the* life. base ball. - la84...

THE* LIFE. April 11.

BASE BALL.THK CALIFORNIA LEAGUE.Opening Games of the Championship Sea-

sou—A Couple of Surprises—Scores of BothContests.SAN Fiiixcisco, March 29. Editor SPOBTIHO

LIPK: The California League last Sunday had its opening fur the se;is<m of 1888, and every- tiling pertniniug thereto was a success except the g:nne, which, hod Brunei! stopped over to see, would have rnnde him even more pronounced in his etmdcmnation of California base bait. The ground*, stands, boxes and everything about tho pluce has been grea'ly improved, reflecting credit upon our triumvir its, and nn air of pros perity prevails. The crowd attracted was enor mous, and although the gama put up for its delect >tion was of the ragjtedest desorip'ion, yet was it considerate, good-natured and paiicnt to the end. Mullee, suffering from injuries to his pitching arm, went mto the contest tutally unfit to pitch, nml not only jeopardize! Iris own reputation (which is of thtt beat) but ihHt of hit* club auii the aea- iou. the success of winch ileprudd in a great mtasiiro upou au exciting and interesting opeuing game. Hi-nry Moore'p appearance at tbe bat was most cou- vincinir to hinietlr and leg-ion of friends, that bia/'-tu: p«« of last season was forgiven. Ga£U8, who played a rattling good game, also n<ce.ivrda recognition scarcely luss *teiivor!8trative. The fiultiingof tbe cliamJ ion^ was aiuiply vile, making the c mtraat of their rivals' dash ing efforts all the more brilliant. Incell waa a liost in himself, well secouded by all his sido, but particularly by the tireless Powers and Turn Buckley. Ebright nirtde a fair impression ouly. Here's a score of tbe sad. *a<i story:

HAVERLY. AB.E. B. P. A.E| PIONEER. iB.B. B. T. A.I Hauiey, 88... 6 2 2 0 2 2 H.Smilh.Sl). 4 0 1 222Meeg;m, if... 621 0 00Elinaht, c... 5 3 I 10 42Casu*, 2b.... 432 2 61Lawton, If... 451 1 01Powers, ll>... 4 4 2 11 0 0 I'ouabue, as. 4 0 0 013

1 10 1

Jloure If..... 311 2 01 N. Smith, 2b. 5 33233 J Smith, Ib. 4 1 1 10 11 Penier, rf... 4 10100-

Huiley, cf... 4 02201Mullee, p..... 400 1 52

Buckley.Sb.. 6 222 Levy, cf...... 6130Incell, p...... 612 1 15 0 Carroll, c..._ 400 4 31

T.,ta1......4523162T288l Total...... 36 6 8 241514Hnverly..................... 62034080 x 23Piooeer...................... 203010000 6

Earned runs Haverly 3. Three-base hit Hanloy. Two-base hita Levy 2, J. Smith, Buckley. First on errors Havtrly 10, Pioneer 5. Lelt on bases Hav- erly 4, I'ioueer 8. First ou balls Haverly 7, Pioneer 3. Struck out By Incelt 11, by Mulloe 3. Hit by pitcher Lawtoo, H. Smith, Moore, J. Smith. Stolen bases Haverly 5, Pioneer 7. Passed balls Carroll 1, Ebrigbt2. Wild pitches Incell 1, Jlullee 3. Um pire Sheridan.

At Stock ton on tbe same day there wore 3,000 people assembled at the new base ball grounds, Banner Island, to witness the op.-ning game of the season be tween the Greenhood 4 Moraui aud Stocktons. Tde grounds were in fine condition, the only drawback to the game being a disagreeable north wind. Both clubs showed np fine iu new uniforms. Both clubs put lip strong ball, anil Knell pitched a great Itame, surprising Lorrigan, who also pitched well. Stockwell and McDonald rendered their pitchers excellent sup port. Features of the game were Whitehead'a playing on third and Selna's fleldiug iu catching four files.

STOCKTON. AB.R. B. P. A. El 0. A M. AB R. B. P. A. 1Bweeney, Ib. 3 0 1 8 1 fllLoug, cf....... 400 2 00" ---------

1201 1

\Vhit*h'd,3b4 1 0Stockwell.cf. 4118Hayea, rf..... 4000<yi)ay, 2b.... 3 0 0 2 2 olghea, 2b...... 4 0 1 231

HcDonald, c 4 0 2 4 30 Ryan, Ib..... 3 0 1 12 10

0 0 Donovan, rf. 3 0 0 0

Beetle, ss.... 4 0 0 0 3 2;Gun>ett, 3b.. 4 1 1 211DeP'ngh'r.cfS 00000 Nnubert, ss. 2 0 0 3 30Selna, If....... 200 4 00 McCord, If.... 411 1 00

193 Knell, p...... 411 2 83Total... .. 32 3 7 27 18 5

Selna, If....... 200Lorrigau, p.. 3 0 0

Tot»l...... 30 2 2*24 18 8"* None out when winning rnn was scored.

Btockton...................... 10100000 0 2G. & M........................ 01010000 1 3

Earned runs G. 4 M. 1. Bases on balls G. A M. S, Stockton 3. Hit by pitcher O. A M. 4, Stockton 2. Left on bases G. & M. 7, Stockton 4. Bases on error* Q. & M. 3, Slockton 2. Passed balls Mc Donald 4. Wild pitches Lorrigan 12. Double plays Ryan, McDonall, Knell; Lorrigan, Swet-ney, O'Day; Shea, Kyan. Siolen bases Stockton 5, G. * M. 7. Struck out Knell 5, Lortigan 4. Umpire A. Fore-

M maD. Time 2h.In my next I will give you a detailed account of

tne royal send-off given Jerry Dennv the nii;ht before bis departure fof Indianapolis. WALLEE WAI.LACX.

ST. LOUIS SIFTINGS.Ton der Ahe Defending Ills P

Claims—Exulting Over League Defeats— Another Episode in L.atham's Matri-

^nonial Career—Local Chips.ST. Loma, April 4. Editor SPORTING LIFE:

Aô .uyligmHrtly denies that was perpetratmg a fraud on the public when

he advertised the games between the Browns and Betroits in the South as world's championship contests. He saya he was perfectly sincere, and meant the series t«be a duplicate of that played between the Browns and Chicagos last spring. "Why don't somebody," he says, "pitch into Bpalding and Anson for permitting tboao affairs to be advertised as 'world's championship games?' Wouldn't Chicago have counted those victories over the Browns had they won the League championship and continued the battle for the world's pennant in the fall? You can bet they would, and they were justly entitled to do so." Chris says he would have triei to make it three straight victories ou the Chicago grounds, but in case he had failed would hare taken his medicine like a little man. The loss of those spring gamt-a dimmed the prestige of the Browns a* world's champions throughout the seasou, and yet DO one ever he.ir-i him repudiate those defeuts, or claim they mightn't have cost him tbe world's champion ship hid tho Chicagos been victorious in the League. Th»» present series between the Browns and Detroits, o far as PrusMent Von der Ahe is concerned, is fur the championship of the world. Mr. Watkius' emphatic telegram had no effect ou him whatever. Previous to the first earns at New Ortednet the Detroit man ager telegraphed Chris regarding tho status of the garner, and Uie only sttisfaction he got w»a a brief dispatch, reading: "Go ahead and play." And they pUyed, at least the Browns did. With two vie tori oa to his credit for a starter, Chris is feeling good, and ia even more fully convinced than evor that he vug entirely sincere whim ho advertised ttioee little affairs B "world's championship games."

RUBUIffO T? INTO I.EAGCERS.Local cratiks nfe feeling jubiiuut, especially those

who snapped up the odds of 10 to 8 offered by the sore- beads who thought the Browns were "never no good, nohow," aud that ''the League is far mpenor to the Association, undoubtedly." It must have made *em fttck when they looted at the score hoards aroucd town aod saw that allegui superiority knocked into a cocked hat. Behold the lay-out for a sin^Lu day. The "champions of the worM" knocked out for the second accesstve timo by the "weakened Browns," who had betn "shelved" BO far as the Association pdouant wa-s concerned. Philadelphia, with Bufiiiittm in the box, flnbber-âitc-d by the Haiti mores; Indianapolis, with the really great B-.ylo u* twirler, beateu by Cincin nati; Washington crawling out of a small hulo and playing a tie game with the BufTal. a; New Yurk, amidst breathless excitement, snatching Tictory from a one-hor&e college nine, by tho fearfully one-sided «:orc of 1*2 to 10. And how those weakling Association pitchers \vero slaughtered by the giants of the Leagne, who*o nrirvelous baH-twirlera in turn would show the Ataociati-jn. bntamt-n what genuine pitching was. L«t's <^«, In t ho first gumo between the Brawns and Detroit* Brouthere, Thonipson, et al., sized King's dt*3iv;ry for juat four hits, wnilo the Brown legs ganged Mr. G-'tzîn for just nine. In the flecoml fliui-sim was hit safely funr time* also, while Bentin, who wits soinothiug of a mystery for five in- iitngft, %i\v* the snap ow*y iu the Rixth, and when the Detivits bore his hatterud form A way to Birming ham, at the beginning ot the eighth ianing, the Browns had explained to him just eleven times that high-art Lea Kae pitch ing wa-t no good. Incaae our peU fall ou Thursday a-t Memphis our Jonah town all boomerang reference* to the above will be oat of order. It's our inning for crowing and wo demand a clear track.

THK WHITKS* WORK.The Whites, our We^-tf-rn League team, took hold of

the locally famous Prickly Ash team and literally wiped up tho ground with them. Joe Murphy, tho editor-pitcher, oJEcwto.t for the P, A.s, and tbti Whites secured 10 hits with a toml of 15 bases off him, tho score standing at the end of the gama 11 to 1. Young Btaley, of the Whites, held tho opposing battmen d^\vn to two hits, both being miuie by one man. Sixteen of the Prickly Ash batters struck out. As I anid iu my last, this ynun.i: pitcher will mako his mark tlio com ing year, and it would not surprise ine much to see him playing on the Browns I>efore4boaeascn is rery for advanced.

MILLIGAIf ARRIVES.On last Sunday morning Millrjtari, formerly of the

Athlt'tir-s, but now ouo of the champion*-, arrived ID the- city, where he will remain until tho Urmvns re- tarn from ihe South. Ui* w»e not sent on to join the club, a-s Mr. Vou dor Ahe thought there wero enough c.'itchem with the tctvoi. MiDigan is looking well, and aayn hu is iu tirst-ciasw trim, ami ready to play ball. fjo sav» tho Browns will aguiu win t!ie championship, but that tho Athletic* aro wonlerfnlly Ftrengihcued nd tlmt thfy will cut quite a tiziire in tue rnce. Ha is taking ndvantago of tho present fiuo wertther, and vory ',t*»y Ht* may bo fottud at tho park, tttkin; tiia ex- erci-Mj with tho Whitoa ihe Western LÂûe club. He will mi'ke hi* first apne ir-iuce with the JDrowiui next Saturday, aâin-l the Whites.

LATHAM'S CO^TKJVPTIBLB cownucr. Arlie Latham aud his former wife hnd A set-toon

Market etreet ono inornii.g recently. They wero holding a beutod discn-wton, and paeseru-by wero of the opiuiui that tho da-hing > 1111 "^ third bftacm i«

k was about to do the lady bodily harm, ami some one nti-rtnred to protect hw t v.hon it was learned that

accuswl her of stfHiUug his diamoRd p:n. deaiet! the charge and doft'î him, uj b0 vouIU IUT« her wr«t*d for

robbery. An officer WM called, who aaked Latham what ho meant by kicking up such a rumpus. He repeated the charge to tbe officer. The former Mrs. Latham still denied the charge and volunteered to go to the Four Courts and be searched for the miss ing pia, and the ofiVer and Latham accompanied her to the station, where Ihe police matron took the accused to a room and thoroughly searched her, but failed to find ine pin. Latham still insisted that she had stolen it and s<>nieh»w done away with it, as they had been in each other's company for some hours before, but when the police captain heard the stories of both of th* in he released tbe lady. Latuam'd ex-wife claims that the pin was made fiom a ring s&e had gi?en him before they were married.

BITS OP NEWS.Ed Sproat, one of the Whites' new pitchers, reported

for duty Monday morning.Dug Crothers has signed with the Dallaa, Tex. T Club,

and will resign hia position in the Tax Collector's of fice in this city.

Curt Welch was, badly missed when the Memphis Club won a game from the Browns, all ou accjuut ot McCarthy mtitling a ball, allowing the winning run to cross the plate.

Joe Murphy, the ba«e ball reporter, player and sprinter, undertook to givo Jim Skerrit, a local run ner, 9 yards in 75 laet Sunday before the game, but failed by about 3 yards.

S.vlvesrer, formerly of tho Browns, Is still in the city, unengaged, "jyl" sava he will "catch on" before the season o(>ens, as he is considering several offers.

"Silver King" and Nat Hudson, juxigmg from their play in the first two Detroit-Browu âmee, stem to be ublo to hcU their ov.n as twirlers.

Crook?, of the Whites, is making many friends here by hia excellent second base play. Ilia batting is also good.

Eddie Von der Ahe will again furnish the score cards for Sportsman's Park the coining season. Eddie says this year's card will be an improvement on eveu last

Mson'a card.If young McCarthy will keep op his good work in

the field, between the bases aud at the bat he ha* bee a doing iu the last few gained, he will be forgiven for dropping that fly in Memphis the other day.

JOE PRITCHAED.

FLORIDA REVERIES.Pensacola's Unequaled Advantages aa a

Place for Spring Training—Are Jim Hart and Von der Ahe Surprised? Bita of Comment Upon Current Topics.PEXSACOLA, Fla., April 4. Editor SPORTING

LIFE: Of base ball one hears nothing in this quiet little seaport town and were it not for THS SPORTING LIFE, which reaches me each Tuesday morning, I should be most lamentably ignorant as to how the combat bet ween those (intellectual) heavy-weights of the bise ball world, Caylor, Rogers and Mills, is progressing, as well aa of everything else pertaining to the game.

PBNSACOLA AS A PLACE OF TRAINING.Since sojourning in Pensacola, it has struck

me that tnis would be just the town for a crack ball team such as the Chicagos, New Yorks or Detroits to come to each spring for practice an! training, instead of scrambling through the South in search of snap games in which there can be little, if any, pecuniary profit, and ceitainly but little advan tage to the pLtyvrs. To-<1ay is aa perfect a day for ball playing as one can imagine. The aim i% warm- yea, even hot, the thermometer standing at about 75 decrees, while tbe air is etill Qiont and pleaaam aa a result of Sunday's heavy rain. The *-il is a mixed sand and muck, which soaks up the rain so that play can Vgin within urn miuutea after a heavy sho'-ver. Grounds can be located almost an] where, and lumber is BO chtap well, the big mills here keep roaring fires going all the year around ia which thoy burn up waste lumber that would make first-rate planking for fencing in a ball park. Thero is a very welt laid out park here at preseot/in which the local teams play, but the land and facilities for establishing practice grounds are un limited. Jacksonville, New Orleans, Montgomery and Birmingham are each within a ni^ht'a ride, and Mobile witotn air hours' ride. Hotel accommodations are ampin and among tho best in the South, while tne boys would recvive, during the hours they were not in practice, tastes of Southern hospitality they would not soon forget. When (jpeutioncd to several Pen- sacolians tbe desirability of their town as a place of practice for the big League teams they were delighted with the supgt'fltiou and appeared willing to do any thing in their power to the end of inducing them to come here. In addition to the good results of training, the tn>ys could take oft their surplus fl^b by hunting and fijhinfr. Fhh are so thick here that it is no sport at all to cutch them, while the bay and lagoons are full of duck and loon duriug February and March. Pensacola Bay is the most beautiful sheet of land locked water upon the At'antLo nr Gull coasts, and ita calm uurfice affords an excellent opportunity for work with the sculls. Hail President Spaldiny or Manager Hutrio passed through here upon their Southern trips it is dollars to cents that the New York and Chicago teams would have bt-eu here ere thia

By the way, I shall look for the next issue of THB SPORTING LIFE with some interest. I want to see what Papa Chad wick and Opie Caylor think of the Spalding-Auson Auatraiian tour. In confidence, I will say that my reason for keeping the matter to myself until 1 reached Florida was the result of uivdoaire to get as far away from Chris Von der Ahe and Jim Hart aa practicable. While both of these guntlemen hare been speculating upon the advisability of such a venture as the Chicago Club magnate has determined upon, the latter ha* had an agent iu Australia fixing everything for the trip. Well, hoys, it will be a great trip and will create an Interest in the National game in every civilized country upon the globe.

BITS OP COMMENT.At last the League staff of umpires is complete, and

it is dollars to cent* tlmt it will turn out as well, if not better, than the $10,000 quartette of the Associi thm.

Nimick has a great head. His methods of advei twin if the Putt-burg team are not new nor original, but aro uoue the Iras effective. Scrapping and bandy- log wonlu with his players, however, would seem to an unprejudiced observer lo be justa little bit undignified for a League club president.

Harry Weldon's attempts to bolster up the affairs of the Association team in Kansas City are baaed upon gauzy foundationB. Bossy*: "Kansas City men know just exactly whore they stand and what will be ex pected of them. They have positive assurance from tbe Association, or at least part of it, tbat juat as long as Kansas City sbows itself a profitable member to the other teams they will be retained." Now, no one has ever questioned hut that the Association would rctaiu its club iu Kansas City so long as that club showed itself a profitable member, it is the very fi-ar that it would not prove a profitable member and a well- f>uudf*1 fear at that which prevented the Kansas City Club from securing other than a limited franchise. The Kaaaaa City Association people could not have pleased Mengce better than when they went to New York and bagged the Board of Arbitration to oust the Western Association club from that territory. They showed by their actions that they were unwilling to leave the question of their existi-nce as a club to the people, aud it is dollars to cents that the Kansas City public will re sent the spirit of monopoly thus mani fested when the time conies.

Tour humble servant agrees with Caylor when he says that those who are now cracking up the Big Four of Association umpires will be the very first to jnmp upon the necks of the umpirejjHL question when the time for criticism comes.

Great heavens, can It be? Is It possible that So den, CoDitnt A Co. have at last absorbed a little good com mon sense, and have determined to put the mnn- agbiucnt of their team in the bands of a man who knows moro in a minnta about base ball than the tri umvirate would learn in all its life. IfMorrillii really to handle the affairs of the Boston team ii accordance with his own independent judgment, then the remaining teams will want to play ball to beat Boston. Mark what I say.

MfH*r* Wolf and 0'Conner, the enterprising head; of tbo Pensacola Duily Commercial have tcnaranteed to me their unflagging support of the National game in this city. Thfiy think that were such teams as the Philhes, th<j Giants and the White Stockings to coma to Peitiacola, they would not only be enabled to play a number of paying games here, but won!d be royally treated ami greatly benefit ted physically during their stay here. I want, through THK SPORTING LIFE, to thank Messrs. Wolf and 0 Couuor for their courtesy to mo during my stay here. HARRY PALMZR.

BRIEFS.

The Financial Scare Subsiding The HighSalary Evil, Ktc,

WHEELING, W. Va., April 3. Editor SPORT-ixa LIFE: Everything is lovely now in theWheeling camp, in spitft of former dissatisfac tion, and it ia expected that we will pull through all right in a financial sense. I see that our club lias formed & target during the last month or so for other clubs, through their various cor respondents, to shoot at, and the result has been that the Nail City organization ii the best ad vertised body in the Tri-State League. People will flock to s*o us wherever we go, and our coffers will not be quite so empty aa thay would have been had wo not played the swine a little and poked some fun at our neighbors. In behalf of the Wheeling Club I must tlmnk my brother scribes for a-aistiug in the boom by resenting such expressions as "jay towns" and tue like. They have Borvod their pnrpose. Shake.

One thought must be added here. Too many clubs are payyrfg higher salaries than they can afford, Wheeling Rmniijj the rest, and the inevitable result will b* that sum* of them must go to the wall. Such I think is the opinion of all fair-minded thinkers ou this *Mlrject, but mongers and officials in their mad Jootre to get poswsaion of tbe pennant, don't stop to coi!?mlhr how they strain thttir finances by such a course. Ono benefit will arise from this, however, and thai is we will liavo better ball playing while it Irwrs, fur every club almcit had beau strengthened for this aea.-on, und wo wiU sci; *oinc lively hurtling for tin rajr.

AH of our player* h»to arrived and are now hard at worU. Stephens a;id Knmiss :ire the new fncea. Tho former iiiw nil tbe itcitun* ol a woll-iried professional, Mini.; Ki.nrt«B ba» nlr*-aiy lt*n uredictwd by we.1- n'laliJl*! |ii<!fCtf« » th« cvaing pitcher of the Wbeel- :n% team. Ho ia loft-Utuêd itno* bas great speed with pit-nty of curvo.

W* will timi out jTcmenso crowds to têet the funked Ilaliaut to-morrow and the next day, and will giro hom ft fr*vU> for one of th* faniec, anyhow.

CINCINNATI CHIPS!Indications of a Brilliant Season—Local

Players Scattering—Comment on UM Men front Indiana—Tlie Paradoxical Ba«e on Balls Rule, Etc.CINCINNATI, April 4. Editor SPORTING Lira:

The cry ''Play ball" has once more been heard, and tho familiar voices of the red-legged band in the coach lines have made sweet music to the ears of the faithful all this week. When I passed the portals the afternoon of the open ing there was one familiar face missing at the press gate. Johnny Niland waa not there to greet the newspaper boys, and the fact quite turned one's thoughts to the Great Beyond. Before the bell Upped for the teams to take their positions, I found myself in a reverie. How many recruits the grave has had from the baae ball world during the past year! Al Mo- Kinnon, Martin Powell, Jud Birchall and a dozen lesser lights. The cheers of a thousand enthusiasts drove away thoughts of a mournful past to those of a joyous present. The prospects of a great season here are very bright. When from 1,200 to 2,500 people will turn out in overcoats to see exhibition game?, the promises for a brilliant championship season may cer tainly be ranked as first-das?. The St. Pauls arrived yesterday, and played their first game of the series this afternoon. This is Leon Viau's old club, and he has spent many pleasant hours with "the boys." President A. W. Thompson and Manager John S. Barnes are here with them. Joe Quest, Kudolph Kemmler, Morris- sey, the big first baseman, and Pickett, all came down from Chicago on the same train. "Peekaboo" Teach, Shatter (the Orator's brother), Earle, Murphy, Carroll, Audenon and Duryea joined them here. The tit. Pauls saw the last Ciucinnati-Iudiiuapolis game, aud when tlie enthusiasm was at fever heat Joo Quest remarked: "Isn't this the greatest game in the world?1 * He waa worked np to the cheering point, aud con tinued,''Kven if I have been playing so long, a good game stira me up still." Joe was in California this | wiuter, and the change from that salubrious climato to St. Paul waa a terrific one. When he left Minnesota a few days ago there was three feet of enow on the ground! The St. Paul team ia composed of a fine- looking lot of playera. Of their worth I'll tell you

ter.THEY ARE SCATTERING.

By this time next week there will not be a ball player, who has signed, to be found around town. Lou Myers, who is to be a Sea Gull, has put out for Charleston, GUka and Crowell are already at Colum bus. The Brooklyn dao Clark and Ptoplea have Deen East several days. "Lefty'1 Marr jumped for Syracuse laat night. The Manchester trio Jack Shoup, Will Kluseman and W. T. Irwin leave at once. Joe Strauss will go to Louisville next Mon day to join the Milwaukeea. George Pechiuey and Will Delaney are ticketed for Cautou. Harry Fuller Is inquiring about the rates to Lima. The Toledo con tingent Bottom us, Ed Reeder and Al Steuve start "a the direction of Presque Isle, reinforced by a new pitcher. Manager Barry Smith hna picked up Henry Gaatright, of Newport. Everybody speaks highly of the twirler and he has Ihe reputation of being one of the finest amateur pitchers about Cincinnati. The batterv of lieogan and Nulton have their eyes fixed on the time card that tells them of trains to Psoria. Rooney Sweeney plays with Manchester this year. All Cincinnati remembers that comical Celt. If you would take

SWEENET, TONT SUCK AUD PAT ROONBYand shake them np m a bag, it's dollars to doughnuts a fellow couldn't guess which one of the three it was who was drawn out first. "Booney" has been a fire- mau in New York this winter, and he was under a captain who had little love for the old-time ball player. "Rooney" had influence behind him enough to say to the chief ot the company of fire laddies: " 'Cap,' I'm guiug to take a day off to-day," and the "Cap" could say neither "yea1 nor "nay." At fires "Booney" generally led the way, aud in bold efforts to outdo the captain in bravery, he has gone way beyond the danger Hae- and been carried out nearly suffo cated and half dead.

'They thought he was a goner once," spoke op one of the boys, telling (he story in the East, "but when they put a little of the old stuff to his lips he opened hri eyes and got right up."

But Roouey has forsaken Jersey lightning and Ken tucky "kill 'em quick.1* He drinks nothing but Adam's ale, and as for cigars, h« draws the line on anything stronger than the Bowery brand of "Under taker's choice," after three puffs on one of which it ia claimed you can hear the rustle of augles* wings.

THE HOOSIEUS HAVB COME.

They have seen, but they did not do any great amount of conquering. Although the scores of both games played seem to have a one-sided look, the con tests were spirited, and in the second Indianapolis really had the call until the eighth inning. I have an idea tbat after this spring the army of League adorers wbo are forever proclaiming the superiority of their clubs over Association teams, will have to feast on disapt-ointm&nt. Mauler Harry Spanca v*a* more than pleased with the way his meu showed up, and with reason, too. They came here "raw" and went into the first game with only a few days' pre liminary practice, and one or two of them had not handled a ball all winter. Their fielding was well nigh perfect and their batting strong. The Hoosierg have quite ft quartetteof sluggers m Taul Hinea, Jack Glasseock, Jerry Denny and Shomberg. President John T. Biush ran dowu from Indiana's capital to see the second game, and juat as he arrived "Little Nic" slid over the plate with the home run that tied the score, for all through that contest the Uoosiers were ahead. Tbe "event of the week" in Itidianipolij cir cles waa

THE COLLAPSE OF THE CATCHERS* TRUST.

On Monday Tug Aruiidel dropped in. Ho was tired hiring letter writers and postage stamps, and when he fouud the Hoosiert) really ia Cincinnati he jumped a train fur the same place. Yesterday morning who do you think dropped in? Nobody but George W. Bnrn- ham. George came all the way from Detroit to "pull" for Indianapolis, but when the Keda commwced to jump upon Moffatt and two-badger a and home ruus ruled, Indianapolis1 ex-manager declared:

"I'm not from Indiana! My home ia in Michigan! Say, talking of MofTatt, he's a dandy little fireman. I've seen him run like hadaa with a line of hose!"

You can't keep a good man dowo. "Bnrny" says he has been eating short cake all winter, while some of the crowd was glad enough to get snow balls. First man he struck going into breakfast at the Grand when he arrived here was George Myers.

"Why, hello!' 1 he remarked. "I thought you were goiug to stay oat awhile?"

In his stuttering way George replied: UI am. I Just ran down here to spend a counle of days visiting rela tives."

Burnlmm savB about ten minutes after that he saw Myers "TisiUug" Harry Spence over in one corner of fhe corridor. MyerV surrender leaves Hackett and McGeacby the ouly men out. Bncfcley, the Hosiers' new catcher, showed up fairly well. He didn't have a passed ball in ten games. After hia first experience behind "Egyptian'' llealey, he affirmed: "They hixd me ecared to death up in Indianapolis about Healey, and I was nfraid from the way they talked that I cotild'nt hold him. Why, I can catch him with one hand!"

Harry Spence has great hopes of Moffatt, the young pitcher who proved to be just Cincinnati's size. Harry is a believer in "young blood." Referring to the (wasted superiority of the League over the Association, he said:

"I know one thing Cincinnati haa one of tbe strongest teams in the country!"

Timo will prove the truth of the assertion. Look at this.

AB. B. IB. 8.B. P.O. A. E. Cincinnati............... 73 16 17 13 64 33 7Indianapolis... ........ 62 ft 14 4 61 34 8

Now, these figures mean that in the two games the Reds had a batting average of .232, while the Hooaiers are seven points behind with .225. In fielding the Reds lead Indianapolis fifteen points and have .923 to the Hooaiera' .910. Fielding averages are going to be lower this season than they were last, and Col. John I. Rogers is mainly responsible for the fact. Five of the Beds1 seven errors were bases on balls charged to the pitcher as such, and four of the Hookers' were errors of like import. The more I see ot that rule that makes a baae on balls an error and

A FACTOR IX SCORING EARNED RUNS as well, the more absurd I think it is. It is contrary to common sense to think tbat a man can reach first on an error and get around to the plate with an earned run, and that is just what thia pet rule of Colonel Rogers amounts to. It cannot live more than a year. It certainly^ ought not to. For a living example of the father of a paradox Little Buttercup Gilbert and Sir Joseph Sullivan ought to come over to Philadelphia and see O. P's friend, the Colonel. Asa cure for his infatnation with this double-barrelled pnnbhment of a pitcher I recommend that he slip in incog, among a lot of scorers at a ball game some afternoon not news paper men, just enthusiasts with a smattering knowl edge of the faculty. There was a little bit of a debate here over thia paradoxical rule Saturday, aud I hap pened to bo called in to decide it.

"That's an earned run," I said, "under the construc tion of the rules."

"But that man got to first on an error, didn't her"Of course an affirmative reply had to be given."Then how iu the name of a jack pot can It be

earned?""Ask Col. Rogers?"""Who in smoke is Colonel Rogers?""What! my friend!" but I'll not make the Col

onel blush by repeating iny eulogistic reply. If he get* time to tear himself away from briofj and legal cap l->ng enough to write why he believes such a rule in jnst lie way satisfy this unbeliever. Neither I nor my feU'»w-»?rt*thren of the B. B. R. A. of A. could make him think other th»u the rule was a blasted bit of tuolifchaesa without rhyme or reason for existing. Still it goc&

LITTLB SQUIBS 0!f DECIC.Let me drop a tear here where J. A. will §eo It.

The Colonels? aud Memphis? Weep, brothers, weeplHurry Baumgartuer, with his eye resting fondly on

the Rixutology Cl"b £"**(, remarked tbis afternoon: *'I don't think the Shamrocks could beat very many of the Association teams, but we are not afraid «-f Louisville!" What childlike falthl Aud the Coloaela think they'll win the pennant, too.

During Monday's game wbeu the Hooslen jutnptj fn at such a promising £»it there:*as one wiM yell cf gle« heard from the pavillion, Plrector Smith, of '

U Club, tat tuert. It WM J<U)« /JftuJ

played, for that was the only chance Riven to chirp that afternoon.

One or two prizes will probably be awarded daring the Detroit series.

Will Hart really made four hit* In the two first games. A decision of Lou layers cnt him oat of one.

"Bid" McPhee isn't a bit proud even if toe is wear ing that new oveicoat the reward for six cracking bits in two games.

"Long John" R«illy brought a sketch book np from the South well filled with evidences of hia artistic talents.

"Pop" Corkhill is the "Lone Fisherman" of the Cin cinnati aggregation. "Pop" the bell haa been ring ing for you three days.

Will Hart surprised hia friends by the clevor way in which he played second base. The applause which greets him upon his daily appearance shows that he is already a favorite.

Perhaps Jack O'Connor cannot hit the ball! The boy is looking well and is happy because he will have a chance to play some this season.

Manager bchmelz's wife has been v«ry ill at ihfir home iu Columbus and Gus haa bot-n at her bedside for a week. During hia absence Captain Frank Feu- nelly is in command.

Col. William Chester Perad quite an umpire.Ester brook is playing a £reat game at nr^t and he

Is hitting well, too. Burnhaia, describing his mode of gathering in a thrown ball, likened it to "shutting a gate to a farm yard."

Toronto follows St. Paul and then Detroit!Oh, no, Beilly id not hitting the ball. He only got

In ten sale drivers in the last four games. Oh, by the way, 0. P., there will be a liitle hitting under the three- strike rule after nil. ^

The Timef-Htar will present an elegant £)ld medal to the Red Leg who proves to be the gieatest run-get ter during the champiunahip season.

REX MULFORD, JB.

PITTSBURG PENGILLINGS.The Prospects of the Team—Dunlap Cri

ticizing Oetroit—Barkley's Transfer to Kansas City—McCormick and \Vliitney Given Up—Current N«ws Xotes.PITTSBURG, April 5. Editor SPORTING LIFE:

Let the band play. The law has been laid down and the boys are ready for work. One man's ideas are worthless, but it certainly can be truthfully said that the prospects of the Pitta- burg Club thia season are really good. Dissatis fied men are few, a fortunate circumstance. Two very unreliable men last season are now num bered among the money-savers, and will play ball from the start. The rules, it is true, are caat iron, but good men can observe them with out any trouble. With a good field captain and no one to bother him, it is probable that the club will play well up front. With a few better hit ters mach more could be said. The first game was played to-day at Wheeling, but the result is not at hand. Of course, there is nothing but praise for the new men m their field work, but practice and ball plajiug every one will admit are different tliiugs. Farmer catches well, but there is no stick in front of bis face to worry him, and Maul ia not getting all sorts of throws and hit balls in practice. It is claimed that the management is panguioe of their success, but it is known from the talk of a club otncial that they are somewhat apprehensive about one man at least.

Maul's throwing during practice has been good. He liuea the ball to third base in excellent style. Kuohue shows up well at third and thu only trouble to be feared will be in his throwing. Whituey ia ono of the finest throwers iu the profession and his skill saves him many an error. Kuehne ia liable to get the ball wild sometimes.

FRED'S FIBST ROAST.Dunlap yesterday for the first time, at least since his

airival here, gave vent to his opinion of tho Detroit Club and the management. "Tbat man Wa;kius," said he, "is the hardest loser 1 over ran across. He kicks on anythiug, and I must say that I nover played under a harder uiau. There are some nice meu, iu the ttam, but that man Watkius is a queer one."

"Is he entitled to the credit of getting the cham pions together?"

"No, he is not, despite stories to the contrary. Han- lon is ttie man. He sail: 'You must have a winning team in this town to pay.' He showed them tr»w to get it. I give him credit for it. Why, when Chicago crawled up cloee on as last season, Walking wad badly rattled and wanted to resign, but Haolon ridiculed him out of it. Hanlon is a grea£ tie We r and will strengthen any club. I would like to have him here for the 1'ittsburg Club, for you don't know how some of the new meu may turn out. I am going to try aud do all I can to beat out Detroit this time."

IT WILL COST HIM $150.

There is one official connected with the Pittaburg Club who is not vary anxious for Whitnoy to sign at the club's terms, for if he does it will cost him $150. During President Nimick's absence in the West this man, deeming the offer of $2,000 to Whitney insuf ficient, took it upou his authority to oflar Arthur 52,150. When Nimick returned he was very wrothy and vowed that if Whituey accepted this price the official in question would be compelled to pay that $160 out of hig owu pocket. He means what he says. The official is a salaried man and of coarse does not relish tbe idea of dropping $150.

THEY FOUGHT FOR HI* ONCK.The Barkley deal just at presaut awaits the arrival

of $2,000 from Kansas City before it will be com pleted. On its arrival, likely to-morrow, Sam will be given bis release, aud he will then join the Cowboys at an advance of $400 over his Pittsburg salary. Sam (s really glad to get away from here. The mnnage- meut's step is condemned by many, who think the team is without a competent infiwl-ler in case of an ac cident. Barkley, President Nimick says, m*y play a great game of ball elsewhere. Burkley saya that he intends to go into business in this city during tho winter, a light manufacturing business, he claims, aud one that will grow trom the start. Some Plitw- burgers will join hands with him in the venture. "And," say Sam, "if it proves a success I will say good-bye to base hall. I am tired of plaviuz ball, anyway.1 *

SNAP SHOTS.McShannock and the ZaneaviUe contingent practice

in the East Knd every morning and afteruuou.Galviu says he would like to have a dulUr every

time the remark "a third-rate battery" will be made at Recreation Park this summer.

The '*new rules" are all the result of some break which disturbed the serenity of the club within the past few years. The one prohibiting any lively work on the trains is no doubt the outcome of a sleeping car scrimmage which happened some time ago. "They're corkers," said one of the boys when they were read. Galvin's opinion waa unique: "I'm going to get up at 8:29:59 every morning. They can't catch me. I want all the sleep I can get."

The saloon-keeper and the gents* furnisher have been given up for backsliders. There was R report that the saloon-keeper was to be traded for Kadhourn. This ia denied by President Nimick, who says Jim is a better man than Rad. Horace Phillips atill sticks to the belief tbat the warm weather will soon bring Mc Cormick around. Warm weather and £3,800 might bring him, it ia true. Tne club may do something awful shortly and go so far as to reserve both men for §1,000.

Pool selling will likely flourish In the city during the summer, despite the efforts of the authorities to suppress it. Chief Brown, of the Department of Public Safety, has been engaged in a lively skirmish with the pool men the past few weeks. They have refused to close and he has entered a test suit against one firm. The defendants waived a hearing for court. They in tend to carry the case to tho Supreme Court, and in the meantime will keep their place* open.

Jack Fields says that he reads THS SroaxiNO LIFE before he goes to church Sunday aad also when he comes home.

Sullivan has received a telegram from Manager Bur- bridge, of Jackson, asking him not to sign anywhere until he hears from him.

Carroll already hf*s a big bank account and It Is get ting larger daily. Fred has not received any definite word from Jim Hart or bpalding regarding the Austra lian trip. He knows nothing about the matter beyond what has been printed.

Bishop was hunting for Lew Dickerson yesterday, de siring to inform him that London would report on the 9th. Lew, it was found, left Kdgewood for Baltimore about two weeks ago.

Farmer la the Uliest man in the club, standing 5ft. ll%in.; Smith and Barkley next, 5ft. lljîo^ Miller Is tbe smallest, 5ft. Gin.

President Nimick received the following telegram yesterday from ex-President Stearns, of Detroit, dated Palace Hotel, San Francisco: "Can I be of any sor- vice to you while here?" Mr. Nimick answered that he was sorry to say that he could not be. He thanked Mr. Stearns for his kindness. Nimick thinks the ex- prosident one of the bost-pohted base ball men in the country.

Dunlap intimates that the rule prohibiting drinking will not be rigidly enforced. In other words no ob jection willjbe made to a man taking a glass of beer now and then iu the evening. This was the under standing last season, but the gang, at least several members, abused the privilege and the result was a few fines. Dunny *K»ys that he admires a sober team.

Billy Sunday will Ie»d off in the batting order. The left-handed hitters will be sandwiched with the right. This, it is s«id, will puzzle the pitchers.

Ben Mulford will please accept thanka for enlighten ing me on that stolen base idea.

Henderson is reported as taking anti-fat with good results.

The exhibition gamea will commenca at 3.30 P. and regular games at 4 o'clock.

President Nimick formally waived claim to Han lon this evening. He did HO much against his will, as he saia to-da>: "We don't need him, but I hate to see such a good player go oat of the League. Dut we have to pay Detroit the compliment. They agreed to Bark ley's release.'* Dunlap nrged the management to try and get tbe speedy outfielder, but his advice was not heeded.

April owe Joke* were very scarce with the boy*.Dunlap MYS he Is waiting patiently for Auson to

reply to his card in THB SPORTINQ Lire. He thinks the Chicago man said some very unkind things about him. Fred will uot make any trouble over tho matter.

Cnou.

Live Peopleget on in the world; they look out for the good chaco«; they go in and win. fctinson & Co., Portland, Maiue, HI ed live people everywhere io work for them; #1 per h'tur Mid upwardg rosily ma-le; ruuuyuiake more t!i:in double that. Either sex. all ago«v You cau do the work aud Jive at houn*. No special ability required; »1I csm do it. Write *nd w*. All will b-? p«t befow you free* then if )ou conclude cut to « tu work, all igut. Capital not itoniml. Stia>on_A Co.start you.

One of (he

BRTJNELL'S BUDGET.Practices That Should be SatlTpon—Where

the Legislators and Rules are Deficient The Importance of the Manager—Cleve land Club Newa and Team Statistics, Etc.CLEVELAND, 0., April 6. Editor SPORTINO

LIFE: There isn't much hope for improvement in the conduct of the men who play the game upon the various leading grounds of the country, when wo see in the columns of a reputable journal a laudation of a team cap tain for stepping in front of the catcher of the opposing team to prevent a prompt and true throw to second for tho purpose of catching a base-runner. There ia neither finesse nor strategy in such an act. It is rowdyism pure and simple, and its effect can but be disastrous to the game itself through it* exponents. I mention no names, for obvious reasons, but the incident happened and the actors are real. It is the short-sighted reaching for immediate ad vantage by clubs, players and newspapers that has injected muoh evil into the greatest game that a nation over adopted as the game for its amusement. From it h;is come present prices, insubordination, team anil personal jealousies, suspicion iu the player as to the good faith of his em ployer, aud various other dt'bili'ations if I m-iy coin a \vurd. There are but a few m»n within my personal acquaintance aud base bill, and at the same time in a

iju (o have an iuflueutial share in the making ot base ball law, who can siuk present and personal ad vantage f«»r the good of the game. Geurge W. IIowo, O. P. Ciiylor, Harry Wri^bt^ A. G. Mills and Gus Schmelz arh such men. But one or two of these have wicked partners convenient things iu tb.os.3 days of ours. We need many rotorms in the gam3. Evils have crept in very tost of late. They principally date from those comparalively recent days when ihe League astutest of all bodies for immediate profit ewatlowod its principles and turned immoral somer saults enough to drive A. G. Mills out of us rauks. Just ahead of these days bugan the financial era, and etided that m which man went into biiae tall for glory. We are iu Ihe most financial strata of the flmmcial era at this time. Every mau in bate ball, from those operating leagues to those wielding bats, are "out for the stuff" a prevalent term among players. I have said before chat the game has improved under thia financial spur. There is nodoubtof this improvement. The oftVred prize of large profiis set the managers to developing material and paying richiy for specialists Of the first class. Of course, players increased aud talent grew more refined. But the wisheil-for result a sur plus of available men, did not turn up. The game spread and clubs increased fasler than players were de veloped. What is tho condition of affaire to-day? There is more demand, at high prices, than ever for first-class ball players, and every indication points to an increase in demand and prices. And still tne fool policy of the special legislator goes on. I am not, mind you, one of the finical and tearful pessimists who swear by their beards if they have any tbat because l)un-

ip draws so many thousands and K\\iug, Kelly, La- thdm aud Caruthers so many more, that the game is going to "the demnition bow-wows." Bat*! The clubs usually promise to pay their players what they can i>ay them aud make a profit. If they pay more they are crnzy inflationists, unworthy of a franchise, The only real trouble is ihat the richer clubs aet the pace and run the poorer ones paying more accordin g to financial ability based on income off their feet. If there were lefs howla at the players aud more atten tion to stable laws that would stand, aud advance that which they rule, there would b<i less need of cries and more lime to give to the good of the game, out of which wealth is sought. And if the base ball legisla tor whose business it is will show the way, the superflciaitsta will follow and tbe all-round conditions will be more moral and a heap of assorted trouble will be avoided.

THB MANAGER A MODERN NECESSITY.The manager who is not a player has become abso

lutely necessary to both League and Association clubs since the percentage idea haa caught huld, as it has. And the financial part of his work is of most import ance. Some teams, such as St. Louis and Cincinnati, will have two managers or a manager and an assist ant or financial aid. But the manager always was a necessity. We heard talk, during the days of doubt whether Watkins would or would not pilot the De- troits again, about "starting that team out with a schedule and no manager and they'll do all right." That's a wrong idea. I had a talkiu 'Frisco with ex- President Stearns, ef Detroit, who has one of the clear est heads that was ever u-sed for the good of the game. It waa on thia point. Hâid that as far as his expe rience ran the players were sadly demoralized by bench bickering while on the field, and that a distinct head was as much of a noc«a- sa ry in a base ball team aa a winning pitcher. But the playing man tiger, like Comiakey, is the manager who is the distinct head at all times. Tbe managers whoao work is done upon the field, viz.: Anaon, Comiskey, Harry Wright and Gus Schmelz, are tbe men who benefit their teams most. Good business men are comparatively plenty. Good directors of field work are not, and I am inclined tj believe tbat mon who do not pUy aud yet know all the tricks of tho trade lika Harry Wright and Gus Schmelz b.ive the clearest eyes, because in front of the cooloat aud most unprejudiced head.

CLEVELAND AND ITS TEAK.There fa a wonderfully stronar local feeling in favor

of the new Clevelanda, and if the team plays anythiug like good ball the 50-cent raise aud everything elsw will be forgotten and forgiven, and the financial loss of last season easily made up. There isn't a crank in all the rambling town who will uot be satisfied If the team finishes iu the place Jimmie Williams elected for it fifth. And there are several other good reasons why the team should bo successful. Its gimes will be better advertised aud the ads will cover a broader field, and the undivided support of tho local newspapers will be given to it. Last season this was not so. Better luck with tho weather can confidently b« expected, aud the Improved ball park is sure to bring out better plityingaaa more goaeral satisfaction to the home audiences. Tom Laurence, who used to make the old League park a glory iu soft, green turf, ia at work ou Association Park and expects to have it iu prime con dition when tho team comes home in May. The in field is very smooth and green now, and will be ready for work iu a week. By the time the first game ia played over §5,000 worth of tickets will havo boon sold, and all round tbe prospect is very much brighter than it was boforu tho season of any year except 1880.

MIKE MORIUSOX SIGNED AT LAST.The Cleveland team waa completed on Tuesday,

when Mike Morrison signed his contract and left to join the boys at Columbus. Uo was the last man to sign aud to report. Mike camo from Erie, looking well, and weighing a little more than ho did last sea son. But he hadn't touched a ball all winter, and is therefore backward, but hopeful. Morrison was signed to one of the "new idea," graded contracts, soon to come into use all round. By it he gets a good salary and a present of about one-fourth its tojai amount in addition, should lie pitch good enough ball to be under conrract with the club at the end of the season of 1888. Mike had himself to thank for his poor success last season. He has far more natural ability to pitch than many of the mint successful pitchers. This ability is to be giveu another fair chance, and nuless it asserts itself within a reasonable time Mike will be released. But with the present fa-mi behind him, Faata's hwlp, and the favor of the new rules, MiKe Morrison ought to be "quite a pitcher" this year.

THE CLEVELAND CROWD OP GIANTS.Morrison's engagement completed the team. The

men are a bigger lot than one ordinarily fiud?, Nine of them Faatz, Snyder, Goodfellow, Steinmyer, Mc- Xean, Hotaling, Bakely, Obcrlaudor and Zimrnt>r are above tho ordinary size, and the first four are giants. Below is a table showing the mon, positions, records and sizes:

Players. Batt'g. Field's. Height. Weight. Crowell, pitcher............ .195 .905 5.09 156Bakoly, pitcher............. .283(iilks, pitcher............... .333Oberlander, pitcher....... .355Stemmyer, pitch or......... .289Moirison, pitcher.......... .237Ziminer, catcher............ .331Suyder, catcher............. .276Goodfellow, catcher....... .4^2Faatz, first base............ .313Stricter, second base..... .333McGlone, third base...... .329Albert, short stop.......... .361McKoan, left fiold......... .364Hotaling, centre field.... .307Hogao, right field......... .377

Averages........ ..,... .322 .904 5.071-5 171THE CLEVELANDS* PRACTICE WORK.

President U<>blson and Manager* Williams think more ot the team than ever and say that if the pitchers do as well as they are expected to do it is sure to make a creditable showing in the race. Aud it really e coins so. In the three games played agaiust Toronto and Indianapolis this week the u:on have shown up well in the field aud on the bases. If the team has any weakness it is at the bat. But I do not think this will show. It is cor tain that bnyder is in fiue form aud will do his best work wulier titan usual. Ximiuer, too, ia a beitr-r man than he WM ia«t season, and CJoodiellow Is a fa*tor ball player than we thought, a good i and IJMJiT, quick tts a cm iu the field and on tho bases and * most promising catcher. Of the pitchers. Morri- BOH rauuot be siztd up. Crowell is bigger and ipoodier, and so is Gilks. Tb» Cincinnati pair are sure to do steady work. Stemmeyer never made a better start, ami I think he is suie to aid the tfim and succeed,

suits Manager Williams, who thinks he is ti great pitt'hi-r, and everybody counts on Dr, Obcrluudor as a frure winner whoc he gets into hia .'tuady jcait, The infield is a vest improvement over that of l:«t sea son, with Faatz at lir.it and Albert at short. B-jfb, will 'do, 1 ' and Faota's r«*j»!»i;;ing makes iho pitch-: rs and

each man iu the t«*m a little slrr u#*r. "Albert plays short better than Mclu-an, and IUcKean plays le("lft«!d bettor than it ovor has beeu played for it "" t«>nni," aaya Pr'tid^nt llokfoon. Hovj&nsuitH William* lit rijît.Htjd Snider says he is oue of the

t hJW-ro:Ku*nt in tho profession. With Ilogan, Stricker, AlcKvtio. McGluno, Gilkti, Fnatz, X'tnmwr, Al- btrt and JlutttHcg, a41 good tase-ninnors, it luiy be noticed that tut* ttituj ii pretty strong in tbat line of work.

A SOCTHKRM LKAGUB GLAs'CK. Troftsurer 11 owe is home from his Southern and

Cntmu trip a:i<t brings b»ck uo flattering r?pv»L of th* condition of iho K>tmo in the tour-club Southern

lie tay* llixt the olub* will w*it* fell tbb*i in lon>; *n-l exptrwv* nmrood jujuj*, tout tt?£ rffc;

deposed U. trttftt even other with n.i»sidji*tioi> «ru get badly vhipprf nml

amounts lo the same thing, for the purpose of living- out the sea*<m. Next season it is expected that four strong club.4 from the Texas League will be ready to join forces with them.

L1TTLR riECR9 OP NEWS AND COMMENT.Tho club's advcrtiaioe: agen t, Harry T'oyl^, is en

gaged on some m<>at g^rgeou;* advertising lor the rlub and has had a small and large group photo of them taken.

During-Ms hvt week at Hot Springs thieves broke into Ed UOman's roum and robbed him of *>mn j«wnlry

F. H. KRUNELL.and Sii.X) in rath.

CHADWICK'S CHAT.The Vereran's Views on Spaldin^'s Austra

lian Enterprise lie Gives George Munson Some Tiilfy- The Thr«e-strike Rule and its Working; The Stupid "Fungo" Batting Practice Pitched Int<i He Ooxideuuu Newspaper Criticism of Umpiring. NKW YORK, April 5. Editor SPORTING LIPBI

important enterprises connectcd with the National game that has been en tered upon since 1874 is the proposed visit of the president of the Chioago Club an 1 bis noted cap tain to Australia, accompanied by a picked team of the be^t professional exemplars of the game. Though the trip involves a calculated outlay of nearly thirty thousand dollars, without any guar anteed return, I feel confident that Mr. Spalding will find large profit in it; not, perhaps, iu t!i« wny of gate receipts, but certainly in the wider extension of hi* sporting goods business. With characteristic Western ptuck and energy, bow-

irer, bo is gi>iu* to take the chances of success or failure in his business venture, and I predict for him a noteworthy success. When Mr. S paid- ing visited England in 1874 as the advance agent of the party of Boston and Philadelphia players who took the base ball trip across the Atlantic that year he did so under very differ ent circumstances and conditions to those which will mark his proposed trip for 1889; for then all was new to him, and it was far more of a risky experiment than he now is about to undertake. He is now, too, going to a very different country, and amonn a pe-'ple, who, despite of cortain inherited colonial tendencies, have morn of the

of our own people, in certain respects, than their old-country progenitors have; and there is not likely to be such national prejudices met with in Australia by a party of American ba*« ball players la 1889 as tlie visiti-r* to EngUnd in 1874 encountered, In calculating the chances for the success of Mr.

tdiug's enterprise, it shunld bf considered that the position of sporting affair* in Australia likely to pre vail there next winter ia one highly favorable to th« advent of a party of bast* ball tourists such as Mr. PpuMinn will tjik" with him, innsmuch a* the Austra lian sporting public hav« a*w>ut had their fill of visiting teams of English cricketers, and also having won the rowing championship of the world and seen the renowned American champion go down bef-tre their own bet't man, besides having «een the most expert of our American pe.l»-8trians in Myers, they mny be re garded an being just in tho moat favorable mood to ap preciate the attractions our most export American has* ball uhtyers can present. Tho experience of the visit ing party of ball players to England in 1874 showed conclusively that national prejudice against the Amer ican game was an obstacle to ihe aucco-s of the party on that trip. The Englinh took to larross* because it was t Canadian gamn, and to

-that extent "it was English, you know," But bas« ball was a rt<giihir Yankee institution, and in consequence they did not take to It, and to th'S dayt except unioug r<"*ident Americans in England, bass ball is practie-illy as little known in England a> it was in 1874 after our ball playora of the Boston and A'h- letic clubs had tried to introduce it there. But mak ing the experiment, as was d.mfl in 1874, and entering upon the proposed t<>ur to Australia in 1889 are two different things entirely, as time will show. Another thing in favor of the trip is that 18S9 is the centennial year of the Australian colonies' existence, and visitor* from America will be specially welcome, and the pro-gteagive element of the colony will uo doubt welcome* America's National field gam«< a* a sp^rt ju-tt suited to their tastes. TUe tiiu ia a plucky undei taking, and every right-minded lover of our Nati»nal game will wish Mr. Spacing the success in hia enterprise he will so fully merit. The introduction «f baae ball in Australia will open a grand market for the American professionals by 1890, for I feel assured that the furor* for the game which will set in in Bit-1 bourne, Sydney and other of the principal sporting- cities of Australia with the advent of the Spald.it)g t«am of base ball champion players next winter will be followed l»y the establishment of rival Australian c'ub*, and the im portation of expert American professionals, though th« fancy salaries which prevail here are not likely to rnl» in the comiug Australian market. It makes me wish to be young agtin when I think of what a,u eojoyahl* trip it will be to those who will accompany the playora as friends and guests. I trust Mr. SpaMing will he able to carry out that purt of his programme which involves tho necessity of hh team boing well up in cricket, lacrosse and foot ball as side accompanira«nta to the main attractiDn of b ise l>a!l. Good luck to tut coming "kangaroo team." Al ha* already prepared good footing for them. (Soe k:ine;troo shoe ad.).

THB BACK W AUD S7EP.Over a month ago I refer red to tho fact that the exhibi

tion campaign \vould ihow up the mistake of readopt- ing the thre^-strike rule vary plainly, an<J tbe South ern practice campaign of the Cincinnati, WaHhington, New York and Chicago club toaujs present* undenia ble proof in the records of the games they havo played under the new rule that we are going to havo an other era of tedious pitchers' games this season. Think of Krock's record of twenty-one outs on striken, with not a chance for :i solitary cntch given the fine out* fielders of tho Chicago team, and all this is the result of legislation gui-twi by the poliry of "three striken just suits our pitchers." Not ft thought is given to in creasing the attractive features of the game. Truly is a now conference commit toe needed for the revisory work next December.

FUNGO BATTING.I should like professional club managers to tall m«

why it is they persist in letting their team players in dulge in "fungo" batting in their prelinUnaiy prac tice on tho occasion of every match game? I wrote against this bad habit Uat soas;m. and I was iu hopef that it would ba done away thw year. But on tha occasion of tho opening gaisie At Rid g wood Park last week, the Brooklyn team went «t the old fnngo busi ness again, as did tho Now York leuin at the Polo Grounds, and even tho colls-go players, from whom one might look for bett-r things, indulged in it. I claim that fungo batting ia worse than no practice at all with tlie bat, as it triuns the batsman's fight to meet a ball falling perpendicularly to the grouml.while, when facing a pi I char's delivery, the batsman has to meet a ball coming to him horizontally. Then again/ this fuugo batting affords opportunities only for practice in fielding, while it ia in batting tbat tha player, as a rule, need the most practice, for the bat ting is away behind tho fielding in the point of ex cellence it has reached. It is all very well to give the fielders practice before a match, but it is equally essential, to say the least, that the batsmen should have equal opporlunities for advautageous practice, which ia impossible under the rule of fungo batting. But T think I hear some ono saying: "How would you practice the men bef-.-re a match?" In reply I would say put a practice pitcher in the box to throw balls over the plate to a practice catcher, placing the other seven play* rs of the nine In the field and then lot each man in turn face tha pitcher ttnttl he hits a fair ball or is put out, and after ho reaches first bas« or is put out, lot him go the field and the fielders taka their turn at iho bat. By thia means not only would the team have opi-or t unities for all-round field practice,J»ut the beat of practice Ht the bat, and all this pre liminary work vroiiH be far more attractive to tba crowd than the fungo batting method. I think, too, that if tho battery players imlulged in leas preliminary practkt* iu pKchmg and catching than thoy L'O them wûld bo le.iS strainwd arms iu pitching and fewer injuries :o hards in catching. A groat deal of th* preliminary practice Holding Indulged in before a match is doue simply to show off before, tho grand stand people. The-ro ia no advantageous training in it. An ioning'o pitching iu tho box would bo of twice- tbe value, resides which it would give batsmen noodad practice. Whatever plan might be tried to give bat ting pr*ct;ce, however, it could not be otherwise than an improvement on the present boys'play of fungo batting', in which the fieMfrs liave all the a'lvautaga a;id the batsmen do '.vorso than if they did not handle the bat at all.

SEXSTBLB ADVICE TO EDITOUS.I wbh the editors of pai*rs which make a spocialty

of base tail th's goason would give out a general order suppressing all newspaper criticism of the work of umpires in the field. As a general rule tlrtTcriticism is never impartial and generally causes pivju.lice aruoiis t-hi» sixnratjrs at a match aâinat tho iiiilmd- ual umpire uujmtly criticizo-!. I regard tbe umpire as i) r.mn beyond the p»le of such criticism as a player shot.Id very properly be subjected to, simply because he Oi.-c;jp;'!S on uxcc-pHonal position in tbe floH. lf« is ciil!ed U|K>n to settle di.-pvrtes, to decide points of play frt'ii: hia own («inj<te atundpoiiit, which neces sarily difi'irft from th»t of every spectator ou the field; and, above all, hid errors are those ofjuil?ra«ftt in

OVBU aid one mother iu a Aiuiiiciftl *»y, cr

nine cases out of ten, and thoao ihouM bo heyoi'.il n«w3);aprtr comment. One tiling H certiin, amt that is, that under tho beat rules g-jrerDing the umpiring iu the game' we "hftH m-ver have good umpiring as long as oowspapor rei>orten aro allowed to abuse ninpirtfl for errors of juJirmrofc, Su.-Ii Abuao only r-rvjulicts arowdi Against Ibo umpire thus hnrshly ci-itiriêd, and in no way does it improve the vimpiring. Stop ulayem from kicking Against IJPJ- pirei' ilL'C.'sijna and stop reporters from bats'i friMcit.m, jind them will bo no uioro difllcalty in rogatd to âti»- factory um*,ii'in-;. The tioublo i* tbat so many aews- p;i per writers oa tho game bo t ou con twits, uaj every mau tluvt d>es »)at <iuco renders himself iuôi.ipeteul for fnir criticbm, eithw: of tho umpiring or of Iho \t\\f ou the pait <>f tiie defeated team he b?:s ou. Koforni the cr!tJci«fDK of tho work of th« uuipiro* ftlto^ptlior. Thete Is mUthiof IB M And uo pOMit 'le g Jod. If I can My a g<x>4 word for tlio umpire's work, I do M) on nil occt*sio*J«. If I cannot I keep silent, untorfs porno psiijabl-* miscon- alruclicn of Iho ri*1e« 1^ iwvolvod »nU th(*n con-ctioa bx-orii-d a duty. But to ;.itc!i iuto an um;-*io iu aewupvper roywt simi'ly bocauje li« it a* com-

at vury irfr^'j I uel'iew ou t'te j<art of ov^ry B- n' o uh« io-l-il^t>» :o It. P»:t uulnrbily c!«t/r# nr* too many criik-f who 1'H* to Ij-Jn'xo ihotr ill-nitu-id spleen ifl

nl!*»'j i<ie1f |^t teem 1 atv-M-Dh Mno oOt*r sc*i *$<>

.{oto L»jce;>« tbe uuipir*, UVNBY < UATWI

the* life. base ball. - la84...

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