Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1887 — BASE-BALL STRUGGLES. [ARTICLE]

BASE-BALL STRUGGLES.

The Race for the Pennants— How the Professional Clubs Stand. Chicago Still Weak in Pitchers, but Will Strengthen Soon—Base-ball Rumors. [CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.] The struggle for the championships of the two great base-ball organizations continues with unabated interest, although in the National League the Detroit Club is winning its games from rival clubs Bo easily that it seems to be a foregone conclusion that the Wolverines will take the pennant, and that without any very strenuous effort The same condition of affairs seems to exist in the association race, in which the St. Louis Browns are evidently so superior to competing teams that the winning place of the pennant in that organization may be named at this writing with little likelihood of a mistake. The following tables will show the work of the teams in both organizations up to Monday, May 23: ________THE league. •2 rfUl • S-at .Hi Clubs. 42 a * ® o | 3 o|n | g M £2l ? *g § § ?S3 ZiS Sigi'S s Detroit 5 ..I 5 2 2 620 Boston 3 i| 4 . 5 215 Philadelphia 3.. 31.. 1 2.. 9 New Y0rk....,1 3 .. -2,.. 3 413 Pittsburgh 1 1 3 .. j 2 7 Chicago 1.. 1.. .. Il’ 4 7 Washington 3 11 3 .. .. 7 Indianapolis 1.. 2 Games lost 2 512| B>2ioil3ilßi.. ASSOCIATION. " n ® nd h lliliilWi pQiulm wi-cpiSl 0 — 1 >— St. Louis— 2 2 4 6 4 4.. 22 Brooklyn 2 3 0 1 3| 4 13 Cincinnati 2 2—.. 1 71315 Baltimore 1 2 2 6 415 Louisville? 1 .. 4 2 3 3| I|l4 Athletic 1 2.. 1 1— 1 4110 Cleveland 1 1 11 1 3! g Metropolitan 1 1 i—| 4 Games lost 4 9|12jl0’iff] 15,19iw|.. STILL WEAK IN PITCHERS. The Chicago club has improved but little, if any, in its playing during the past week, and all because of its unfortunate weakness in the pitcher’s box. When a ball team knows that it is weak in any one particular quarter it is going to funk. At least that is the case with the majority of ball clubs, and the Chicago team is no exception to the rule. Save upon the days when Clarkson pitches the boys take the field with little hope of winning. TALK OF CONSOLIDATION. It is rather significant that at this time when the interest of base-ball lovers should be held down to the winning and losing of games in the fight for the pennant that the old question of consolidating the American Association and National League into one great organization should be given the prominence it is now enjoying. President Spalding still has the idea of one great League in mind, and never loses a chance to give it a push. He has been working hard of late with the various other club presidents to gain supporters for bis plans. His idea now is to drop the Metropolitans and Clevelands from the American Association, and the Indianapolis and Washington nines from the National League at the end of this season. Then the League and the Association will be consolidated under the title of the American League. The New Yorks, Philadelphias, Athletics, Bostons, Brooklyns, and Baltimores will comprise the Eastern section, and the Chicagos, Detroits, St. Louis, Louisvillee, Cincinnatis, and Pittsburghs will form the Western division. The Western teams can make one trip East, and the Eastern clubs can return the visit. Each nine could thus play six games with every other club in the League. It may be stated as a fact that several League clubs are strongly impressed with the practicability of this plan, and will give it cordial assistance should there be any chance to carry it into effect. OTHER RUMORS. It is a fact that the Athletic, the Cleveland, the Chicago and the Indianapolis clubs are all trying to purchase Pitcher Hudson’s release from St. Louis, and have offered bis figures for him, but Von der Ahe has declined them all. This fact, considering that he has three such splendid pitchers as Foutz, Caruthers and King, strengthens the opinion which is becoming general in baseball circles here that this is the last season of the Browns in the Association if they again win the championship, and that they are figuring to take the place of Indianapolis in that event next year. It is also apparent that the new scheme includes the superseding of Detroit by Cincinnati, the players of the Detroit Club to be taken charge of by the League when that town is forced to drop out, the choice players to be distributed around to strengthen ,the weak clubs, and the balance to go to the best obtainable market. Quite a sensation is expected to develop under this head in a very short time.

ANSON ON THE LOOKOUT. Captain Anson nor President Spalding has as yet succeeded »in securing un additional pitcher, but that Anson is by no means idle or indifferent to the wants of the club may be presumed from the following dispatch fiom Washington: Captain Anson while here visited Bob Bair twice and endeavored to secure the services of that crack twirler, who has been living in quiet retirement since last fall. Barr hesitated on account of his recent illness, but Anson insisted, and it is probable that the Washingtonian will in a few days don a White Stocking uniform. He is to receive $3,01)0 for tiie season, furnished suits, and be exempt from reserve. Another dispatch says: Surprises will never cease. The latest rumor Hying around in this neck of woods is that Presu dent Von der Abe is trying to purchase the interests of Mason and Simmons in the Athletic Club, of Philadelphia. Von der Ahe and Sharsig met at the recent meeting in Cincinnati, and the St. Louis President told Sharsig that he was ready to purchase the stock held by Mason and Simmons, and that he would pay the money right down.