New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-30
BASEBALL LOOKING UP.
PROSPECTS FOR THE COMING SEASON.
SIGNING OLD PLAYERS AND BARGAINING f0H
NEW ONES-INTEREsT IN THE GAME
SPREADING.

With the birth Of the ufe baseball interes"
which been rather dormant Of late VIII revive con-
siderably The who nave 40 ar been unao'e "
sign their players Will make renewed EFFORTS TO come to
terms with their men Many Of the minor leagues arc
unsettled condition at present and much nara
work be done. The New-York players are a.
usual slow about signing contracts but appear even Hofo
deliberate than this year Not half OF 'he men
under reservation have been signed as yet In bfooy
most OF the players already signed ana no trouble
IS anticipated in signing few yet TO be secured
20 complete. In Jersey Oi'y inc players
are slow about signing, but the denoerauoh Is o
the fault OF the management than OF ne players Inc
many local ANA at this early da'e ar
ranging their teams for next season. The amateur battles
in this neighborhood premise to furnsh more
exciting games than among such CLUBS io
several years There will also be larger numoer o'
semi professo clubs in the field than ever De'ore'
The various college clubs showing lively in
terest in coming and some great battles
To result In the intercollegiate Association especially
tho candidates positions the Mines even az ns oA
are hard work As In past seasons the hght ior inc
trophy will in all probability DC oet"ee III"
teIms OF Yale Harvard and Princeton The tFienuS u
the crimson greatly pleased with the outlook 81 prs
at and say their college nine win make grana hghC
,or the pennant The receat decision 81 the Harvard
faculty in allowing the players 70 De coached by ana ~
play professionals has c@ds- this fcehg OF CUM
dence Clarkson the Boston pitcher. VIII coach he
Harvard students Clarkson coached the team last year,
hut the work had TO be secretly Clarkson speaks
highly Of Bates will pitch for Harvard next season
He says has great speed and excellent conro OF inc
ball and with httle practice Will De one OF the
greatest pitchers in the country The Harvard men Will
miss Campbell Knoton and also Quackenboss In case the
latter decides not 10 play Campbells shoes
especially will be hard TO I'LL There now seems 10 DC
some doubt whether Sagg will pitch for Yale next season.
since he Will not have Damn his old backstop to eaten
him without this great battery Yale Will not De 80
formidable on the green diamond field next season. Inc
Princeton hard work but evidently prefer
keeping their arrangements secret for the present Inc
orange and black however is sure TO have strong Team
In the field.
A gang Of men have already been put work at
washington Park Brooklyn. Several needed improve
ents are being the fences and stands and new
roof is being put the grand stand The neo Is also
being MANFRED aud .eveed. A there viii be no tooog
gaming at tho grounds this winter the diamond VIII Do
In better for spring games than 1t was this year
It Is now highly probable that several faces familiar
in the team In past seasons will be missed peoples
whose sefapprecation so enormously, has ALREADY
been disposed Of IT also be suthorativey an
nouneed that Orr, the first oaseman' ana Mays ,ne
pitcher will in all probability, not play longer with the
team President Byrne has given the right to the
Columbus club negotiate with both OF these men, In
case the Ohoans and the Metropolitan players can come
10 some understanding about salary they will both 90 to
Columbus It will nearly break orr's heart to leave
BROOKLYN This will leave OBrlen as the only old
Indan7 on Brooklyn club and the only remnant for
what the owners OF the Brooklyn club paid 500 two
years ago. wiman got the $4,000 and at the
same time got rid OF ungainy white elephant
Last March three young holding responsible posi-
tons in a wholesale downtown made queer bet
In letter TO the writer Just received they ask Tor
decision on their wager Last spring each man paceu
the names Of clubs in the American Association on
slip paper in the order In which he thought they wouo
finish the season. The slips and three $40 bills were
then put in an envelope and securely sealed 1t was not
to be opened until Christmas. when the man who had
made the test guess would the prize OF $50 Follow
ing IS the selection Of each