A feature of the professional base ball season of 1894 was the almost phenomenal success of the clubs--alike of the minor leagues as of the great major league itself--in battling against the serious drawback of the "hard times" of the year, which prevailed throughout the entire season. Experience shows that in the sports in vogue which have innate attractions for public patronage in times of great financial difficulties in the commercial centres of the union, the national game stands conspicuous; and the past season in this respect presented a most notable record, no such crowds of spectators ever having been seen at the leading contests of the season as in 1894. Another feature of the past season was the interest taken in the college club contests of the spring and early summer campaign, the leading club teams giving a superior exhibition of team work play in the field to that of 1893. In fact, the national game flourished as a whole throughout the entire country in 1894 as it never had done before in the history of the game. #The League Championship Campaign of 1894.# The struggle for the League's championship pennant in 1894 was the most noteworthy one on record in one particular respect, and that was in the exciting struggle by the three leaders of the first division for the championship, which struggle began on June 20th with the Baltimores first and Boston second, and was continued on that line until New York became one of the trio on July 5th, after which date these three clubs occupied the position of first three in the race to the finish, the other nine clubs not being "in it" after July 5th. In all other respects the race for the pennant of 1894 was far from being up to the standard that should characterize the League's championship season, no less than three of the minor league pennant races being more evenly contested than was that of the great major league. From the following record of the difference in percentage points each season between the leader and tail ender it will be seen that in no less than seven of the seasons from 1881 to 1894, inclusive, were the pennant races of past seasons superior in this respect to that of 1894, that of 1891 being the smallest in difference of points on record. Here is the record in question: ------------------------------------------------------------- POINTS OF POINTS OF POINTS OF YEARS. DIFFERENCE. | YEARS. DIFFERENCE. | YEARS. DIFFERENCE. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1881 277 | 1886 493 | 1890 499 1882 441 | 1887 333 | 1891 223 1883 570 | 1888 303 | 1892 367 1884 400 | 1889 328 | 1893 359 1885 442 | | 1894 418 -------------------------------------------------------------