, 1891-12-13
BASEBALL IN THE SOUTH
Big Schemes Are as Plentiful
as Flowers in the Spring.
A FLORIDA LEAGUE PROPOSED.

I1GTt are some lew men VINO WDllN
shine in any avocation they might choose.
Still, it would not he safe as a general
thing to trust the making of your dress
coat to a shoemaker, or expect the painter
of exquisite landscapes to turn his arr
against the baker and eclipse the latter's
accomplishments in bread making. While
there are all around athletes in the world
OF baseball, the cases are as exceptional a
they would be in the extremes here cited
The successful ball player must possess
more than one athletic talent. and yet how
few perfect men there are-players who
excel in all the departments of the CANT
rs batters, fielders and base me Some
times the three gifts are embodied in the
most rs rare as the early issues of the
Hawaiian postage stamps.
One Of the best little men who ever slid
into n base enveloped in a halo of dust was
Hugh Nicol-now a successful leader in
the councils of the Illinois and Iowa league.
Few better run getters than Little Nic'
ever lived, and yet he was never "A very
strong batsman. In the old days, when
the man at the plate was permitted to
name the sort OF ball he wanted delivered
from the pitchers box-high or low-Hugh
Nicol was n terror. He never drove any
twirler TO the bench by a fusilade of line
hits, but when he pulled up his belt until
IL might have been mistaken for a collar,
and asked for a high ball" a pitcher
needs a rifle to put that ball past Little
MIC at the right height.
II his mood changed and a low ball wa
deslrcd that belt would be worked down
until it did the service of a pair of carriers.
Bases on balls were as plentiful as apples
In the late crop, and once on first all it
would require for a run would be two
- l.. - -
sacrifice. When the high and low ball
rule was abolished it weakened Nicol and
many another player like him-brilliant in
all the points Of play save one. Little
Mic" was an acrobat before he took up
baseball, and he and his brothers did u
tumhling act in the world of white tents
during more than one circus season. He
was a wrestler of no mean ability and for
years a match with Clarence Baldwin,
1.-THE kid, y was a matter of winter discus.
sion, until it became a subject as familiar
as tie picture that refuses to remain
turned toward the wall.
Arlington Latham, the famous chatter.
box, is also al acrobat, and he can turn
ms pretty a somersault from the ground a.
one can see beneath the canvas. Some
times when eNuberant over a victory he
executes cartwheels and flip flaps that
have given him a standing in the acrobatie
realm.
While most of the knights of the squared
circle who fight under Yankee Doodle's
colors are baseball enthusiasts, there are
not many of them who ever played the
game professionally. John L. Sullivan
has on several occasions occupied the box
and hurled the hog hided sphere over the
plate, but he failed to handle the ball with
the same degree of skill which he shows
With tho plpyng Sam Rftt1a "a yUaataru
puEuist, retired from the ring to shine rs
a pitcher, but he never attained proml
nencc of any marked degree.
1t will probably come in the nature Of q
Furpiise to many to learn that Jack Boyle,
one OF the best CatChers in the profession,
once aspired to wear other than a ball
players gloves. Back in the days when
the VINE Street opera house hourished in
Ciuc' matt, an epidemic Of pugilistic fever
swept over the city. One of the victims OF
the craze was Jack Boyle, and l remember
the night he made his debut-a green
young fellow, well built, remarkably quiet,
but able to handle his dukes. The name
of the warrior bold who faced Boyle that
night and sank back in the corner of dc
feat | have forgotten.
Boyle was never regularly matched for a
professional encounter in the arena, and
as he was a promising amateur ball player
he was recommended to the Reds and
signed. a diamond in the rough, he was
sent over to grace the collection in st.
Louis, and under Captain Comiskey he
developed into one of the most valuable
all round men now on the field. He can
not only catch well, but in a pinch is at
home on any corner in the infield, while
shortstop is not beyond him st. Louis
surrendered Nicol to Cincinnati when
that ancient deal was made If lack Boyle
plays in the League-and he has pledged
himself TO his old commander-he will re-
turn TO do battle under the Reds flag. No
other club in the National league can enter
the lists against Cincinnati for his serv.
ices and his acceptance Of Cincinnatis
terms was followed by the official bulletin
from Washington to that effect. The
storm cloud which gathered after Manager
Powers unwilling interference has passed
away.
Not for some years has there been greater
activity than is now manifest in ball circles
in the lands where the winter sun shine
warmly. TIT Cuban expedition may be
extended to Jamaica. Two famous young
players have been added to the recruits on
a W. Lawson's list-Jack Dolan, who wa.
on Columbus roll of pitchers last season,
aud Will Earle, the little globe trotter.
Earle is quite "A traveller. In six years as a
pTOlbSSlOudl ne mas covered lUO,OOU miles,
n be is anxious to make a trip toward
the orient and join the baseball students
who have created so much enthusiasm over
the game in Japan. The Lawson band OF
pilgrims will s~ojourn in New Orleans a
fortnight before they turn their faces to
ward the West Indies. The team will
travel as the All Americas, the title OF
John Montgomery Wards nine when the
earth was spanned by the Spalding tourists.
Another Of that band-Jimmy Ryan-is
dreaming Of organizing a Florida winter
league, with clubs at Jacksonville, Gaines
Vile and St. Augustine. He is going there
to feel the pulses of the enthusiast in that
state. Out on the Pacific coast San jose
and Portland are battling for the cham,
pionship Of that stretch or territory. San
Jose carried of the bunting in the ealifor,
mia league and the champions received a
pressing invitation to visit Honolulu to
play in the domain Of the queen of the
Sandwich islands. 1t is not likely, how
ever, that the trip will be made.
Rem MILFORD, JR.
W. :. Maltby has challenged d. ].
Cansry to meet him in "a contest for tha