St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-10
SMILING BILLY IN BOSTON.
An Old ST. Paul Man Who Saw
SoWders in His First Game.

An Old ST. Paul Man Who Saw
Sowders in His First Game.
Special Correspondence of the Globe.
Boston, Mass, April esterday
the announcement was officially made
that John Clarkson. the old Saginaw
pitcher of the Northwestern league,
had signed Boston contract and was
now full-1edged "Bean Eater" Ten
thousand dollars was the price paid Chi
cago for his release. This makes two
players in the Boston club who have
cost the great triumvirate that amount
of money-ClarkSon and the ''only"
Kelly. The two are to be paired, and
will be advertised as the only $4,000
battery in the world" To-day-Fast
day-they made their first public APP
pearance. This was the first game of
the season. Notwithstanding rain be-
gan falling shortly after the first game
was called upwards of 5000 people were
upon the grounds. They stood the rain
and cold until nine innings had been
played-siX in the first game and three
in the second. The two mines were
made up of fourteen of the sixteen men
the Boston club has under contract,
three from the New England league
and one well-known amateur. The star
battery made its appearance in the first
game. Opposing them were SoWderS
and Tate. The ball was too slippery
and the grounds in too bad condition, to
say nothing of the weather. TO warrant
any one eXerting himself. The crowd
however, wanted to see the clubs new
men, and
THEY WERE SATISFIED.
with the showing made. Eight hits for
a total of eleven bases were made off
SoWders, and six hits for total Of nine
bases off CIarkson. SowderS' actions
satisfied every one. both when pitching
and when at the bat. He caught the
ball square in the nose" when the
bases were full, in the third inning.
The crowd yelled and the ball went sail
ing away into right center. 1t reminded
me of one of Billy's old-time two
baggers. When the ball landed, how
ever, "Dickey" Johnson was under it,
and the side was out. 1t was phenOm-
email catch, and the crowd took up again
the cheer it had given SowderS when
his bat first met the ball. saw SowderS
when he returned with ClarkSon and
Kelly to the dressing room, after the
first game was over. Billy looked
-splendidlv, and is as confident of hold
ing his own in this league as he was in
the Northwestern league last year. He
said:
my arm is inigreat shape, and never
felt better in my life. / did not exert
myself much to-day. because of the
rain, but when | did let myself out l
found | had considerable more speed
than had last year. l am certain, pro-
Vided | am not given more than two
games a week, that will hold my own
and be with the Boston club when the
season closes. My treatment here
could not be better. Every one is kind
to me, particularly Manager Morrill,.
Morrill, is watching me all the time, and
is constantly giving me advice. Ever
since have been here, have been un
der his especial charge. The result is |
have gotten off, without feeling the loss,
about ten pounds of flesh, and now will
tip the scales at about 40 pounds. Oh,
yes! L like Boston very much, but ut the
same | miss St. Paul. Boston is most
too large"
During the game to-day Mrs. Sowders,
together with Mrs. Kelly, was one of the
very few occupants Of the clubs new
5000 grand stand. The stand is not
much more than half finished, and it's
question whether it will be ready for the
opening league game-May 25. Mrs.
SOwderS looked Just as she did when
she sat in the St. Paul grand stand last
year. She is as proud OF Billy as any
young wife could be of her husband.
Much to Billy'o regret, she returns in a
day or two to her home in Indianapolis.
While l was talking to Sowders, Nc
Keever, who played with Minneapolis
and Eau Claire last season, came up.
Mae has not signed anywhere, and what
is more, does not think lie will this sea-
son. The trouble is lame shoulder,
contracted from cold received last year
in Minneapolis.
WHAT OF RADBOURN?"
is a question on every ones lips; but to
it no satisfactory answer can be re-
ceived. RAD is still in Bloomington,
and writes that he will remain there
until Messrs. Soden, Billings andConant
come after him. Many have been under
the impression that if Clarkson came to
Boston, Radbourn would take his place
on the Chicago team, but the powers
that be say, mo, stree; RAD will play
in Boston this season or nowhere"
What an array of pitching talent the
club has, anyway. Clarkson. Sowders,
Madden, Conway, and very likely Rad
bourn. Assuredly they should land the
'Bean Eaters" away up near the top.
1t is said the inlield will be Morrill,,