 tully aa It anywhere-except out or reach overhead-to pass Pitchers should bear. In mind the Important desenes. That a revl81on or the rules or scoring him. Ir he cannot hold It, he should stop Lt. ThiA f&Clt that, no mat•er how skillf-ul they may be In 18 n~ tbere Is no doubt-. Bow to make the 18 what Joe aoea. Of course, this style or play re the delivery or the ball to the bat, they must be changes so ae to do justice to the ftelder Ia the quires pretty a.otlve movements In getting baok largely dependent tor sucoeBB upon the ohara.oter problem. Plana tor scoring the game so u to pro to the base; but It aave11 many a badly-thrown ot the aasletance rendered them by their catcher. duoe a olear, correct and Impartial record tor ball from giving two or three bllll68. More or th!ls It 18 especlaiJy a matter or the first Importance to eaoh play~r at the end or the season are now In anon. • a strategic pitcher that he should have a .ftrst-rate order. It Is the abeence or suoh a record whloh man behind the bat to second him In all his little haa thus tar been the obBta.oleln the way or a fair pointe or play. For this reason Is It that pitchers award or TBa OLil'PBB prizes to the best .fteldere and catohers should always work together In ot the International cham(Jionahlp. ~ They should be familiar with eaoh other's peculiar methods of playing their reepectlve poelttons. A .ftrst-rate catcher tor one pttoher 8Q.UARE B&TS ..,., ROUNll, would be almost usel688 tor another, aa tar as A number or experienced baseball18te are In helping the pitcher In strategic playlscon'cerned. favor or the radical change or a rour-elded bat Bach should tully understand the other's signals In t.he pla.oe or the round one which has been In &