Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31
The Forest City Nine.

The season for baseballing having open ed, the following drive by the Cleaveland Leader is in order:
 The pitcher for the summer of 1872, has been practicing for several weeks outside the city limits, and though not feeling we'll can throw regulation ball with such swift ness that it cannot be seen unless covered with phosphorus; and often the friction occasioned by its passing through the air causes heat so great as to burn the ball to ashes before 1t reaches the catcher, who only finds mass of cinder in hls hand. The assistant or reserve pitcher has been practicing but a few weeks, but he can throw ball through eighteen inches of oak plank now and if be keeps on the man on deck will be compelled to encase his stomach in monitor turret and other armor, or suffer the consequences.
 The catcher has been for three weeks past engaged in breaking up pig iron at the Newburg rolling mills, and to still further toughen his hands he allowed two big twen- ty-ton trip-hammers to drop on them two hours each day they are now about the size of windmill. and if ball gets by him it will be by trayersing the atmosphere of an adjoining county. The reader can gam ble on this. t
 The first baseman is trying the diet sys- tenn to steady his nerves, and can let gov ernment mule kick him with both feet all day in the abdomen without winking. He will never move his foot from sand bag unless in the line of his duty, and runner for the first base may light on him like a night-hawk on June bug, without mak- ing him swerYe hair.
 The second baseman has developed him. self more especially for miscellaneous and active service. He can stand on his head, catch ball with his feet, reverse his posi- tion aud knock a grasshopper off from mullen stalk at eight rods, nine times out of ten. There will be no use in runner trying ts dodge him, for he has globe sights on his nose, and can plump a man in the hull or rigging just as he chooses.
 The short stop is probably the best man for his position that can be found this side of the Snez Canal. He is short himself, and has lived on pie crust all winter, can turn thirteen somersaults without splitting on his hands, and can catch ball with equalAfacility in either hand or his teeth.
 The third baseman has been making sour kraut and riding velocipede all winter to develop the muscles of his lower limbs, which are immense, and give him the ap- pearance of being troubled with elephant iasis. But don't fool yourself; he can run down giraffe in three minutes, and can bat ball so far that his opponents never think of chasing it the same day they are hit, but proceed with new ball.
 The three fielders have been frisking about in the country all winter, and drink ing angle-worm oil to give supleness to their limbs. They go on all fours faster than many professionals can run, and are SO Timber that circus men die off like sheep after seeing them performionce.
 In fact we may we'll be proud of our club for the present year, and if there is any or ganization in the country that thinks it can compete with them, let it draw on us at six months sight through the United States Treasury Department Cor sooner if he can get a sight of us), stating how many dollars worth ot confidence they feel in their fa- vorite club.
 The scorer has been selected as the cham pion whittier of the state. He has pur- chased bran-new jack-knife, two thou sand shingles, and will keep his notches on the double entry plan, .. C., one entry for the other side and two cuts for his own.