The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-04-11
THE BALL AND BAT.
Personal Sketches of Austin's
Base Ball Players.
The Sphere Twirlers Who Will
Capture the Pennant in the
Texas League,

Our team seems to be going to the
front in popular favor, as it shows up
stronger in practice every day. Diebel,
the new pitcher, has arrived, and in
practice yesterday showed up in splendid
form. He is speedy, has all the curves,
any fields his position equal to any OF the
old timers.
Yeazel's work is also improving, and,
by the time he is worked a few games,
will put up strong pitching game.
The hitting of the team will be also a
trong point, as Mussey, Con-
ors, TRULY, Andrews and Manager
Msgner seem to have no trouble in lining
the ball out no matter who is in the points.
Ryan's work in right field. yesterday was
at times brilliant, and Toby is always the
same reliable in left garden.
A history of the player comprising the
team is as follows:
JOHN. t. WAGNER
Manager and center field, commenced
playing ball with the amateur clubs of st.
Louis, his first professional engagement
being with the famous Red Stocking club
OF that city in 1876; in 1877 he was
with the noted Tecumseh club OF Lon
| don, Canada. that won
the international championship;
with Davenport, Northwestern League
Champions in 1878; the Cincinnati Stars
in 1879; Rochester in 1879, and was with
the famous St. Louis Browns as center
field from 1879 to 1882. After which, he
retired from the diamond, entering it
again last year with the Dallas team, but
never played game, owing to the great
number of men signed.
MICHAEL CONNER,
captain and first base; first played
professionally with Webb City in the
Southwestern League in 1887, and in 1888
with Fort Worth, Texas league, where he
established himself as very versatile
player, being put in every position
in the in-field as well as pitching. He is
fine man on the initial bag, and a pitcher
of considerable ability.
HARRY TRULY,
second baseman, played in Dubuque in
1887 and in South Bend, Ind, 1888. Since
he has been here he has established him
self as an excellent man on second, being
a fine pickup, thrower and strong and
sure hitter.
VIM. MASSEY,
third baseman, commenced with the Peach
Pies, of St. Louis, and in 1883 was with the
Lincoln, Neb., club of the Western league,
where he attained high rank as third
baseman, hitter and excelling in throwing.
de is equal, if not superior, to any man in
his position in the present league.
GEO. BRIGHT,
short stop, played with Mobile southern
league in 1887, with San Antonio in 1883,
and was traded for Flynn, of Austin, in
| the middle of the season. His work has
always been satisfactory, and he was
credited several times last season with
saving game by timely hits.
| JOHN A. ToBIAe,
left field, first played with Emporia in the
Kansas state league in 1887, came down
with McClosky and played in Aus
tin in 1883, where he established
himself as the prince of left
| felders, his brilliant catches and phe-
nomenal throwing being noticeable feat
ures of his playing.
JOHN RYAN,
the tall sycamore of the right garden,
first came into prominence as fielder for
Denver in the Western league, where he
played four seasons-1884 to 1887
Played with Galveston and Houston,
Texas league, in 1888, and established
himself as sure fielder, great ground
coverer and timely hitter.
W. 8. YEAzEL,
pitcher, had his first professional engage
ment with the Union City, Indi-
ana league, OF 1888. Had good
command Of the ball, plenty
of speed, and had the credit last year of
retiring in one game twenty-five men on
strikes. He is fair batter, and much is
expected of him.
VIM. DIEBEL,
pitcher, has heretofore been a semi-pro-
fessional, with the famous Peach Pies, of
st. Louis, from which club has graduated
some of the finest players in the country.
He is stooky little fellow, a fine twirler,
excellent fielder, and above the average of
pitchers in batting.
VIM. ANDREWS,
catcher, has been professional
heretofore, and this is his first pro-
fessionally. He has already proven
himself to be a fine back-stop, good
fielder and fine batter.
GEO. t. AMMoN5,
catcher, played last year with the Ma
tionals, of Vicksburg, is good receiver,
a fair thrower and good average batter,
and plays an excellent first base.
BURT DUANE,
another catcher of fine ability, has been
signed. He played in the Northwestern
league in the champion Oshkosh team in
1886, and is said to be terror to base
Runners and is fine batter. He played
with Dubuque, a., in 1887 and 1888.
He reports in time for the Waco series.
Taking the team as it stands it is as
strong as any in the league, unle's the
batteries of the other teams excel, but
Manager Wagner thinks with little work
they will prove equal to those of the other
teams.
There is more ca arrh In this section of
the country than all ther diseases put to