The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-07
BASEBALL INTELLIGENCE.
Unpleasant Termn alton of the Game with
the Port Hurons-OutIook for Next
Season.

Baseball matters are still in fermenJ The
directors OF the Indianapolis club met last night
ana determined upon the men they want to re-
tain for next season, and agreed upon the salar-
lies to be offered. 1t would be giving away a
state secret to divulge the names of the men
who will be asked to remain, and as yet only two
OF them have signed. About the most important
action taken yesterday was the signing for next
season of Jack Thompson, the catcher for the
Port Hurous, the contract being signed
last night. Thompson is first.class
catcher and A 1 fielder, and leads the
batting for the Port Huron club this year
Everything considered, the Indianapolis club is
lucky to have secured his services, statement
with which all will agree who have witnessed
his work here during the past few days 1t is
safe to say that Callahan will be here next year,
and Dorgan, keenan,, Peltz and Kerins will be
given the opportunity to refuse, at least. 1t Is,
OF course, understood that O'Leary is to re-
main.
IL was unfortunate that the Port Hnrons re-
NAMED over to play yesterday, at least so far
tne result or the game Is concerned, the signing
OF Uhelr best player for next season cOmpensat-
ing In some degree for the unpleasant termlua-
ton of the game. When the time arrived for the
beginning of the sport no one present could
| be agreed upon by the visitors to UNI
pre- the game and accordingly Watkins
thelr own manager and third p2seman (who
|
fill that position. 1t was evident before the
game had proceeded beyond the first inning that
Mf watkins was either woefully inefficient as an
umplre or was purp0Sely showing his own
cluD the greatest partality, the crowd openly
hooung at one or two of his decisions. His first
rank ruling was to declare Donnelly out at
second when he was clearly entitled to the base,
ana his Judgment on balls and strikes vas very
| bad calling Downing, of the home nine, out
on three strikes on ball scooped OFF the ground,
and sending one of the Port Huron players to
MS base on seven balls every one of which was
petter imam DowniDg's third strike. In the first
haIf or the fifth inning he gave Collins his life
at nrSt when he was ont by
at least five feet, two men having
previously been retired and after this three runs
were scored, giving the visitors lead of two
runs. O'LearY then refused to play the game
ont unless another umpire was substituted,
take the position This prOpOs ton refus ed by
watkins, who called the game III favor of the
visitors, to 0. There was considerable dissat-
lsfacton at OLeary' IS action on the part OF many
IN the audience, but while it may be probable
that the game should have been continued he
undoubtedly acted in accordance with his ideas
ofjustice and right.
To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
please inform me through your paper whether
a bah hit into the air, which falls inside the
diamond and bounds or rolls out, is fair or foul,
by the League rules"
A bail knocked into the air, which strikes in
side the diamond, is fair, no matter how it rolls
after striking the ground. A ground ball, how
ever, which rolls outside the foul line is a foul
ball, unless it again rolls inside the line between
the home plate and first or third base. sss2a