Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-05-10
THE GREEN DIAMOND.
The Bate for tho Base Bal Cham
pnshioip Of the United
States.
In the League Boston Makes Brill
liant Start-St. Louis Takes
Tumble.
[cn1cAoo CORRESPONDENCE !

Beautiful weather. higher temperature.
grand ball-playing, and enthusiastic crowds II
spectators have combined to make the opening
days Of the baseball season OF 1888 an auspi-
cious one. What a surprise Anson's colts have
given the baseball world since the champion
ship season opened what o wonderful tumble
the hard hitting League champions Of 1887
have taken within the past ten days; how Bos-
toms work has tickled and delighted the resi-
dents OF Sodenvillo; how sadly the Hooslers
ana Phillies are handicapped with disabled
mon at the outset Of the race and what stiff
and determined games Washington and Pitts.
burgh are playing, are the topics that are Just
now being enthusiastically discussed by the
lovers OF baseball everywhere.
New York has, beyond doubt telt the absence
Of Tim Keefe. it's great pitcher, and the that
on Saturday last he had finally bridged over his
differences with his club and signed New
York contract must indeed have been welcome
news TO the base ball lovers Of Gotham. Keefe
Is to New York what Clarkson is TO Boston,
what Van Haltren is to Chicago, and what
Baldwin and Getzein were last year TO Detroit;
and now that his strong arm will once moro
send the ball over the plate for tho Giants, they
may safely te expected TO make q better show
ing in the race than they have made during the
past fortnight.
praise for the good judgment Of Anson; the
quiet, determined manner In which his old
-wheel-horses" have settled down 70 business.
and the brilliant work OF his -oolts and year
reli has probably made ths most brilliant show
ing. His work from the very outset
has been Of character TO challenge ad-
miration everywhere, and II he con-
tinues as he has begun he will
fill Mike Kelly's shoes within a years time, 80
far as public regard and ball-playing ability 10
concerned. just as Kelly was, Farrell 10 q fine
| back.stop, an ubiquitous fielder, q clever
| trickster and base runner, q cool-headed and
sure thrower to bases, and batsman who hits
| the ball for a purpose and with effect No
young player ~ the country has o brighter
/ future before pfin to-day than has Farrell
And now Just a word about Cetroit. The
team that SWEET everything before 1t last year
seems absolutely worthless this yoar, 30 far as
| its record thus Tar has demonstrated. what
| is the troublep" is q question that 10 being
| asked with concern In every baseball center
| In the country, and with despair in Detroit.
| Well, It looks as though the team was demor-
| allied through and through. The listless
| Indifference that has characterized its
| work thus far shows this II has been asserted
| that the players are opposed 70 Manager Wat
kins. and havo entered into an agreement
among themselves TO do no earnest work so
long as the Directors retain him Ia his position,
II this IL SO, the sooner the Directors put Mr.
Manager Watkins upon the pension list the
better will IL be for themselves and the chances
OF the team In the race.
The record Of the League and Association
teams up TO Wednesday, May q is as follows !;
|