Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-21
THE BALL GROUNDS
Opened With q Game and an A,
dress.

opened With q Came and an Ad-
dress.
The opening of the new Los Angeles
baseball grounds on First street, in the
arroyo between the river and the Heights
yesterday afternoon by game between
the Los Angeles club and the St. Louis
Browns was rather inauspicious as re-
CARDS the weather, but the excellence of
the game and the enthusiasm of the 500
people who watched the clubs from the
grand stand and bleachers made the
event an interesting one. The grounds
were very soft as q consequence of the
recent rains, but the surface of sand
which had been hauled on to the dia-
mond made the work of the play ers
much cleaner than it would otherwise
have been.
Ex-Mayor Workman was introduced to
the crowd at a quarter past O'Clock and
formally opened the grounds in the fol-
lowing words:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-It is my pleasant
duty to inaugurate here today one of the hand
omest'grounds devoted to the national game
on the Coast l have always been an advocate
of any amusement which tenos to better the
rising generation. When was boy, remem-
ber we had game of town ball. which, as
compared with the scientific and intricate base
ball OF today. is very much like the horse of my
youth, in whom three-minute gait was phe-
nomenal, and the speedy clippers of the turf
today. some OF which have come from the pad
docks of our county.
You ali remember no doubt, the impulse the
baseball movement was given here two years
ago when the Los Angeles club held its own
credltably with the champions of the East
THE 0pnOQapfH in f0daV's tho Rrnwne
from the great city ON the Missouri,
were opponents at that time. But Los An
geles has never yet had really, good
place where outdoor games could be played
This difficulty has been removed. You see
here, In an advanced state of completion,
spscious grounds which, after the retsrding
into the best possible condition, as may be sug-
gested by experience or carried out by enter.
prise or money.
The promoters and patrons of these baseball
grounds show well their wisdom in selecting SO
excellent a location. Near the business center
OF the city, easily accessib Bile to cable cars and
not too lar 20 walk comfortably, no better site
than this one on First street could have been
found.
II was gallant undertaking this of creating
q new ground just at this time, and I trust the
enterprising men who are doing it will meet
more than an adequate reward.
There is ample material here for good club,
and If the idea of forming Southern Califor-
mia confederation of clubs, which will arouse q
spirit of emulation, is carried out, hope TO see
the Los Angeles club the pennant-bearers each
season
1 believe in baseball if it is homes ly and hon.
orably conducted 1t is proper that the men
who assume the responsibilities should make
some profit out OF 1t. but let the play always be
honest; let the struggle for supremacy be fair
this country, that it may descend to hippo
droming and then sink intopopular disfavor
Keep yourselves clean from all such sus-
along.
Baseball. as an exercise and pastime, is
healthy and instructive; it requires cool
should be encouraged. it viii call out 1.-THE the
man hood of boy, and develop him physically
ii played to win.
If you give games of clean ball playing here
patronize you and cheer you on, but the slight.
est suspicion of unfair play will put a paddock
on your entrance gates stronger than II made
OF hardened steel. Make your games popular
and Interesting; let people know that you are
playing to win and will get the prize If you can,
and you win have no reason to complain OF
have lectured you rather at length, but as
sm anxious to SEQ you succeed and the Los
Angeles club club beeoms ON, the most popular in the
I now declare the Los Angeles baeeball
grounds formally opened.
Game was called Immediately after the
Mayors address. Baldwin was chosen
rs umpire. and the Los Angeles nine
went to bat with the same men, with but
one exception, as were announced to
play in yesterdays papers. The home
club goose-egged, and continued to do so
throughout the entire game, but the
article of ball they put up was remark
able considering the difficulties
they played under, and was q
pIeasurable surprise to their friends.
The crowd waa voyv Uood rotuvod
and greeted each explosion Of the re-
nowned Latham as coacher with yells Of
delight. Maloney pitched for the
Browns and was hit with commendable
frequency.
The visitors found Young for three hita
in the first, but failed to score. In the
second they were more successful and
Tailed in that inning and in the third.
In the fifth they got two men home and
made their last run in the seventh.