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 and arranging dates and board and car rates. The two departments are so foreign to each other that there is no conflict between them. Several other clubs would do well to pattern after the Cincinnatis in this direction."

One of the absurd bluffs made by a minority of the star players of 1893, when the cut rates in salaries were introduced, was that of their threatening to leave the base ball arena and to go into business if their demand for high salaries was not agreed to. When it is considered that the "cut rates" in question admitted of salaries of from seventy-five to one hundred dollars a week for the player's services, according to his ability to fill the special bill, the threat of "going into business" became a gross absurdity. What star player was there in the ranks of the twelve League clubs, in either 1892 or 1893, who was competent to earn fifty dollars a week in any ordinary business vocation? In fact, the majority of the players could not have earned even twenty-five dollars a week in any business situation to save their lives. Look at the fools who, by sacrificing themselves at the altar of Bacchus, have forfeited their chance to earn salaries as ball players, and who are glad even to earn a dollar a day for ten hours of hard labor.

The opening week's play at the Polo Grounds, New York, in 1893, was the most successful known to the New York club since the spring of 1888. The aggregate attendance at the three college games played on March 30, 31 and April 1, was nearly seven thousand people, and, moreover, the character of the attendance was such as to prove conclusively that the old time cranks had returned to their allegiance. Though the opening game was marked by very unpropitious weather, the attendance was such as to astonish the local magnates, it being the largest seen on such an occasion during the past five years.

Mr. Richter, in commenting in the Sporting Life on the advent of "colt" players in minor League teams, had this to say on the subject:

"The thousands of candidates who play ball in minor Leagues and work at odd jobs in the winter time, looking to one day blossoming as star players in a major League, are usually a queer class of boys. Most of the men now playing ball with the Twelve-Club League had no idea of playing ball professionally when they started out; but they were better than their fellow-players and commenced to play occasional games for money until they attracted the attention of a professional manager. It does not cost much to employ a young player for a minor League team, and he takes the chance of not getting his salary. Still his name gets into the papers and the major League managers and magnates in these sections are always watching for a youngster who looks as though he would develop. Hardly one man in ten who are tried come up to the standard, but the one man so obtained is worth ten old timers, who have grown old and stiff drawing big salaries and helping to reduce the stock of booze."

The best indoor exercise for base ball players is hand ball, which develops those qualities most essential to the ball player—alertness, agility and an even development of muscle. The fact that both Sullivan and Corbett, when getting in condition for their famous fight, played hand ball, is a testimonial to its worth as a means of training.

In regard to the alleged breaking up of the new Twelve-Club League after this year, which some of the old mischief-making class of scribes apparently desire to see, it is worth while to note the words of article 3 of the League Constitution, which states that "This League shall consist of twelve clubs—the members of which shall not be increased or diminished for a period of ten years." It requires a unanimous vote to change the law.

The Twelve-Club is here to stay for a decade sure, and each year will only add to its value as the model professional organization of the period.

A writer, who has closely observed professional base ball players, says that

"Base ball players as a rule never make good business men. In the first