Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-03-13
THEY'RE ALL eight.
AN AFTERNOON WITH sAcRAMENT0s
NEW BASEBALL TEAM.
They Are All Lively and Expert Field
ers, and Can Hold Their Own
With the Bat.

Now that all of the Eastern players signed
by the Sacramento managers have arrived,
interest in baseball has Iivened up greatly,
and sports who claim to know the records
of the new men have been enthusiastic in
their praise of the makeup OF the Capital
City club.
A RECORD UNION reporter stole quietly
out to Snowflake Park yesterday afternoon,
and taking back seat in a secluded part
of the "bleachers," spent an hour or more
watching the practice of the men.
There were over fifty other people on the
grounds, apparently deeply interested in
the practice work of the players. The
diamond and out6eld are in very poor con-
dition, on account Of the recent rains, and
whenever hy.ball knocked to center, left
or right field didn't find fielder to catch
it, the sphere would strike with splash
and bury itself few inches in the mud. A
sensible spectator suggested rubber boots
for the players, and they wouldn't have
been out of place either. The diamond is
exceedingly rough where it has been
ploTed, and Oh account of its condition
telders frequently took all sorts OF shoots
and curves and gave ample opportunity
for the men TO practice dodging tactics.
To-day, however, the diamond is to be
rolled, and if the sun comes out as it has
for the past few days the grounds, both in
the infield and outfeld, will be in excellent
condition by Saturday.
If Oakland, San francisco and Stockton
have as good material in their mines as
70. L.. Al, L. r
ball-tossing will be seen at the games of the
California League this season. Of course
an estimate of the merits of player can
not be made by his first days practice
work, bnt the way he handles ball goes a
great way in the test of his ability. The
players Of the Sacramento nine are of me-
dunn stature, with the exception of Good
enough and Bowman, and they are consid-
erable over the average in hight and both
wiry.
Bowman is a catcher of more than ordi-
nary ability, and in practice yesterday con-
WINGED those present that he would be fully
up to requirements by the time the season
opens. He is a good thrower, and it is
said that bis stick" work will be an i'm
portant factor IN the games this season.
McHale, the Sacramento boy, who has
been signed as change catcher has been
seen before in games here, bat be has
greatly improved in both catching and
throwing, and is as active as a cat He
will do the catching when Zeigler is in the
box. With a little more strength in bat
ting he will undoubtedly prove himself
capable of taking care of his position.
Harper is praeticing hard and spends
good part of the time in pitching to the
new men and getting them familiar with
his mode Of pitching. He has his family
here and says he'll do his best for Sacra-
mento. the percentage of games won by
the Stockton club in which he pitched was
very high.
Zeigler will twirl when Harper rests. and
will undoubtedly hold his own with the
best of them. The Sacramento people
know Of his reliability and steadiness, and
will not be backward after the season COM
mences in complimenting him for the ex-
cellent nine he has brought together.
If DAILY were dressed in uniform SINH
lar to that worn by Cahill of last years
Oaklands, it would be difficult to tell the
two men apart from the grand stand. DAILY
is almost the exact build of Cahill, and his
actions are similar. There is more life in
him, however, and when he drives ball
to first it goes on a straight line. He is
neat in6elder, and quite hitter.
Stapleton, who will Capt' i the nine, is
short but solidly built, and his work yes
terday went long way to prove that his
record does not appear better than he
really is. He is jovisl fellow, and will
be heard on the coaching line.
Reitz is what the sports call "a bird"
He is quite Young, small, but is well built,
and it is refreshing to see how cleanly he
handles ball. There are no unnecessary
exertions on his part when fielding, and he
does his work with an ease and grace
which is sufficient evidence that he under
stands his business. He doesn't have much
to say, takes matters coolly, and, it is safe
to say, will guard the center bag in way
that will challenge comparison in the Cali
fornia Lesgue.
Godar guards the infeld in the re-
gion of the third cushion, and his fielding
actions are very much like those of Nick"
Smith, whose playing qualities are quite
well-known here. Godar is good, clean
fielder, and when it comes to lining the
ball to first base, he's the right man in the
right place. He is a sprinter, too, and
good batter.
Goodenough and Roberts are known as
two of the best out6elders in the State and
and will care for the center and left gar
dens as of old. Right field will be played
by either of the pitchers or catchers who
are not engaged in battery.
There is one noticeable feature about all
of the players and that is their throwing.
There is cot q dead arm" in the club, and
the new men all appear to be experts with
the bat.
The grand stands at the Park have I'M
dergone several changes, and the reporters
box has been removed from inside the
fence. Ii is now located almost directly
behind the home.plate under the special
stand, and to either side have been built
boxes, which will be hired by clubs Of
int