/'4^^'-^——- , j^. ©*-&> '"". J;? fa *•* "!s>-•»=•> V. -- XO BASE BALL, TRAP SHOOTING AND GENERAL SPORTS VOLUME 31, NO. 16. PHILADELPHIA, JULY 9, 1898. PRICE, FIVE CENTS. SPUING PIE I ;D SERENE. BUFFALO©S BRIEF. Billy Barnie Puts Much Life Into the Eastern League Clubs© Heavy Losses BALTIIOREBULLETIN Ponies. Buffalo©s League Prospects. Springfield. Mass., July 3. Editor "Sporting Buffalo, N. Y., July 3. Editor "Sporting Life:" Life:" At the meeting of the directors of the There will be a meeting of the Eastern League Springfield Base Ball Association last Wednes shortly after July 4, when a reduction in play BRUSH©S FOR AGAIN BRUSHED THE day night it was announced that, sufficient money ers© salaries will be considered. A cut erf at had been raised to meet all obligations of the least 20 per cent, will be made. Business Association in full. The team is now at home has been so bad that the magnates are com WRONG WAY. for a long stand, and is playing fine ball under pelled to take this step and no trouble is ex the new manager. pected from the players; in fact, the Springfield BILLY BARNIE players have already accepted a liberal cut. A Suggestion That Reyersal ol Tneir HEAVY LOSSES. Players Degraded in Public Estimation went down to Hartford Friday morning to look "I am losing $100 every day," said Alderman after his interests in that franchise, returning Franklin last night, "because of the poor at Duties and Positions Would Re- in time for the game. He is responsible for tendance at the ball games. The attendance and tlie Sport Made Too Tame For the ground rent and wants to see that be gets here is slim enough, but at Syracuse recently ex his money back. He had nothing but good actly 69 paid admissions had been registered the Patronage ol a People Looking nwfe Causes ol Trouble and Pro words for the Ponies and says he never saw a when the game started. The attendance at Olym more harmonious or better-spirited teaui of play pic Park has averaged about 300, and that does duce Much Bstter Results, ers. not pay the guarantee to the visiting club." For Excitement and Quick Action. SENSIBLE PLAYERS. NOTHING IN IT. The Ponies, following the example of pitcher The rumor of transferring the Cleveland fran Toronto, July 5. Editor "Sporting Life:" Hemming, have voluntarily accepted a cut iu chise to Buffalo has been revived for the 876th Baltimore, July 4. Editor "Sporting Yriu-n the National League adopted the salaries fov the rest, of the season of from "15 time. President Franklin says he is willing to Life:" The team has com<* home; they are to 20 per cent, to help keep the team together. sell, but hasn©t heard any offers. "This story," going to be real good boys, commencing double-umpire system they enacted the best This is probably the first time in base ball said he to-day, "may be thrown out as a sort with to-day; all is to be forgiven and some piece of legislation in the history of that history that such a thing has been done willingly, of feeler by the owners of the Cleveland Club body is going out to see them play. body. But when the Rules Committee took and displays, a desire to meet the backers half- it upon themsoltes to define, the duties of to ascertain how such a move would be regarded That is the latest. the umpires, as to what position or part, of The most promising thing, however, wag the fact that McGraw was put o-ut of the the playing field they shall occupy, from A BASE BALL MAN©S SOLDIER SONS. game, once upon a time last week, as it ia which to judge of play and balls and strikes, tui indication that there is still enough Ufa they made a mess of the whole business. that has not been brushed out to show a THE PROPER PLACE. trifle of interest in the sport. I will guarantee that there is not an If this thing keeps up the innjjfh-e ou the National League staff but first thing you know they will will tell you that his judgment on balls and be playing the good old scrappy game, and peoplt strikes is from ten to fifteen per cent, will get interested and wa.nt to see it. more accurate when standing behind the pitcher LOUISVILLE- than it is when standing behind the home plate. always did hare a lovely time with Baltimore, When standing behind the pitcher the umpire but what the Blue Grass boys did to the Oriole* sees the whole course of the ball; there is nothing this time was more than a plenty it was decided* to interfere with his view. When standing be ly a mess. hind the home plate with a bulky catcher up In the four games at Whiskeyburg the Oriolej behind the bat he can at best see only half scored four runs. An average of one run to t the plate. Therefore when the Rules Committee game is wbat is presented to-day as an ad directed the referee-umpire should call balls and vertising feature to draw people out to th«, strikes from behind the home plate they innde a park this morning and ©afteruooli. most serious blunder. They simply reversed the Last©s go bicycling. order of tilings. Brush did it. If there was any half life left to tne men, HOW THEY SHOULD WORK. don©t you suppose they could score more thaa Tf President Young will give the following In four runs in ©four games with the tallest cluk structions to his umpires, if he has the power that ever was? to do sj) in the middle of a season, they will Of course they could. give much more satisfaction: THE ATTENDANCE The referee-umpire, who is to call balls and was given as twenty-six hundred in Cincinnati strikes, shall take his position behind the pitcher last Saturday, with the Philadelphia Club as a to judjje balls and strikes. The referee-umpire drawing card, and it is a favorite club all along shall give all decisions at first, second and third the circuit, and always has been. base. The 2600 is, of course, the usual exaggeration, The assistant umpire shall give all decisions at There were probably thirteen hundred. Think o* the home plate (where be shall stand to judge of JOHN B. NICKLrlN. that for a Saturday, and with a team that has play), he shall judge all fair and foul balls, he led all the season. Bhall decide all claims as to bases not touched LIEUTENANT BEN P. NICKLIN. SERGEANT STRANG NICKLIN; Think of it for Cincinnati, too, a town that (because he is in a position to see), all claims Chattanooga. Tenn.. July 2. J. B. Nicklin, druggist, of this city, who was president of the draws well if there is the least glimmer ol as to interference, etc.; he shall also be the hope for their club. judge where special ground rules are agreed upon, old Southern League of Base Ball Clubs, has c ontribated two sons to the army Lieutenant Ben P. Nickiu and Sergeant Strang Nicklin. Ben P. Nicklin entered the United States Cavalry BRUSH. as on holidays for instance. Should either umpire That©s what it is. be in doubt as to a play he shall be at liberty to three years ago as a private, and won a lieutenancy through merit. Strang Nickliu enlisted in Company H. Third Tennessee Volunteers as a private, and was soon promoted to Second The parlor game that the boys are obliged to consult with his brother umpire as to how play wouldn©t hold its own against a good, ex the play looked to him. Yours truly, Sergeant. Both are athletes. J. B. Nicklin, the father, served two terms as Mayor of Chat tanooga, and is prominent in Masonic circles. The Nicklins are well known throughout the citing time over fox and geese o>n a charcoal AN EX-NATIONAL LI3AGUE UMPIRE. made board at a country school house. South. Who wants t$ see such sport as that, or who can get the least enthusiastic over it! A MAGNATE HABIT Father Chadwiek no doubt (good old man) would way, which Is rather surprising in a team that by the other clubs of the National. Negotiations and does have -a nice, peaceful, quiet time, and To Accept Praise as a Matter of struck for its salaries less than a month ago. with me may come later." conscientiously believes the game is now ap GOOD WORK. WHAT MIGHT BE IN THE FUTURE. proaching the mdrits of his beloved sleepy Eng Course and Resent Any and All Since Manager Barnie took hold of the Ponies Mr. Franklin was pressed to give at least lish cricket, with a lunch in the middle of it. two weeks ago yesterday they have put up a approximately the sum he would demand for his BUT WHAT IS THE USB, Criticism. gallant struggle to get out of last place, and franchise in this city, but he declined. He left Meadville, Pa., July 2. Editor "Sporting Life:" we love the good old mother country, and good have succeeded against long odds. They may the impression that he would prefer to own at old Father Chadwiek, and good old American t If Pullir.m has not bombarded your fortifica drop back again, but the memory of this brace least part of any National League club that tions and you are still on earth let me con will always remain with the fans.