Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 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 1 Rumors. [CHICAGO COBRESPONDXNCE.] 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 olubs so easily that it seems to be a foregone conclusion that the Wolverines will take the pennant, and that without aay very strehuous effort. The same condition of affairs seems to exist ih 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 fef a mistake. The following tables will show'tl'e work of the teams in both organizations up to Monday, May 23: THE LEAGUE. •fl J-k • m 21 ? Clubs. «;i o 13 ® g s■'si 1 ■ w , .. —,, ~ | | I Detroit 5 .. 5 2 2 620 Boston. si i 4 . 5 2.15 PhilaUelphia. 3.. 3.. 1 2.. 9 New Yorkl3.. 2 .. 31 4 13 1 1 3 21 7 Chicago 1 .. 147 Washington.... 3 13.... 7 Indianapolis 1 1 2 ■ - Games lost 2 5 12| B;i2 10i1318[.. ASSOCIATION. ’ L. .1. Iri- . .2o te -3 it P Clubs. Ii? | 2 §g. £ a> MIO H 4O S O St. Louis— 22464-11.22 8r00k1yn..... 2 3 0 1 3| 4 13 Cincinnati 2 2 .. 1.. 7 315 Baltimore i 2— 2 6 415 I-- 4 2 3 3 I|l4 Athletic 1 2.. 1 1— 1 4110 Cleveland j i.. i ii_ 2 6 Metropolitan 11. 1 .’.| 1 4 Games lost. 4 9121012 15;19|18 .. 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 fleld with little hope of winning. TALK OP 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 supportets for his 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 Nexv Yorks, Philadelpbias, Athletics, Bostons, Brooklyns, and Baltimores will comprise the Eastern section, and the Chicagos, Detroits, St. Louis, Louisvilles, Cincinnatis, and Pittsburghs will form the Western division. The Vesterir 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 oarry it into effect. ,

OTHF.i: ItUMORSr-'--~-c:—:-4r==== 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 big 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 base Dall 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 beat obtainable market Cuite a sensation is expected to develop under this head in a very short time. ANSON ON THB LOOKOUT. Captain Anson nor President Spalding has as yet' succeeded in securing an 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 from Washington: Captain Anson while here visited Bob Barr 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 $3,000 for the season, furnlstted strttß; andttiff-exainpt fromTekerve” Another dispatch says: Surprises will never cease. The latest rumor flying around in this neck of woods is that President Von der Ahe is trying to purchase the interests of Mason and Simmons in the Athletic Club, of Philadelphia. Von der Ahe and Sbarsig met at the recent meeting in Cincinnati, and the St. Louis President , told Sbarsig that he was ready to purchase the stock held by Mason and Simmons, and that he would pay the money light down. Outside of securing George Gore, the New York Club did little to strengthen its team. It has a lot of experiments, but there is no telling what they can do. Tiernan showed up well at the bat the day he was given a trial, but beyond this what can be said of his ability to hold lira own with the team? George has also bpen given a trial in the pitcher’s position, and he proved himself a good one in every respect, and will yet make bis mark on the diamond. Then there is Boach, who certainly has not added much strength to the club. He would be-a good man to have in case the crowd wanted to gee a fine, exhibition of heavy batting, and were indifferent as to-which side did the slugging.