Evening journal., 1890-04-04
THE WILMINGTON CLUB.
GOVERNOR BlGGS DELEGATES THE
BASE BALL GROUNDS.
An Exhibition Game Between the Home
Team and the Athletics of Philadelphia.
Details of the Match which Was Won by
the visitors.

An f1AhADltl0A 1hAa bobWecu the NOM
Team and the Athletics of Philadelphia
Details of the Match which Was Won bY
the visitors.
A base ball ground was never opened
under more auspicious circumstances
than that of the Wilmington Base Bal
Club yesterday. The park is fifteen
minutes walk from Tenth and Market
streets, and ten minutes ride. There
was not sufficient accommodations for all
the people who wanted to ride, and hun
dreds walked They began at 2 o'clock
and for two hours streams Of people were
flowing into the ground to see the open
ing game of the season of 1890.
The sky was cloudless, and the sun
shed glorious warmth that made the
light breeze refreshing. The occasion
was enlivened by music played by Hy-
ats Military Band, which arrived at
30 o'clock, followed by the Athletic
Club, American Association of Philadel-
phia. The players practiced for while
in front Of the grand stand until some
bustling near its eastern cad caused the
large crowd to quiet down in expectancy.
At fifteen minutes of o'clock Hyatt
Military Rand began playing Hail to the
Chief, as Governor Benjamin T. Biggs,
Mayor Austin Harrington and City
Auditor John M. Newell walked in front
of the grand stand to the centre. They
were dressed in dark clothes and wore
boutonnierre's of yellow flowers. Mayor
Harrington made brief speech, in which
he said: Ladies and gentlemen: On this
occasion of the opening of the Whining
ton Base Ball grounds, and having the
governor here TO dedicate it, do not
want to make long speech. but as the
mayor of the city | am proud Of the en-.
terprise that mas come to stay. Applausel
/ can assure you that athletic lovers in our
city will have ample opportunity to come
here and see good base ball l now will
Introduce to you the governor.
Governor Biggs was greeted with loud
applause, he said: my young friend.
the mayor. through excitement forgot
my name, but | suppose he forgot It
because everyone knows me (laughter). /
stand here through the kindness Of the
Wilmington Base Ball Club, as the
executive of the state and am proud of
the City of Wilmington | am proud of
her for her industries, her lawyers, her
divines, for her mayor, and am proud of
the city for the Wilmington Base Ball
Club.
II am satisfied that before one year
the Wilmington Club will be famed and
named throughout the country as
strong team. Before and after the flood
all kinds of games have
been invented for mans amusement
and development. Nothing does mere
to develop man physically than base
ball. Let those who think it is not right
and proper stand in the rear and let us
middle aged and young men have our
pleasure. predict the success of the
home club, and shall forget, in the inter
esting features of the game. that am
the governor of the state. One word to
the players: Be kind to one another,
and in life's changing scenes to do to
others as you would they should do to
you.
Il now dedicate these base ball
With these words the Cover
nor threw a new base ball into the field.
and the band struck up an air as the
crowds cheered. Thus were the new
base ball grounds opened.