The morning call., 1891-03-16
LEAGUE LINERS.
Final Arrangements Being Made
for Opening Day.
Practical Completion of the Improvements at
the Haight-street Grounds Gossip
of the Game

Next Sunday afternoon the California League
season will be opened In this city by game be-
tween the new San Francisco Club and the San
Jose team. Many Inducements are offered TO
draw the crank and The mllder enthusiast 10 Inc
Haight street grounds. The ball park In every
thing, outside of the location, Is practically new
There is new SOD on the Quilted, new soil and
Vetdant carpet on the diamond, a new grand
stand and last, but not least. Joe Langenderfer's
new and handsomely arranged candy-stand, be-
tween The two siairways to the reserved seats.
The grand stand is alone worthy Of visit. Ii Is
one of tie finest structures Of the Kind In the
United States affording an excellent view OF the
diamond from all points, and those spectators
taking delight in watching de curves" may
find comfortable place In tie center Of the
seats where they will be protected from foul
flies, as wire netting Is stretched across the
facade OF the building, III the chairs have been
already painted and placed in position, so
that they may be thoroughly dried for
the FIRST usage. The painting of the
wood work on the stand will be
completed by Thursday next When the ball
patron pays his first visit TO the grounds this
year be VIII be surprised at the transformation
that has taken place since last November.
Then there was a dirty, dusty diamond and a
yellow hued oulfed. Now everything is a
bright green with the exception of the batter's
and plchelS BOXES, I've udse-luuulu5 pains anu
the bicycle track. The ruts and ridges have dis
appeared from the ouifed, and the ground is as
level as heavy rollers can make IL The da-
mOnd viii be given the finishing touches this
week, and will be made as smooth as cement
sidewalk. The presence OF grass Will prevent
clouds Of binding dust, and there VIII be no
more StOppageS Of games to sprinkle the
ground In the grand stand every entrance Is
provided wih sliding dooT', ana All drafts VIII
henceforth be shut out In addition 10 the al
fractions afforded by the Improvements the pres
ehce OF the twO teams should draw crowds OF
former patrons. There VIII be many familiar
faces in lie visiting players, and the home club
will show not few men who have reputa-
lions on other fields. Both tea ms are rapidly
getting 10 condition 10 make gallant hight for
first blood, aud II the contest is not perfect one
from scientific standpoint il Will be at least
exciting.
considerable gossip is going the rounds 10 the
effect that there may he some rough ball-playing
IN the California League this season. 1t is 10 be
hoped there IS no foundation for Tie reports. but
If there be grain Of truth In them il Is well to
be prepared for snch work and stamp 1t with
disSpprOVal at the outset Players coming TO
the State from the East aud North might just as
well be given TO understand right now that Cal
nOrna audiences do not tolerate what has been
iOrcibly termed dirty" ball-playtug Accidents
Will OF course occur III games, but when caused
By men who have reputation for cOllidlng with
and spiking basemeD, Il will lie diflcult 10 con-
vince lie spectators That such affairs ''acc-
dental" Ball-playeTs should be warned that
President None has the power to blacklist or
suspend men guilty Of such work, 3ad further
And the umpireS should be cautioned TO keep 3
sharp lockout for tricky practices and 10 keep
eOachtng within It's proper bounds. Said Harris
yesterday on this subject: There was time
when used 10 say 10 my players, 60 In and
vim aud that was all. The men knew they were
expected 10 come out ahead ana may have in.
dulgrd in practices unsatisfactory To fastidlOus
or partiZan spectators. Things ara different
now. l know mat the public lUes not relish So
Gale dirty baliplayug, and have ordered The
'Fnscos 10 play eenIlemanly Clean game. But,
MUD you, 90 not intend TO have them follow
the scripIural Injunction OF turning the secOud
cheek 10 their asSailant after the first has been
slapped. My team understands that Ii other
players commence questionable practices the
same coin Is 10 be paid In return, and I've got
some big, heavy Inhcders who can repay with
vengeance"
As the lime draws near for the opening of the
season, interest Ia baseball at san Jose in-
eTeases, as is evidenced by the large number
VINO have attended the afternoon practice Of The
Garden CITY Club aud the many who visit the
new Background on the Alameda. That San
Jose Will prove good baseball town there Is
now no doubt The geDtlemanly appearance Of
tue members OF tile team has been freely com
meuted upon, and their department at practice
and upoa the streets has served TO dispel
doubt which has existed In the minds of a few
San JOseans who were 10th to believe thai ball
IOsser possessed the requisites 10 commend him
as desired acquisition 10 lie Garden City
There IS Little doubt now that many OF the team
members, who are so inclined, VIII be 10 und IN
attendance ST the hops and gatherings given by
the better class Of san Joseans. This is as Il
should be, aud will serve to create in that CITY
more manifest feeling favorable to this outdoor
sport. Il viii be encouragement 10 the gentle
men composing THIS team 10 eXeri every effort to
put III tho b-st bail they know how. and that
they VIII make favorable showing In this re-
Bpect few VIII doubt
An unexpected rain yesterday was the source
OF great disappointment 10 large number Of
San JOseans. 4 game had been arranged TO take
place between the Garden City team and The first
pine OF he college, on the grounds OF the latter.
About 200 invitations had been Issued for the
occasion, and al least 900 applications were re-
ceiVed from parties who desired 10 be present, but
were refused on account Of the smal!ness OF the
giound ana The desire 10 restrict lie attendance
20 a small limit. bout IL 80 o'clock slight
sprinkle Of rain commenced falling, and con-.
unued throughout the afternoon, greatly to tie
disappointment Of the members OF both teams,
who waited ard watched until O'clock for
clearing up and then gave up all hope OF play
ing A large crowd had cOngIegated on The out
SIDE Of the grounds. but were refused admission
and informed that the game would not take
place. II was expected that the college boys
would give the league team warming up, and
none we're more sadly disappointed than the stu
dents al not having been given an opportunity TO
display their ability.
A dispatch from Portland. dated last Thurs.
day anu published in northern paper, says:
Manager X. j. Genalvln of the Portland Base
Dali Club arrived from Chicago this afternoon.
Thus far lie has slgued eight men: Edward B.
Lyle, catcher and outleldeT; Thomas }. DowSe,
catcher; Andrew fully, catcher; Fred BetZ,
pitcher Frank MOtz, first base; JACK Darrah,
shOrtshOpi George Westlake, left field; William
George, right field. The two Parrot boys, Tom
aud Jiggs WHO we're with The Portlands last
year, will be signed tomorrow. and Two more
pitchers Will constitute the team. The pitchers
In view are men of national reputation, and their
release may cost the Portlands some money, bur
as he city IS determined to have the winning
team TINS year, price Is no object GlenalVn's
men are unusually strong balters, and on this ne
bases his predictions of victory. The Portland
grounds Will be selected tomorrow.
Manager FINN Is under the impression that
large-sized Jonah" is lowering somewhere in
bis vicinity. He has had. poor luck in several
ventures, but the last straw was deposited on his
aching Vertebr a last week Michael has been
a q II ppfrr i1rh ug Inaa
and made arrangements 10 sell his dozen thor
Oughbreds from Palo Alto last week. Feed is
rather high-prced, and the pennant-winner was
pirased at The prospect OF getting rid of the
horses that were eating large share Of his in
come. fellow contractor had agreed to buy
the animals and the tranSfrT OF cash aud horse
nesh was to have taken place last Monday. The
intending purchaser was killed three days be-
fore The consummatlon Of the sale, and Mixes
6feeds continue to enlarge the hole in his finances
Dick Van ZanJ last Saturday received letter
from Frank W. Chamberlain, The burlington
QOwa) attorney, an official Of the Interstate
League. Tic following extract is taken from
the letter: when l signed yOu for Tacoma IL
was Tor the balance Of the season. and RENE
per lhat you refused TO sign az first because yOu
had beard mat they had the reservation privilege
and mad TO promise you that you would not be
reserved, but was signed only for the balance of
The season Should any one write 10 me in re fer.
enee TO IL this Is what would reply, and can
not see how you could be held by any one under
these circumstances. They can't do IL, and
don't think they VIII try to do so.n
The California League has not made applica-
Zion TO be admitted 10 membership IN the new
National Agreement, but Will do SO In The near
future. Application was m de under the old
order of things for protection without the prlvl-
lego OF TeseTVlng players. Under present con
dlti0ns California viii apply for admission 10
Class B. which provides for a salary limit of
$1,000. The league VIII then have the right TO
reserve It's men, but Will be subject TO draft
Rom the National League and Western Associ-
ation That Is, II these Nv organizations desire
player In the California League they can have
Dim by paying his manager the sum oil $1,000.
BY aud by ~hen Frank Stapeton, tie young
--I#-
THE ma