Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1877-03-28
The National Game.

It is now about seventeen years
since base ball was first played to
any great extent in the United
States. When it WIS first intro
duced it was received by the sport
ing public with favor, and as years
have passed the interest taken in it
has not dimished-on the contrary
it has increased. In its infancy the
game was played for mare exercise
and amusement. and clubs were
organized in every town and city in
the States. But there sprang up a
rivalry, and each city wa. anxious
20 have the honor Of possessing the
champion club. To accomplish
this. good players ha to be secured
and to this end stock companies were
former. and men we're hired to play
ball. The most successful club
ever organized was the "Red Stock
ings". Of Cincinnati. Under the
the management Of that prince of
ball players, Harry Wright, this
club played one whole season with
all the leading clubs of the East,
and never sustained defeat; some
thing which has not. been accom-.
plished by any club since. We
notice by the eastern press that &C.
tive preparations are being made
in nearly all the principal cities to
secure good msteria. for their clubs,
and the coming season promises to
be q brilliant one. Boston, Brook.
Ign, Hartford. Chicago and st.
Louis have secured nearly all their
men.
A person not familiar with the
way professional clubs are conduct
ed, has no idea what it costs 10 run
them. A first-clnss catcher re.
ceives at least 81. 200 for a sesson,
q pitcher about the same, and the
other players from 800 to 81, 600
each; then there is the expenses of
Q club house and grounds, which 10
quite an item. OF course we of
Nevada cannot enjoy the luxury of
witnessing these crack clubs play.
and must be contented with anna.
teurs. But there is no reason why
we should not have good players.
There is plenty of material on the
Comstock to make first class clubs
and all that is needed is practice.
Sunday afternoon q club from
Gold Hill came down to Silver and
played the "Bonanzas," which re-
suited in a victory for the former by
score OF 26 to 10. 1t was quite an
interesting game and some good
playing was done. The catching
and pitching of the Gold Killers
we're particularly good when one
considers the size Of the play
ers. For an amateur, Archie
Fitzgerald of Gold Hill. is one Of
the best pitchers We have seen in
some time. He pitches Q very even
ball, and though it is not swift, yet
it is quite difficult to bat. 1t Is a
great mistake to imagine that o be q
good pitcher man must pitch
swift The finest pitchers probably
that were ever in ball field were
Braipsrd of the Cincinnati "Red
Stockings" and Mathews OF an
Indiana club. Both of these gen.
tlemen pitched a very slow ball.
We notice that Mr.. Billauey OF the
"Bonanzas" enaeavore,l to pitch
swift. and in doing so delivered a
very wild ball, which was extremely
hard on the catcher. We doubt II
Mr.. Billaney's style Of delivery
would be allowed in q game where
the rules are strictly adhered t..
1t is more of q jerk than q pitch.
But it would do the boys an in
justice to criticise their playing
as it was the first time the nine had
played together. If the club ex-
poets to play during the coming
season, it would be we'll to have it
recognized. There are some who
would not make good players if
they practised from now till 1900.
But a majority Of them need only q
little more practice together to
make very creditable players. We
notice that the captain of the
"Bonanzas" changed the position
of the men several times during the
progress of the game. This is Q
great mistake and should be avoid
ed. When these changes are made,
some bad playing may be expected.
Because q man makes one or two
poor plays it is no reason why he
should be moved TO another part of
the field.
We hope to see these clubs to-
gether again at no late day. With
little practice we have not tho
least doubt but that our club can
get away with anything in the State.