The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-07-18
THE NATIONAL GAME.
Spalding's Australian Trip-Plans De.
cided Upon and Preparations
Being Effected.
Twenty Thousand People Witness the
Fourth Of July Games in Chicago
Diamond Gossip.
[cn1cAao OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Captain Anson's team still leads the National
League teams In the pennant race and despite
the predictions of it's rivals that il could not
long continue the pace il had set, is playing
better ball just at present than IL has played
since the season opened. The work Of its infeld
as awhole is unequalled by that OF any other
team in the country. while no possible combina-
ton OF adverse circumstances seems TO render
ineffective the work of the young outfeld which
Arson has so thoroughly drilled and developed
into one Of the most formidable in the league.
Chicago has likely team" said Jim Mutrie
the manager of the New York Giants, at the out
set Of the season, but IL is Numerically, IL not
fatally, weak in pitchers, and yet Mutrie would
probably be willing 70 pay good round price
to-day for krock, Baldwin, Van Haltren, Bor-
valuable man TO Chicago. Considering the linn
tied experience he has enjoyed with Chicago
markably strong while Krock, If he continues
TO improve he has done during the past six
weeks, will be ranked among the eminent pitch
ers Of the league by the close of the present
Borchers has not shown up quite as strong as
the general public expected. seemingly I'M
conquerable nervousness, however, is his chief
shortening, and if he can overcome this he viii
probably show himself possessed Of all the re-
quirements of n competent man in the box.
AS TO Baldwin and Van Hatren, they are n
pair that would strengthen greatly any team
which they might cast their fortunes with. II
Is unfortunate that Baldwin should have been
uls0Dleu Just as lie YVES beginning 10 snow suCn
marked improvement in his work, but he has
joined the team in Chicago, and viii doubtless
be in shape 10 resume practice before another
week has passed.
Van uaitren is the same quiet unobtrusive
player that he has always been since the time
he Joined the Chicago team. He is a hard worker
and conscientious player. and great leit-handed
pitcher.
Detroit is playing strong game but has been
in hard luck OF late. She is but few points be-
hind Chicago, and the struggle between the two
DenQlnt interesting
one.
The return to Chicago OF Mr. Leigh Lynch, the
eftcient agent engaged 10 visit Australia in the
interest of the baseball tour through that coun-
try which Mr.. A. q. Spalding Will undertake this
next winter, has enabled that gentleman TO make
his arrangements at once, and 10 lay out his
programme as far as naming the date for start
ing, etc, is concerned. The details, fixed up,
include the departure Of the tourist party
from Chicago on October % by special train
for San Francisco, the visiting teams playing
exhibition games at the principal cities en-
route 70 San Francisco up 10 November 10, on
which date they take their departure on the
steamship Almeda They will stop FOR c couple II
days at Honolulu, where they will play an exhibit
tion game before the King OF the Sandwich Islands
and his court officials. From Honolulu the tourists
viii proceed TO Tutuila, in the Samoan Islands
where lhey propose 10 show the natives and
European residents the attractions Of the ma
ton game. They then 60 TO Auckland, New
zealand, where an exhibition will be given and
nom there they proceed 10 Sidney, New South
Wales, where the Australian campaign OF the
American ball-players will really begin. The
schedule Of games calls for series of exhibition
contests to take place at Melbourne Adelaide
Ballarat, Sandhurst, Hobart Town, Launceetnn
Orange, Wagawaga Ceiling Bathurst, Brs-
bane Newcastle, and other towns. The party
propose returning home on Feb. %, when they
will leave Melbourne on the steamer Mariposa
landing at Dunedin, New Zealand. They are ex-
pected 10 roach Chicago on April ], 1899 COM
plotting journey Of 80 goo miles the longest ever
known in the history OF baseball.
Team Records.
The batting and fielding records to date Of the
EIGHT League clubs are shown in the annexed
table: