Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-02-09
SPORTING TOPICS.
But One Month Left for the En-.
joyment Of Winter
~. Pastimes.
Doings In the World of Base. bali
Pfefer Signs a Chicago
Contract.
[oHIcAao coRRFsPoNDRNCr.l !


ice-skating, tobogganing, sleighing, curl
Ing, etc., can be enjoyed by the youtl
! OF the Northwest. March will this year
as In seasons past, probably usher in tn,
winds and siush Of the spring break up
With the breakup will come preparation
Tor all Of those outdoor sports in whicl
our American youths are becoming tn
most expert of any nation on the globe
Football, cricket, paper chases, bicycling
'cross-country runs, and the great alto
game Of the Americans-base-b -ball-wil
occupy the attention of every man from
Maine to California who is lover Of ath.
letic contests.
AS the season approaches, there il
noticeable increase of activity
In all OF the great cities which boast pro-
fessional ball team. Players who have moi
signed contracts for the season of 1883 are
anxiously looking out for the best terms
they can make, while managers are equally
anxious 70 perfect their organizations to
tne end OF entering in the championship
races the very best aggregations their per-
sonal efforts and money can secure. One
thing may be depended upon by the public.
and that ID that the National League, at
least, Will possess some Of the greatest ball
teams this year that have ever trod the base
runs In the history of the game. They will
not only possess the best talent the coun-
try affords, but et least fivo OF them WIN be
30 evenly matched that the race will in all
probability be one Of the tightest upon
record until the last scheduled games de-
eide the right Of title to the championship.
Ihe summary OF news and gossip from the
dlferent league cities is about as follows:
AT NEW YORK.
The players are not signing especially
fast at present, but nearly all the Giants
Will have signed contracts before four more
weeks come around. The ink on Cores
contract has been dry for some time and
that on Titcomb's contract dried last Tues
day. Titcomb talked three minutes and
PRESIDENT Day six and half, and, as every
thing was lovely, the player was secured.
His salary will be-entirely satisfactory to
himself, and consequently the figures con.
Germ nobody else. Occasionally one of the
older players who have not yet signed will
pop up in the city, hold confab with
John b. Day, ask for q mortgage on the
bridge, q slice Of Coney Island, the city
below Canal street, and then get mad and
yet. One or two players have insinuated
that their services would be better appre-
ciated in some less populous town than
New York, but the less fiourishing cities
will not appreciate these players except 90
visitors.
AT CHICAGO.
The biggest event that has occurred dur
ing tho week in Chicago has been the sign
ing OF Chicago contract by Fred Pfeffer.
the clubs crack second baseman. Freddy
held out . long while, but finally came to
a. H.
Chicago infield will now be the same as il
was last season, with old Anse at first,
Pfeffer at second, Williamson at short,
and Tommy Burns at third. Clarkson has
not yet signed contract, and persists in
saying that he will not do so. The club
can probably get along without the Saginaw
twirler's services, however, IL it is COM
PEELED to do so. Speaking Of the proba-
bility Of Clarkson's holding out in his re-
fusal to sign with Chicago this year, O
lover Of the game in the Windy City
the other day remarked: IL am in
clined to think, as the season aP-
heart out this way If John were to sign
contract with Boston tomorrow. Whyf
Well, for the past month or two the eyes
OF our local lovers of the game have been
turned toward George Van Haltren, as
result of the very creditable work he has
been doing on the Pacific Slope, and the
manner in which he has started In out
there to prove his style and effectiveness
in the box. Mark my words. IL Clark
son does not play here next season, Van
Haltren will be the star pitcher, not only
of the Chicago Club but OF the country"
AT WASHINGTON.
By degrees the League staff OF um-
pires is being organized. The latest addi-
ton is Charles +. Daniels, whose contract
was promulgated this week by President
Young. During the coming season the
League proposes to supply its umpires
with regulation uniform, which 10 to con-
sist Of light gray flannel suit with cap to
match. Last season Doescher was the only
member of the League staff who umpired
every game in uniform, and his neat and
comfortable appearance was always favor
ably commented upon.
It is rumored that the Washington man
agement is negotiating for third baseman,
and that big Jim Davis, OF last seasons
Baltimores, is the player they are after.
Among base ball authorities here and else
where Davis IL not regarded as rich find.
His work in Baltimore last year was so
unsatisfactory that not one word OF regret
comes from the Monumental City ut the
proposition to release him. He has made
oyertures to several clubs, but none OF the
latter seem disposed to make grand rush
for him. Davis is fair hitter, but he
cannot in any other sense be regarded az
the superior Of Donnelly, who played third
base for the Senators last season,
AT PITTsBURG.
sWe are through looking for new talent,
FOR we think that we have now got team
together that will be q credit to Pittsburg
this season." This is the announcement
made by the Pittsburg Club directory.
After long fight for players, beginning
with the fruitless chase in the Northwest,
President Nimick thinks IL about time to
quit. He has left the scene Of action In
the hands of lieutenants and gone West.
Maybe this Western trip is like the one
last spring, when he captured the great
Van Haltren. He says "no, but It may be
a denial for "business purposes"
HERE AND THERE.
Look out for breeze in the Detroit wig
wan. President Smith says: Certainly,
Watkins will be retained as manager. and
he will attend 10 the signing Of the rest OF
the players, too" That means some Of the
men who kicked the hardest must knuckle
down or make break.
Tim Keefe, New York's great pitcher,
has great deal of sense, and he has
shown this 10 be fact by refusing TO 20
into the boz when asked to during the New
York's sojourn on the Paci6S coast. Tim
is desirous Of arriving In GCtham In ship
shape, and he is right.