New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-31
KNIGHTS OF THE DIAMOND.
A BRILLIANT SEASON EXPECTED.

I can be said without Of tradlcon that the
coming baseball in THIS city wa be tho mos1
interesting experienced here. In former seasons
the reporting Of the players for preliminary prsefce
was hardly noticed by the general public This
spring the mere arrival OF single player seemed 10
wet tho appetite Of the enthusiast of the gse for tbs
sport. Every one Of tho carly movements Of tho
players has fly chronicled Their anxious friends
were told what time they got up I'm the morning, whsb
time they ate luncheon, the hour they went to bed,
and Just what they did to harden their muscles ana
wear or the winters accumulation Of supernuous
Aesh The players during the LAST week have passed
their time IN the orthodox way. They are expected
to get up at 30 O'Clock In the morning and 10 report
at washington Park ct 10 q m, ready to go TO work
Then Manager McGunnigle takes the players in
hand and leads them pretty dance until the time for
the MONDAY meal arrives They start I'm body FROM
their grounds and go the Plaza at Prospects
Park Here bicycles and nicycles are brought ont
and the days work begins Those who are not export
bicycle riders generally ride tandem tho trcycies.
Such players Terry, Bushong, Caruthers and few
others are expert bIeycleIiders and would scorn TO
mount tricycle.. They start on each morning and
take spin Of about five miles through the winding
paths Of Prospect Park At first INC procession
like that OF funeral, except that tumbles
frequent and painful and that scraped facss and n
iured noses were the general rule instead OF the
cepton. Speed, however, was gradually increased
untn the no longer winding e shoots around throug
the drives at tremendous speed Manager Mc0unngls
Is something of athlete himself and never asks y
to do any thing that he do, consequently
his orders obeyed with pleasure. frequently
when tho roads are In condition. the machines are sen5
down Ocean Parkway to Coney Island and return.
About the players dismissed and go to their
various homes 10 lunch. Promptly at O'Clock they
report again at Washington Park for another season
Of muscle hardening exercise. They put on their
regular uniforms and pass about two hours aad half
In hafft hall nl,,efn
The players prone to stgutness sre OF courses looked
after more carefully than the others MeGunnisio
Is Q modern ShyIeck and demands than pound
Of flesh every day from the heavy players. s
A GOOD RECORD SHOULD he MADEl
Tho Brooklyn team this year ought TO mako = Z
brilliant record. The team Is stronger than ever It
before and onght to win the championship Of the
American Association without much trouble It has
nothing TO fear Outside OF st. Louis, Cincinnati end
the Athletics. with tho possible exception o. the
Athletics, the Brooklyn team IS az least rs per cent
stronger than either of the other two teams mesoned
There is not weak spot IN tho ntAe unless Collins
should fall TO fulfil expectations at second base. Tbs
team is strong in pitchers and catchers, and has UNI
dootedly the best outned In the Association. II has
me best shortstop in Smith, whom he Is In condition,
In the American Association. The club cannot be
improved at third-base at first Foutz will captain
tho nine, and right good captain be will make. he
has held position before, but he possesses ali
great player himself and set a good example 10
his He is cool, never becomes fuITied, and
besides, he is very popular with the men.
This selection was only made yesterday. The oap-
tain was not appointed by the manager president
of the club generally the case President Byrnes
and Manager McGunnige went among the men and told
them to select their captain, reservng the right
to reject man who In the opinion Of the manage
ment was not capable Of filling the. place. That
the players should select Foutz extremely agreeable
to the president and manager and friends of the club
Foutz served his apprenticeship under the
greatest captain, Charles Comisky. He could not have
had better training.
Banpayers are VIGOROUSLY supersttous and tho
members OF tho Brooklyn club no exception to,
the rule When one speaks to them Of mascots, they
laugh and say II is the style, and confidently remarks:
We don't believe anything like that, but other
clubs have got them, We might as we'll have them.s
The club laid very little stress the mascot question
last year, but propose to have fullnedged luck
brtngers this year The mascot is little puny
monkey, which arrived at the park yesterday. He
is the gift of q sportlovIng policeman belonging to
the Tenth Precinct. Comfortable quarters have besn
provided for the mascot, and voc to tho who
oifends his long-taled majesty. George Smith, tho
clever shorstop hes been appointed lord chamberlain
to his monkeyshp. Smith has also to provide the
mascot with new uniform exactly like that to be
worn by the players this year. handsome little
chain to be furnished too, until the animal becomes
more doclle. He WIN be chained to the players
bench during the progress Of the early games. when
he becomes accustomed 80 his surroundings, he viii
probably be allowed to roam around The park ct his
own sweet win.
WHEN MASCOT MEETS MASCOT.
The Giants have fighting chicken for their mascot,
their old owl mascot having given up the ghost
These two clubs play the first game together, At
washington Park on Saturday. In case these two
mascots come together there VIII be performance not
down on the score card. As the betting odds are in
favor OF tho Giants VIII be the In favor Of the
hancock, II tho monkey and the chicken come TO
gether in - contest y Of - supremacy.
The Chicago and .4AllAmerics teams viii
probably be present at this first game. and the former
clubs Cingalese mascot viii be there also. With
that number of good Mck-bEngers the game ought
be great the weather perfect and she crowd
Clarke the catcher for the Brooklyn club, who has
s a e i Sceved ce ss s e. ss s he
terms offered by the club Clarke certainly dif great
70 help ne aroo na aS pss
In the championship race he thinks be ought g
to think that the salary paid to Clarke last yesr
al that be aeseysd sof the coming season Tie
Spectators paid i've cents for ssdy printed card
so the e EssSs "a hp 81 ssss
for their money me club has sdopted similar
eassa :I1sss% sad sa.s. a S WA ai.
s se blazers and s eo Tho o5ci e %
work Of Charles Ebbets. secretary Of the club. Nh
q handy work for baseball enthusiasts. $3.50 -
Prospect Park parade grounds me field Is in en-.
weather is all that Is wanted to bring thousands Of
amateurs out 20 this fine inelosur dozen gasnes
eau be played there without the players OF team
on the grounds OF another : As the
Brookiy1 Athletic Club the Interest IN baseball IL
lust as pronounced this year rs IL was last when
L had club belonging 10 tho Amateur League. The
team WIN be an Independents one this year, and via
amateur and serptprofessional teams and Judging By
the men who win play In the nine. 4 ought 10 make
be- little spacious, still they are better than
most fields owned by amateur Clubs.
The Crescent Cub team Is also here at work and
proposes make despecaso struggle 70 capture The
OF the American League. The team ~
ready selected Is good ono IN every respect, with
The rossibie exception that Il may shoH weakueso
IN the pltchers department. Btli, 3 aee4 pitcher 4
IAN DO COT At almost apy tnls the e,as cannot o.
dong without another laaA ~ 3. &