Clipping:Low attendance for tail enders
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| Date | Sunday, July 26, 1874 |
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| Text | [Hartford vs. Philadelphia 7/24/1874] The weather was delightful, but the attendance very small indeed; in truth the public seems to take little or no interest in professional clubs when they have to all intents and purposes fallen out of the “championship race.” Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch July 26, 1874 a resume of the recent history of the Athletic and Philadelphia clubs; relative importance of batting and fielding averages; the deficiency of Cummings' delivery The season is half over and the present is a good time to review the operations of our two local clubs. The Philadelphia club started its existence last year with as fine material as there was in the country. It was animated by a desire to make a name for itself so as to live down the adverse criticisms and sneer of those who predicted a premature death for it., and more especially did its players feel a deep and bitter hatred for the Athletic club, engendered by the captain's policy and selfishness of the managers of that club. This inspired them with an activity and care perhaps never before known in base ball, and they went through and ended the spring season in a style to crush all opposition. The Athletic club was nowhere along side of it, and even the haughty Boston quaked and doubted whether their newly won laurels were not to be suddenly and rudely snatched from their brows by the infant Hercules. The wonderful triumphs, however, were too much for the elated directors, and they patted the players on the backs, while the members beslobbered them with fawning and ridiculous encomiums until the vain glorious nine thought they were invincible. Next they were paraded at Cape May, and the two weeks of riot did for them what any sensible man should have foretold. The fall season beginning they encountered defeat after defeat and in a short time the wily Boston club had crept up to them, and finally passed them. Then, and when too late, the folly was seen and curses took the place of praise. Several of the players, already crusty, if they did not yield to the blandishments and cash of gamblers, as was well suspected and openly charged, became sullen. A schismatic feud broke out, and still more games were lost, and the season closed with the trophy considered won, in the hands of another club. The Athletic, on the contrary, played steadily, but were cursed with bad management. The mischief was not repaired, games were made injudiciously and the players were allowed to become inoculated with the idea that they could not beat the Philadelphia, and they rapidly fell into third place. Later in the season, however, they rallied, and not only brought themselves up, but proved a most formidable for to the Red Stockings. When the present season started, the members wisely saw the errors of the past, and elected an entire new management. These gentlemen, while too parsimonious and still infected with some of the timid policy of the old management, have greatly improved on former times. The players no longer rule, but are taught that they are servants employed and paid by a club, and bound to do its bidding. Excuses for bad play are heard no longer, but reprimands follow. Discipline is much better enforced, and dissipation is forbid. The result is that the club has been playing most splendidly. Their fielding averages are excellent, while their batting is the best in the country. The games between them and the Boston give the latter their lead, both clubs being able to defeat all others. The tables are turned on the Philadelphia, who have lost seven games to the Blue Legs; and, although the latter may not win the pennant, yet they will, undoubtedly, give the Boston a tight race for it. Now let us look at the Philadelphia club. They recreant members of the old nine were gladly allowed to go to Chicago, and then the reorganization of another nine began. Here obstinacy and favoritism began to show. Men were engaged without that careful scrutiny of their batting as well as fielding averages. Some were taken against the advice of the experienced members, and merely because they were “good fellows;” and every one knowing anything about players predicted a weak nine as soon as it was announced. Little sympathy did they get but at once were cried down as mischief-makers, and a glorious season predicted for the model nine. The conceit of these members was soon lowered. The first game with the Athletic opened their eyes, and then defeat after defeat followed. Occasionally a fine victory would be obtained, and again the old boasting would be heard only to be hushed by more bad luck, and during the last three or four weeks a victory has been a rare thing. The fielding is good enough on average, but woefully deficient is the batting, and just there lies the secret. A poorer batting team could not be got together. Two or three do well, but they are so sprinkled around that their clean hits are of no account. The great Cummings, the theoretical pitcher, is punished dreadfully. Nearly every opponent gets in on him in two or three innings, and hit him with tremendous effect all around the field. He can pitch, but stubbornly keep to his peculiar delivery, and away goes the game. This discourages his men, and two-thirds of the defeats analyzed show that his men have become demoralized when he drops his swift twister and puts in medium pacers. The management is injudicious, and allows the players too much liberty. Dissipation and carousing never made a nine victorious, and until it is stopped, the Philadelphians can expect no better luck. A general upheaval is needed, and, if the directors rigidly inquire into the qualifications of their players for next year and keep them to strict discipline, much better success will follow. Stop the open gambling on the ground, clear our the corps of gamblers who follow the club, and better audiences will attend. If these fellows cannot be excluded from the grounds, which, we admit, is impossible, eject them from the pavilion as soon as their trade is started, and force them out in the field or compel them to cease. Philadelphia Sunday Republic July 26, 1874 |
| Source | Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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