Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-06
THE SPORTING WORLD.
Opening Of the League Base Ball
Season of 1885,
CHICAGO. April 26, 1885,

!
] championship season of 1856, and
never before in the history of this
great organization were the prospects
so bright as at the present time For
four weeks past the managers of the
different clubs have been working zeal
ously to get their men into the best
possible condition for the coming strng-
gle. and ere this letter shall have
appeared in the columns of the REPoR-
TER the first crack Of the bat in the
great race for the pennant of 1886 will
have been heard in the opening games
at Kansas City, ST. Louis. Washing
ton and New York On Thursday,
April 20, at $3.50 P NJ, Capt. Arson
will have marshaled the White Stock
ings upon the diamond at Kansas City
to face the Cowboy League team
there under the captaincy of Dave
Rowe. The Chicago's were strong
enough last year to win the champion
ship race in one of the most remarkable
struggles on record, but this year it
will prove even stronger, the infusion
Of young blood and young muscle into
its ranks promising a dash and bril-
liancy in its fielding work and general
execution that was not there last season
to such an increasabIe extent as it will
be this. Flynn and MOBILE have won
their way straight to the heart-pro-
fessionally speaking--of their captain,
and as Arson himself predicts, they
promise to become the greatest young
battery In the League before the season
is over. Jamey Ryan our brilliant
young fielder, has within the last two
weeks developed into left-handed
pitcher, and Arson thinks he will make
his mark in the box as we'll as in the
field. The older members of the team
play exceptionally we'll, and altogether
the prospects for great showing by
the present League champions are ex-
cellent. The games for the first and
second weeks Of the championship
season will be as follows: <
First week, April 20, 80, and May
l-Detroit at St. Louis; Chicago at
Kansas City; Philadelphia at Wash
ington; Boston at New York.
Second week, May 3, 4, detroit
at Kansas City; Chicago at st. Louis;
New York at Philadelphia; Boston at
Washington.
May E, 7, 8,-Detroit at Chicago;
Kansas City at St. Louis; Boston at
Philadelphia; Washington at New
York.
Speculation as to how the great race
will end, is only speculation, and
although prophets have arisen in every
base ball center Of the country to tell
which team will be first, and which
last at the finish, their guesses differ so
materially as to show their purely
speculative nature upon their faces.
It is a noticeable fact, however, that
the majority conceded the race to lie
between Chicago and New York for
first place, and unless there should be
woful letting down in the battery
strength and effectiveness of the New
York team, [ cannot see but that good
judgement is expressed in this opinion.
Philadelphia seems TO be a prime favor
tie for third place this year, but have
ali idea that Boston is going to show
up particularly strong, and on the
whole [ would class the old Red Stock
ings above Harry Wright's team in
general playing strength and battery
ability. Detroit is conundrum. If
each man shonld play up to his record
the team will knock the calculations of
many prophets silly, but it is hardly
likely for many reasons that they will
do so. st. Louis is stronger, much
stronger this year than last, but while
it is beyond doubt wonderfully effective
in the field, it's batting strength is still
long way from the standard
For first place-A dead heat be-
tween Chicago and New York, or very
close to it with chances in favor of the
White Stockings.
For third place-Boston.
For fourth Philadelphia.
For fifth place-Detroit.
For sixth place-KanSas City,
For seventh place-St Louis.
For eight place-Washington.
Put this in your pocket, reader, and
see how nearly I have hit or else, call
the turn yourself and see which of US
win.
The above guess has been filed with
A. 6. Spalding Bros, of this city,
with the hope that it will win the
premium Of 500 offered by that firm
to the individual who correctly places
before June 1st, the relative standing
of the eight League clubs at the close
Of the championship season of 1886.
NOTES OF THE TRACK.
Green Morris is said to have clip
per in his 2-year-old, sister to Bersan.
Jim Gray moved mile and a
quarter at Memphis last week in
2.2444.
Ed, Corrigan has ordered a thirty
! stall stable at Memnhis for wintarinos