Another special lesson of the past campaign which was practically
illustrated by the Boston Club was, that star players do not make a
winning team. The fact is, the pennant cannot be won by any costly outlay
in securing the services of this, that, or the other "greatest player in
the country." It is well managed and harmonious teams, not picked nines
led by special stars, which win in the long run. Now and then--as there
are exceptions in all cases--a picked nine will attain a certain degree of
success. But for steady struggles for permanent success in the
professional championship arena, team work of the very best, and admirably
managed teams will alone achieve steady victory. The old Boston teams
under Harry Wright, and the Chicago teams under Anson, are a standing
proof of this fact. Let the National League magnates ponder these truths
earnestly.

THE LEAGUE PITCHING OF 1888.

While there is no more reliable a record, by which to estimate a
pitcher's skill in the box, than the figures showing the runs clean earned
off the pitching; in the absence of such figures the best criterion is
that of the record of victories and defeats pitched in, the percentage of
victories to games played being the deciding point in awarding the palm of
superior work in the box. In 1888 the pitchers were handicapped by the
absurd rule which charged runs scored on bases on balls as _earned_ runs,
successive bases on balls giving an earned run to the batting side, even
in the absence of a single base hit. To estimate a pitcher's skill on such
a basis is nonsense. As the scoring rules do not admit of the record of
data showing runs clean earned off the pitching, and not off the fielding
and pitching combined, we are obliged to make up a record of the
percentage of victories as the only reliable figures at command on which