The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-04-25
" PLAY BALL."
The Battle for the Championship
Of 1888 Has Finally
Begun.
A Round Dozen Well-Organized Base.
Ball observation-disclosures
Chat.
[cHIcAeo ooRREspoNpENcE.l


March !, will end. and the real work of
the year will begin, as both the League
and Association will open the champion
ship campaign of 1888 under the most fav-
orable auspices. The Association will be
the first 10 start. 1t will enter upon its
seventh season well equipped and with
better equalized clubs than last year, and
there is every probability that the cham
pionsbip battle will be closely contested
and exciting. Nearly every club has added
new material 10 its ranks, with view to
strengthening, TO such an extent as TO
make anything like a fair estimate of the
probable outcome of the race impossible.
On Friday, April 20, the National
League, with lofty disregard of supersti-
tious notions, Wal follow suit and begin
what promises TO be a season of unex-
ampled prosperity. The great race of 1887
10 still fresh in the public mind, and all of
the many extensive changes since made in
the eight teams of the League, calculated
TO make the final outcome even more un-
certain than it was, have but served TO
whet public anticipation. Detroit is no
stronger than IL was last season, Phila-
delphia is just as well fixed now as then.
while oil the other clubs have added
strengthening material, with a view to
creating the closest and most exciting cam
paign ever witneeNed in the twelve years
of the Leagues existence.
Following the big leagues all the other
baseball bodies will fall into line except
the Texas Southern and California leagues,
whose regular championship season is al
ready under way. The New England
League starts April 81, and the Interna-
tional Association, Western Association
and Central League open April 2S. The
Central Interstate League begins its first
campaign May /. The Pennsylvania Cen
trail League has notyet arranged schedule,
and the Tri- State League has rejected its
schedule and empowered its President to
make a new one; but there is little doubt
that these two leagues will also start on or
about May /, by which date the champion
ship campaigns will be in progress all over
the country. In order to give or readers
Just bare idea Of the magnitude of base
ball for 1858, we append list of the
leagues and the cities included in the Cir
cult of each:
National League-Bos.on, Chicago Detroit
New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washing
ton Indianapolis
American Observation-Disclosures Philadel-
phial, Baltimore, Brooklyn, Cincinnati, Cleye
land Louisville, Kansas City, st. Louis.
International Association-Albany. Buffalo
Hamilton, London, Rochester, Syracuse. Troy,
Toronto.
Western Assoc iation-Chicago, Milwaukee
Des Moines. Omaha, Minneapolis, st. Paul, ST.
Louis Kansas City.
Southern League-New Orleans, Charleston,
Memphis, Birmingham
New England Lesgue-Lowell, Portland,
Worcester, Manchester Salem, Lynn.
Texas Lesgue-Dallas, Houston, san Antonio,
Galveston. Austin, Fort Worth.
California League-Pioneef, Haverly, Green
hood Moran, Stockton.
Iri-state League-Kalamazoo, Jackson. To-
Iedo, Columbus, Lima, sandusky, GAINESVILLE,
Wheeling, Mansfield, Canton.
Central Interstate League-Danville, Rock
ford, bloomington Charlottesville, Peoria, Dav-
export. Dubuque, Decatur.
Central League - Allentown, Binghamton,
Elmira, Jersey City, Newark, Easton, Scranton.
Wilkesbarre.
Shamokin, Shenandoah, Mahanoy, Ashland,
Mount Carmel.
This makes twelve WELL organized base
ball organizations, with the probability Of
Western League and Connecticut state
League.
There seems TO be trouble existing be-
tween John Ward, Tim Keefe, and Catcher
Brown, of the New York team, and the
club management. The three players
have demanded a big increase of salary
over that received by them last season, and
the club management are indisposed to
grant the demand. With similar events in
the past as precedent, however, it is safe
to say that all of these players will have
signed with New York ere many days have
passed.
When the Chicagos were in st. Louis
last week Captain Arson was interviewed
on the probable outcome of the forthcom-
ing League championship race. The ques-
ton put plumply at him was:
Who'll win the League pennant?"
why. ChicapO of course"
Without Carlson"
Certainly. Some people seem to think
Clarks on is the only winning pitcher, but
/ don't. He is a great pitcher, that goes
without saying, but there are plenty of
young and rising pitchers who Will fill his
shoes for Chicago. Well not get left,
assure you"
where do you think Detroit will land?"
"Oh. l guess about fourth. They will
come i'll alter Philadelphia and New York,
just before Soden's aggregation of ten
thousand-dollar players"
Arson Is not the only claim all. Wat
kins thinks his club will have q walk over;
Mutrie says the Giants will get there sure,
and Boston thinks Clarksons acquisition
assures the penaft beyond doubt. Mean
while Philadelphia, PittsburR, Indianapo-
lis and Washington are saying nothing ut
all, but getting their teams into condition
to destroy the chances of those who are SO
previous In claiming first place.
DIAMOND GOSSIP.
Jerry Denny, of the indianapolis Club,
has been fined 500 and suspended by
Manager Spence for drunkenness. He
has been drinking heavily ever since ar
irving from California.
Ii looks as If Getzein and Baldwin are
to bs Detroits mainstay this summer.
Beatin and Gruber have so far been un-
able to pitch at winning gait, even against
minor clubs.
Dalrymple. Of the Pittsburg Club, on
Tuesday, stretched the ligament in his
ankle by catching his foot in the base-bag
strap, and will be laid up for ten days at
least, and may be permanently crippled.
Arthur Whitney has asked the Pitts
burg Club for lis release, as he intends to
give up professional ball playing. Nimick
won't have it. He says if Whitney really
wants to get out Of harness he can do 90
without a release. Whitney will sign with
Pittsburg in due time.
Mike kelly's new book, "Play Ball, is
out. The famous player has succeeded in
compiling a most entertaining book, as he
describes in inimitable style his rich and
varied experiences on the diamond for the
last twelve years. The book is dedicated
IN fha American naople fha hall nj vara