The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-29
STILL SKIRMISHING
LOCAL BASEBALL hackers TRYING
40 IMPROVE THE SITUATION.
Manager Jimmy Wood Goes to Texas,
but Returns in Disgust--Atlanta and
Augusta. Ca, Struggling to Come to
Time-The Memphis Team.

Time-The Memphis Team.
The sporting astronomer OF THE APPEAL
in company with President Rozier nnC
Manager Wood, viewed the baseball heav
ems last night, and discovered two new
planets shining dimly but with every
promise Of growing brighter as sprin.
opens, and with tho four brilliant stars
forms the cons jella'ion OF the Southern
league.
1t has been an admitted fact Tor som,
time that there would be league in tn,
south, but whether that should be {
four, six or eight-club league was ques
ton not easily answered. Ever since tho
Chattanooga meeting, week ago, i
seemed that tho Southern league of 1888,
would be composed OF but four clubs, a,
Atlanta had failed to come to time witt
its guarantee, and Nashville didn't wan
club, and ii was TO these two cities thai
the directory looked for support. Las
Friday President Rozier and Director
| Goyer, OF the Memphis club, returned
from New Orleans, where they went with
Manager Woods, Toby Hart and other,
famous in the baseball arena of the south
to try 10 SIX things up" "It
won't pay" said Mr.. Rozier, on his re
turn, 10 THE APPEAL man, ito have but
four clubs. Look alone at the fact that
we must have long lay-oils, and the
salaries must be paid, and it is Q
dead loss. Then again, the long
jump to Charleston, far away from
every club, and II would not only
save money TO have town between Mem.
phis and Charleston TO play ball in, but II
would shorten the jump for every club.
am in favor and there are more who think
just as do, of individually helping some
town TO come into the league, and DO.
lieve that 10y next week We shall have two
more clubs in"
The result OF this meeting ut New Or.
leans was that Manager Woods, Of the
Memphis team, was instructed 10 proceed
Mt once to Texas and attend the meeting
OF the Texas State league, IN session al
San Antonio Saturday, and try and secure
the four strongest clubs composing that
league 10 unite with Memphis, New Or.
leans, Charleston and Birmingham and
form the Southern league. Manager Wood
made tho trip, attended the meeting and
returned TO Memphis Yesterday. Soon
after his arrival ho was interviewed. and
this is substantially what he said:
81 went down 10 San Antonio and found
that the clubs down there were composed
Of such poor material that they could In
no way compete with our teams. Their
players are mostly amateurs, or WORKOUT
players who never had much OF reputa.
| lnr f.luk hall AL
drawn thither by advertisements in the
State press. 80 left In disgust and came
back on the next train 10 New Orleans,
there 10 find that Atlanta had taken steps
toward organizing a club and had tele-
graphed 10 Toby Hart 10 secure them n
manager and help secure n club Of good
players that could compete with the teams
now organized and in the field. Augusta
will have club without doubt. There
Is going 10 be big exposition there. A
meeting OF the directors was held Saturday
and active measures were taken 10 put d
nine in the field. The exposition manage
ment has taken considerable Of the stock
and will boost the scheme. telegram
from Toby Hart today gives me still greater
assurances that Atlanta will come In, and
that town with Augusta makes n six club
league"
During the past week two new player.
were signed, making sixteen in all now on
the salary list OF the Memphis team. "a
follows Ewing, Kirby, sladc. Smith,
Nichols and George McKcough, pitchers,
Vaughn, Crotiy and ID. McKeough, catch.
ems; Andrews, first base; Phelhn, second
base; Rcecius, third base; McAlccr, left,
Peltx, center Force, short, and Give,
right and field captain.
Kirby pitched Tor the 81. Louis MaroonS
until Lucas disbanded them, and since
that time has been in steady practice,
though not signed with any club, and will
twirl great ball, Il Is believed.
slade IL dark horse" from fernando,
Miss, and is intended as phenomenon"
by Manager Woods. lie Is over six feet
high, strong m an OK, aud In more ways
than one resembles his namcsako Of prize.
ring lame"
Nichols comes 10 Memphis backed by
strong recommendations from Manager
Goldsby and with a reputation Of being
one Of the most successful twirlers in the
Western league OF 81.
The Others are too wer' known 10 war.
rant comment here. having played in this
city and with the local team in years past.
All Of them are good players, from
Andrews down 10 Ewing, who puzzled tho
home club quite often last year with bis
splendid curves.
The schedule will not he arranged for
several days yet, but exhibition games will
he played during the ne Il month, perhaps.
On April the ST. Louis Browns will play
here, and the day following the Detroiis,
the champions Of the world, will give tho
boys a lesson or two In the great game.
Dates are now being arranged for games IN
Memphis with the Chicagos, New Yorks,
washingions aud several OF the association
teams.
In making up tho schedule, the effort
will bc made 10 arrange NO that there will
be no baseball during race week.
Tho grounds arc being sown In Bermuda
grass seed, and evenly graded. The grand
stand will be rcmodelcd and enlarged, and
tho bleaching boards will be torn down
from the south fence and rebuilt on a
larger scale along the fence back Of first
base. and away from the ladies' stand
Just M II should be. Plank walks and q
broad platform will be erected reaching
from the fence 10 the street car track ior
the convenience Of the ladies'. Manager
Wood gives tho assurance that no expense
will be spared 10 mako the grounds tho
very best possible, and the equal Of any
baseball park In the entire south. lie