The New York herald., 1868-04-20
THE NATIONAL GAM

TIE NATIONAL GAM
~~~~~~-~>~s>>~~o-~~~~~~~
Ram and Present-Preparations for the Senson.
Winter came in due time with rosy cheeks, gisten-
ing eyes and laughter curled lips and greeted the
bsl players with approving smiles; holding out to
them promises of pleasant reunions in which-the
implements Of their praiseworthy and peaceful rv-
airy being laid asde-they could rest from their
aDors OF the past season and prepare themselves for
tho season to follow. Thoughts Of cosey freside
meetings, Of brilliant fates or of glowing, glorious,
health giving fun and frolc ON the crystal plated
Aelds took the place Of ambitious hopes for
bali field honors, exalted notions Of scraping
the sky with leather covered pellets or OF
annahhating tn a metaphorical sense only
presumptuous rivals for the name and fame Of
champions. But although winters promises did In
great part come true, she brought with her PAN
4ora's box and has been emptyny it for some weeks
Past ofthe dreary, drzzy dampening and dlsappoint
g contents, until-it is fondy yet fearfully hoped
she has at last to the bottom, where hope lies
sleepng. She has shown figures Of hope before, but
they were made Of Ice snow, and the eager enthu
Eiasts who have been on the watch attempted TO
clutch the giittering goddess, but she melted from
their warm grasp and nothing remained but pool
OF water or mound Of sush. 1t is safe perhaps, to
been shown and the ball l0ssers coming from their
winter haunts rush to the open fields not stopping
Heightened slumber, but striking out as they run
AAnng their fists tightly closed and throwing their
ment like the eccentric in q steam engine
1t Ii safe indeed, to hope tnat the ball season has
fairly opened and paclnS aith In that hope and re-
membering the status OF AFFAIRS at the close OF
THE PAST SEASON,
n II safe to assert that the game this year will be
found to have attained Il possible more universal
popularity and to have created more unb0unded in
Serest. Last season opened with the banners OF New
y ana W ovsS ae s v
cinity OF 'Camptown Navy Yard" and the "City Of
Coco Lager" were DANGEROUS places; for there the
that baiied the force Of the atlantic" waves and
ton' that showed the exception to the rule, IN
sUnion' there is strength" But tnis temporary
premacy OF New Jersey was not "Mutuah as far as
kew York concerned; for the representatives Of
me latter hS xSadea yssa o veory e RS TO Ss
TINS ..flght Of fancyn and come again to Timothy"
The base ball loving community found during the
tons and the goddess OF victory played the coquette
~ extensively and as regardlessly as any Of the
ccicnt fhs % Mneasls defeated the irvingtons; to the
latter see-sawed with the Atlantics who in turn
anered the Mutuals and these again worsted the
athletics. who alternaIed with the Atlantics. The
ssHaymakers" raked down their opponents, and
many Of those in turn 80 deluged the "stacks' OF
tho former rs to render them worthless. The
Actives carried out their name In lively style; the
Crlentals proved that they rose quite early; the
etArs twinkled with pleasing hlstre; the Mohawks
OF their possessions; the Eckfords trimmed their
ahtp In Al shape, and the Unions, after frighten-
nS q herd OF Bufra.os am waving their banner
over Niagara Falls and succumbing to the Irvngtons
Nutua g. "haymakers," Actives Athletics and Orr
entails grasped the emblem Of supremacy from the
sSpmasl OF the Atantics, and, mailing it high up on
their staff folded their arms In peace and sml-
ing benignly on their friends and rivals, waited for
THE COMING SEASON
10 Ia rather early yet 10 make any assertions as TO
the probable standing of affairs All hands have
been polishing the armor, sharpening their lances
ami preparing for what viii undoubtedly be a series
of sharp struggles. The Unions pronting by past
experience, have quilted their triangular, rail-bound
quarters, ana have htted up handsome park which
uDder the management OF a lively ''od coupler Is
aesained to become OF note IN the annals Of the
game. The Unions have not been lille. Their young
players are now almost full nedged and the
Veterans feel but little, II any, anxiety in
trusting 70 them the vaued prlze tney now possess.
Bildsan, Pabor, Goide, Martin, Shelley, Ketchum,
Wright, Aiken, Slnitn, AUSTIN Beas, BalcOm and
Stearns form coterre ron which they can pick a
~tcam" worthy OF the steel Of their most form d; BILE
foc,nen, who will surely be found In the Atlantics
Tue latter with nine selected IRON Mills Zettieln,
Pratt, McDonald, kenney and Regan--eacn man tired
AMI iOund just what was wanted-are about enter
ins the hsts with determination TO win every game
fIey play. The Mutuals scarcely know where they
stand With materials for making bold and deter
mined fight In Jewctt, Martin, Bearman, Flanly.
Cook shreives and Others, this Cub had appropri,
ated large amount OF money for the purpose of -
meancss Of heart showed Itself PIN IN 'loe manner aq
which deprived the Mutuas OF any opportunity to
coanplcte the work they had begun. But as Harvard
street Is TO be cut through from Broadway to Marcy
avenue and will thus enter the vitas OF supposed
deslning persons 1t will be found that the latter
VIII receive q just lhaward. II Is probable that the
Mutuals will play on the Capitone; but there s said
to DC plot OF ground above Seventy-eighth street.
Ou Tenth avenue, which they may secure.
Irving on boasts Of Buckley, Walters, N. Camp
Bell Beans Mills, Stockman, Lines Lewis, H. Camp
bell Crawford, Bailey, j. Campbell and others, and
an extra line Of horse cars viii no doubt divide the
honors with Morrlsania. The Actives show nine
m the old style--sure and eteady-and mean to do
some execution. Walker, the Kelley family, Jespee,
haines, Eboetts Rogers and several others will do
the active work.
Tne stars intend to burn with steady brilllsncy,
ano "Brother T0m" Sullivan, Murphy, Morris, II.
koxers, Worth, Greenwood, Flanders, Waddel
Mchae and few more Will give the light The En-
plres Esges, Gothams, Eckfords, Eurekas, Exercise
snu Others VIII each play as they were wont TO play,
frOnt a. Is possible.
All tne individuals who have especial regard for
o Enforcement OF the rules In their purity and en-
eret nave followed the mythical 'star of empire,
ano IN tner neighborhood the game will no doubt,
De eoen IN ies excellence on the neld. The plans for
ne season are many, but ~ no one can teil what
aN nay D1ng forthin II 10 needless to anticipate.
1no tournamens 8 Niagara Pals in June wnibe Q
Gz1na feature. me westvard trip Of the Atlantics
80 0e eastward TIP - the Unions win be events
q nose, and the SESSION vish ~ eoptests ana ex-