Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-13

What is Promised for the Coming Sea.
son.

THE WASHINGTON BALL CLUB AND ITS PROS
| PECTs-THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE MAN
/ AGERs-BICYCLING AND BOATING IN THE
| DISTRICT.
| The directors of the Washington Base Bail
| club have secured admission to the league
| have collected the strongest team possible and
| have leased splendid grounds, and are now
| awaiting the opening of the base ball season to
see if the public will appreciate their efforts to
| provide good ball playing in Washington by
| coming to see the best games that could posi-
| bly, be played here. They regret as much as
| the public that they cannot make the admis-
| sion fee twenty-five cents, but the situation is
| not bad it might be. Last year it cost
! seventy-fve cents to see three games, with the
chances that the majority would not be first
class contests. 1t will cost but twenty-five
| cents more this season to see three games, all
| of which are bound to be good ones.
The new grounds of the Washington club are
| being rapidly put in good condition. Rolling
was commenced Thursday, and it is expected
| that unless there is continued bad weather
everything will be in readiness for the opening
game with the Brown university team on the
| 31st. The seating capacity will be almost
| double that of the old grounds. The new grand
| than the old one-while the open air seats will
accommodate 5000 just twice as many as
could be seated last year.
The nine is still incomplete, as neither Shaw
| Giligan nor Carroll have come to time Very
little uneasiness is felt on this score, however,
| for these men cannot afford to be black Listed
and that will be the result if they are not here
April 1st, for they cannot make two thousand
| dollars year so easily at anything else. None
] OF them have ever received that much salary
| before, with the exception of Shaw, perhaps
but they are still holding Off for more money
should they remain firm aud prefer being
black-listed than to come down in their price
| the home club will be considerably weakened
but Will not have lost any money, as they are
| to pay for the men only when they get them.
R1S hal iS
principles. The people who engage to run a
professional club regard it as a business ven-
the expectation OF realizing handsomely in the
end. 1t is too much to expect immediate re-
turns, Tor 1T takes good sum of money to get a
team under way. The stockholders OF the
Washington club do not expect to make any
money this year. II they come out even at the
end OF the season they will be delighted, while
If they are not more than 5000 out they will
not be discouraged. The expenses this year
will be ten thousand dollars more than next
year, so that If the first season is weathered the
future of the club is assured.
Nothing definite has been heard from Ester
brook yet, who is wanted for short-stop, so that
Start is still kept on the string, and will proba-
bly, play first base, and captain the home team.
According to the New York Sun Joe Start says
that he does not want to leave Providence, and,
If he can secure his release from the league, he
Will remain In Providence and captain the new
Eastern League. If he can't get his release he
will retire from base ball for good. Manager
Scanlon says, however, that Start will play here
willingly although Providence is his first choice
Crane, the right-felder, has the biggest arm
of any man In the profession. and is extremely
right feds has paSed ba ever snee
he was big enough, but Is now not more than
% years old. He wants to play here, and would
have come last year could he have obtained his
release. He is one of the men who don't strike
for more money than they are worth. He would
rather play for his reputation than to be over
paid for a short while and then cast aside.
The eight clubs now comprising the Eastern
League are: Jersey City, Newark. Bridgeport,
Troy. Each of these. clubs has deposited its
$500 guarantee with the treasurer of the asso-
citation. Last year $3.50 was paid in by each of
but three-the Jersey Citys, Newarks and
Nationals-1inished the season and divided
$1,000 between them.
One can scarcely realize the growth of base
ball in this country of late years. Until about
five years ago the league was the only Organi-
ZatiOn of its Kind in the country, and then the
American association was formed. Now there
is in addition an Eastern, Western and
New England League, Gulf League, Hudson
River League, California League, u Northwest
ern League almost completed. There is also in
almost every state minor leagues and aSsoci;l-
tons, all with the prospects OF playing the sea-
son out.
Atkisson, the famous pitcher, has written a
very gentlemanly letter to Lew Simmons, of
the Athletics, promising to give up his business
in 81. Joe and report in Philadelphia next week
and play with the Athletics during the season.
The New York San says: The mines OF Kansas
City and Washington will not be able to stand
up before the other league teams with any
nope OF success Therefore, no III after how good
base ball town it may be, the interest In the
home club must, sooner or later, die out" The
Washingtons do not calculate to carry off the
ampiOnshp this year. Those who are run
ming the home club have shown some remark
able Judgment and skill in building up strong
cannot be repeated. The Nationals last year
belonged to neither of the big associations, but
they gave all the clubs from both all the ball
playing they cared tor.
The BOat Cluhs.
1t is too early in the spring to form any idea
of the work that will be done this year by our
local oatclubs. The boating men have not
yet shaken off the lethargy of winter and row.
ing will not be the rage until about the first of
May. Even the most enthusiastic members
have not yet begun to discuss the probable
events of the summer.
The Potomac river regatta is naturally the
most important. but as the joint regatta COM
mittee are just about settling up the accounts
OF last years regatta, the prospects are not very
brilliant 1t is hoped, however, that the
tional amateur regatta may be held here
in connection with the Potomac river
bosh will ana be assured the Tse Mstus
and Albany Rowing club of Albany are making
efforts to have the national regatta held at
Albany in connection with the bi-centennial
celebration. They will, in all probability be
successuiul, unless an attempt is made to hold
professional regatta in connection with the
national The next most available place is
Washington, but it is doubtful if a concerted
eHor1 is MADE 10 bring IL here. Rowing men
would rather come to Washington than any
place in the country. They have not forgotten
the handsome treatment they received here
several years ago. 1t is estimated that the ex-
pense OIL holding the national regatta would be
seven or eight hundred dollars to each OF the
local clubs, but it is doubtful if they would be
willing 10 shoulder the responsibility.
Bicycling.
bicycling is the one sport that holds its own
the year round. The streets of Washington are
rideable nearly eleven months of the year. and
riders keep in good trim SO that they require
but few pleasant spring days to start regular
country runs. The roads are in very fair con-
dition, and will improve. A few enthusiastic
road riders have been on long runs at intervals
during the winter. The run to ASH ton, twenty
miles, has become very popular with the Capt.
tai III: club, and Capt Olds has called a run for
That point tomorrow. Riders will start at
haIf-past D O'Clock in the morning.
The Capital City Gun Club.
At the annual meeting OF the Capital City
Gun club, Thursday evening, the following Off
GERS were elected for the year 1886: Edward L.
Mills, president; j. A. Goldsborough vice presi-
dent, j. L. Hosiord, secretary; c. Nice. Taylor.
treasurer. Measures were taken looking to the
animation OF the club with the National Associ-
alton for the Protection of Came Birds and
Fish, which holds its next annual session in
chicago, ILL.,, IN June next. Among the promi-
nent objects desired to he secured by this ass.-
clatlon are the harrnoniZing of the game laws
In the various states, the more rigid enforce
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