VOLUME 32, NO. 24. PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 4, 1899. PRICE, FIVE CENTS. FOOT WORK FAVORS EXPANSION. A YERY IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE A TRUST IN BASE BALL INJURIOUS ART OF BATTING. TO THE SPORT. The Famous Bucfc Ewing Talks o! Two or More Large Rival Leagues a Point in Batting Seldom, il the Best Method o! Increasing the Ever, Discussed Either By Man Interest in and Popularity ol the agers or Players, National Game, Says Ted Sullivan, There are fe*w people outside of file In conversation on base ball subjects tha players Iheni.seives who have any idea what well-known manager and president, Ted an important part the foot work plays in Sullivan, said the other day in Washing batting. Let a player lose his step or get ton: "There is ao gains-lying the fact off his stride and his batting will be poor. that the time seems propitious for two "It would be foolishness for me to claim base ball associations. They can be inde that you could teach a player to bat," said pendent of each and work in dil© Captain Ewing. of the Cincinnati team the ritory, but, at the same time, pr other day. "That is impossible. You can other sq far as the engagement of players tell him sometimes where his fault lies, but may be concerned. People do not take the that is all. The secret of successful batting same interest in a base ball trust such as lies in ©timing© the ball so as to meet it the major League, as it calls itself,-really squarely with force." is, but those who love the national game "What do you mean by that?" was aske<l. want to see "To hit a ball hard you don©t necessarily ITS BRANCHES SPREAD have to swing at it," was the reply. "Just all over the country. With good talent ir/eet it fairly in its flight with your bat, available, there is no earthly reason why and it will travel at a lively pace. Now, the the major League should usurp all the ter secret is in treeting or in timing that meet ritory comprised in the big cities and say ing. If you are an instant late or nn instant this is a rightful property and nobody else too soon in hitting the ball you will lose the shall intrude. There would be more inter driving power to your blow. It all lays in est if there was more competition, and that the step a batter takes in going after,a is the root of the trouble now, the out ball. If you step in at the right time you come of which has been lethargic base are pretty nearly sure to hit the ball fairiy ball patronage. Let the League reduce its on the nose. One should never make a circuit to eight cities, and thus pave the move toward batting until the ball has left way for another organization along the the pitcher©s hand. When you see a batter lines of the former American Association, step too wide and spread out in the box and another boom for base ball will be the lie is off his batting stride. Hoy loat his result. batting stride there for awhile, but he is IT MUST FALL. back to it again. There is only one way "Should a narrow-minded policy be ad to get it back, and that is by constant pr.Tc- hered to in an effort to keep up the twelve tice. It doesn©t make any difference who cities of the major League, even at a loss, pitches to you, not even if it is a boy who the magnates will soon tire of such a can only float the ball up. he will do as proceeding, especially in view of the les v/ell as any other. All you have to do is to son taught them last season. They may acquire the knack of timing your swiiig, run through this year under the present and the batting will come to you. A quick, administration of affairs, but a change snappy movement is oftentimes better than is impending just as sure as the sun rises a swing. In these days of mixed balls it JAMES J. CALLAHAN, and sets. This matter will be discussed is better to just try to meet a ball than .it The Young Star Pitcher of the Chicago National League Club. at the approaching schedule meeting, and is to swing at it. If you are prepared to it would not surprise in the least if the swing at a swift one, and the pitcher puts major League would take the initiative at in a slow one, you are off your balance JO\CE MAY RETIRE. NORRIS© NOTION that assembly and reduce the circuit froitt and cannot get a good smash at the sphere. twelve to eight clubs for 1899." If. on the other hand, you are only going to "Scrappy Bill" Thinks of Quitting As to How to Run a Minor League A CONTRARY VIEW. meet the ball by standing up and not at In contradistinction to the view of Sul tempting to swing, you are in a position to the Ball Field. Club Without Loss. livan, the disinterested outsider, we give liit either a fast one or a slow one. Childs, St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 27. Editor "Sporting Olean, N. Y., Feb. 28. Editor "Sporting the view of one of the beneficiary mag of the Clevelands. is a good batter. He de Life:" William Joyce, late cfcptain a.nd man Life:" Mr. W. H. Simpson, a well known base nates of the present trust, Mr. Vonder- pends on meeting a ball. He rarely ever ager of the New York base ball club, and one ball enthusia&t, has received a letter from H. horst, who, in an interview in New York btvings at one." of the ablest men that ever played base ball, E. Nor.ris. last year©s president of the Iron the other day said: "Not only do I expect may never again be seen on the diagramed em and Oil League, proposing a very good plan, to see twelve clubs in the National League erald known as the "diamond." which is: until the present agreement expires, but Joyce made a splendid captain and manager "Assuming that the guarantees received away CHRIS© POOR JUDGMENT. of two clubs Washington and New York. In from home will pay mileage and hotel bills, when it does expire I wouldn©t be surprised both positions incompetent club owners, whose bunch the salaries, guarantees to visitors, ex to see it renewed for 25 years more. I Von Der Ahe Missed Saving $15,OOO authority was superior to his, rendered his own penses and incidentals, in one sum. and issue don©t see how the present circuit can fine administration of base ball affairs useless coupon tickets good for forty games, includ be cut down. A reduction of the circuit Out of the Wreck. by their meddlesome interference. Joyce did ing grandstand for $10. would mean that rival clubs would spring St. Lonis, Mo., Feb. 28. Amid the many better for Freedman," of New York and Wagner, This would probably bring in $2000. and the up in Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia and stories coming to light in court and otherwise of Washington, than any other manager ever expenditure for a three-months© season would other cities that would mean another war nnent the troubles of Chris Von der Ahe eornes did. and both of them employed some competent just about equal this sum. and the holiday and a repetition of the condition of ©90 and one of how "Der Boss" President lost .in op men at times, men who proved their ability in games would probably be "velvet." ©93. and the base ball magnates are not other directions in base ball with other clubs. It©s a good idea, push it along. LAMONT. going to have that occur if they can help portunity to secure $15,000 to let the club go For two years Freedman gave Joyce a com last fall. paratively free hand, and Bill did flne work -for it, you may rest assured." Thomas T. Fauntleroy and John D. Johnron liim, ending one season by increasing a bad TO OPERATE ON A PLAYER. were then Chris© attorneys and were endeavoring position, and next year by running third in fino BECOME CANNY. to straighten out ir.atters. Several times Von style. This was too much like prosperity for Frank Bonner Suffering From a der Ahe, Attorney Overall, Edward Becker and Freedman and he could not stand it. In 1898 Von der Ahe©s attorneys met in Attorney Faunt, he interfered with Joyce, dictated the club Blow Received Years Ago. League Players, as a Rule, of Saving leroy©s officeAand Fauutleroy thought the best Disposition. tbiug to be ^Bne was to sell the club. management, interfered with the players and Wilkesbarre, Pa., Feb. 23. Frank Bonner. the jhris was^Biown a check for $10,000 to be ruined his club©s chances of success and of well-known base ball player, is suffering excru "There is only about one ball player to a posited aPwitb it he was to get $5000 more making money. ciating pain in his head. This is due to a se team that has the ©broke© habit," says Jita word. Instead of taking the vere blow from a base ball he received several Hart. "Don©t fool yourself that they spend all etting out of base ball Chris went Good Thing, Push It Along.