National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-01
CURRENT BASE BALL GOSSIP.

This Weeks Conventions in New York
and Louisville-Games Arranged for
April - Mike Illness Contract Re-
ceived - Improvements ut the New
Grounds.
This will be a week OF decided interest to
the admirers Of the national game. The
American Association convenes at Louis
vile to-day, and will possibly remain in
session for several days. The schedule will
be announced, changes In scoring and play
ing rules discussed, and the famous Barkley
and Burch cases settled. The League will
meet in New York Wednesday and arrange
their schedule and settle number OF mat
tiers, In some of which our club is deeply
concerned, particularly the proposition to
establish the guarantee system and allow
each club TO regulate its own rates of adj
mission. Before Saturday the schedules of
both the great associations will be public
property, and local enthusiasts will know
to their great satisfaction the dates set for
games here and the order in which clubs
will come.
Manager Scanlon has arranged for busy
April campaign, and number Of engage
ments for games to be played prior to the
opening Of the League season have been
last year, will be played with the Brown
University nine, of Providence, r. /.
Their dates are March 80 and 81. On April
liz, and the noted Metropolltans will be
here. April and 6 the home team will
play in Baltimore, and on the eth and Sth
return games with Barnie's team will be
played here. Bancroft's Rochester team
will show what they can do April IL and 13,
while three interesting contests with the
strong Newark club will take place April
10, 20, and 81. The Yale College team will
be here April "a and 20. The League sea-
son will be formally opened here April 30,
on which occasion the home team Will have
the Bostons as their opponents. The
American season opens April II, and as
soon ne their schedule is announced, and
the order In which their clubs will visit
Baltimore becomes known, Mr.. Scanlon
expects to fill the open April dates with
games between our club and the strongest
of the American clubs.
The contract sent to Mike Hines has been
received with his signature duly attached
thereto, and 1t is quite likely that most, II
not all, Of The other men expected TO play
with our team viii be signed directly after
the adjournment of the meeting In New
York. Shaw wants fancy figures, and it. is
said that Gllligan and Carroll also ask more
than the limit. A pitcher Of Shaw's I'M
doubted skill has some excuse for standing
| out for the best figures attainable, but as
much can't be said for Gilligan and Carroll.
The former is handwriting and plucky
catcher but only moderate batter, aud the
$4,000 limit is as much II not more than he
is worth. AS for Carroll If he Is, as reported,
demanding more than the limit, 1t simply
serves to show the absurd estimates players
frequently form as to the value OF their
services. just why Carroll concludes he is
worth more than $1,000 here, when he was
never paid anything near that amount in
Providence, does not appear. However, the
boys will all be glad enough to sign pres
emily. They have to play here or remain
idle, and even Shaw will conclude that
$1,000 is not so bad after all.
The work Of constructing the grand stand
and club house will be commenced to-day
The grand stand will face south and be 25C
feet lsng. The free seats will run from the
grand stand along the right field fence fol
about 300 feet. The entrance to the grounds
for pedestrians and carriages will be neal
the northwest corner. The club house is Il
be Of brick, two stories in height. The lowe
story will have ticket-seller's room ii
front and bathing room In the rear for til,
boys. Up stairs will be room with lockers
for each player in which to store away uni
forms, &C., and a private room for the di
rectors. The cost of placing the grounds
in order will be fully $1,000.