Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-02-29
THE NATIONAL GAME.
The Detroit Club Worried Decsu,e Its
Players Are Not Signing
Contracts.
Bobby Oaruthers Nay Captain the Brook
lyn Team During the Coming
Season.
f~cHrcAao CORRESPONDENCE.

The first showers Of the spring Of 1888
reached Chicago during the past week, and
the icy letters of winter were fairly broken
by the. warm rains, followed by the still
warmer sunshine that descended upon our
~ice-goreed streets. The big toboggan slide
which towers above the ball park Of the
Chicago club still stands, however. for We
shall undoubtedly have more coasting be-
fore the ice and snow take their final de-
parture; but the ~faintest indications of
spring are sufficient with the average base
ball crank to set him talking. and while
there is az yet comparatively little actual
work being done by the players, there is an
endless 2nount Of gossip being INDUCED
in, as is always the case at this season OF
the year.
The indecision of the Detroit PLAYERS in
the matter of signing contracts for the
season OF 1883 is worrying the manage
ment OF that amous club not q little. 1t
is getting well along toward the time when
the players are supposed to start for the
sunny South, aud yet the backbone of the
team has not yet signed. Bennett, Bald
win, White, Brouthers, Richardson, Rowe
and Hanlon have not yet put their names
to Detroit contracts, and there is naturally
q slight feeling Of uneasiness In conse-
quence. SO far as Bennett is concerned,
he is In the W Western wilds, cane be found
and hasn't been heard from, and it is not
known what attitude he will take. In the
case OF Baldwin, be says he doesn't care
to sign early. Brouthers, Richardson,
Rowe, and Hanlon all say that the salaries
offered suit them; that they fully expect 10
play in Detroit, but they must insist on
having the full amount Of salary written in
the contract. Jim White does not hold off
on this account, but is believed to hang
back on account Of his dissemination TO
sign with Watkins. President Smith il
under the impression that the men will
hold Off until the meeting % March 5, in
hopes that the salary limit will be abol-
ished, and then sign in q body.
As 10 generally known, Chicago is the
home OF the famous young pitcher -Caru-
theirs. He is at present engaged in bust.
ness here with his brother, but will leave
for the headquarters of his club about
March Is to report for duty during the
coming season. Bob was seen by your
correspondent a day or two & in Spalding
Il Bro. g store. He is looking remarkably
we'll and fit to pitch ball for his life il
necessary.
How many games do you expect to pitch
for the Brooklyn Club this summer" he
was asked.
Il don't know yet" he replied. "for l
have no idea what they will want to do with
me. They may trust me to captain the
team"
"How weuld you work it--you could not
pitch every gamer"
"No, but l would have to play every
game just the same. I would probably
play right field when not in the box"
"Have you been asked to take the cap
taincy?"
Not formally; no. Mr.. Byrne and my
self talked it over informally when | last
saw him, but | told him l would prefer not
10 fill the position, as l did not wantto take
the chance of creating any ILL feeling in
the club. Besides, l do not think it does
a pitcher any good to play a championship
game every day"
What do you think of the outlook for q
good race in the Association this year2"
First class, SO far as Brooklyn and Gin
cinnati are concerned. l think the cham
pionship will lie between these two clubs.
Baltimore may worry us both a little. but I
do not apprehend much trouble from any
Of the rest of them. Cleveland, / suppose,
will loaf along at the tail end of the string,
with Kansas City for company"
3How about st. Louis this year,
"Why, the old town will not be in the
race. Mark what l tell you. Comiskey is
o good man to handle a team, of course,
but he has got to have the team to handle
seer"
President Spalding, of the Chicago club,
is in New Orleans at this writing. but sails
in q day or two for Cuba, where he will at
tend Q game or two and see how the Cubans
play ball. In a letter from the Crescent
City, just received. he says: weather in
New Orleans is all We could hope for. |
went out on the diamond the day we got
here and ran around the bases for half an
our We stopped at the Mammoth Cave
ing, but the exercise on the new grounds
took the stiffness out Of me. The chances
OF our going to Cuba are about even. A
fruit dealer here, named Charles Fish, wants
to take us over in great shape, but my good
wife is undecided"
Van Haltren writes the Chicago manage
ment as follows: Il am practlcing daily
with Denny, Cahill, Hardie and Lang.
Lang plays third base superbly. Tell Sam
Morton that in my judgment Lang stops
.grounders fully as we'll as Tebeau. l
weigh 167 pounds, three pounds less than
when l was in Chicago, 30 you can see
whether l am in condition. Hope you will
not regard it as Boosting if / assure you l
have better command Of the ball than /
had last year and the revised rules suit me.
Believe that 1 shall be able to pitch
against Detroit and Philadelphia this year"
Ed Williamson writes that he will leave
San Francisco this week for Chicago, and
nA6o. ut ~ OlAl r-~ - m
Springs. 1t will surely benefit the bows,
l have gained only six pounds since com
ing out here. Last year at this time l had
80 pounds to work off in order 10 get N.Y.
self down to 1870. This spring l shall only
be obliged to work off IA pounds to strike
my regulation weight. But for the miser-
able weather here we should have made
plenty of money. Van Haltren NAV 90
East with me. He will be q great man
for US this season. He has easily been the
g~ilt-edged card Of the Coast since he came
here"
Will John Clarkson sign a Chicago con-
tract after all?
Calvin will receive $4,000 for the pres.
ent season. y
Umpire Herman Doescher is keeping a
hotel at Troy, N. Y.
Briody would like TO sign q Kansas City
contract for 1883.
The New York clubs salary list will be
about $50, 600 for 1888.
George Van Haltren, the Chicago pitch
or. Is a plasterer by trade.
BOston's new grand stand is nearing
completion. 1t will be very handsome.
San Francisco admires the Chicagos and
Browns, but dislikes the New Nrks.
Mike Kelly is booked to do considerable
catching the coming season for tile Bostons.
Tate has signed with the Boston club for
50, ZOO. an advance of $3.50 over last sea-
on.
The Detroit directors have declined to
permit Manager Watkins to sit ON the
players bench.
The New Works will pay on the Polo