The morning call., 1891-03-20
READY TOPLAY BALL.
The Opening Contest of the Cali
fOrnia League.
Pitchers and Catchers for the Game Next
Sunday Afternoon-Soth Teams
in Good Trim.

Next Sunday afternoon the California
Baseball Leagues season for the year 1891
viii be opened in this city at the Haight-
street grounds by game between the new
san Francisco club and the baby team of
the League, the San Jose nine. The latter
organization is new only in name and loca-
ton. Among the members I'll the Garden
City aggregation will he found the follow
ing players who were on the loca!
diamonds last year: George Speer, George
Harper, Nick LoOkabaugh, Charley Doo-
lev, Jack Fogarty, Bill Everett and
Buck" Ebright George Stallings. favor
lie Of lSSa, will also b. in the visiting team,
and IL is probable that George Hanley will
be guarding center field, as McGucken has
not yet arrived. The Only new face in Man
arer Finn's club will be that of Carl McVey
in left field. When the manager Of Il rival
team praises a player in an opposing club
the fielder must be ranked among the good
ones. McC!oskey OF Sacramento says Nj
Nry is a brilliant fielder and baNe-runnfr,
whose methods of play will capture the
crowds 80 it NAV be regarded as an assured
thing that MeVey will be popular.
THE HOME TEAM.
The people who attend the game Sunday
will have an opportunity to judge whether
or not the team chosen by Manager Harris
is superior TO the one controlled last year by
Fnn There are but three players in the
team who may be called Callfornlans-
SWEET Levy ard Danny Sweeney, and, of
course they are prime faYOrites. The bal
ance # the men are strangers to the LEGAL
patrons, but they are not new to the game.
Most Of them have carried off honors IN their
respective leagues and three have national
regulations In practice work all of the
new PLAYERS show up well in fielding, but 1t
remains 10 be seen whether they have re-
gained their batting vision since the trip to
Fresno. Ali # the home players except
Pu. SWEET had remarkably high batting
averages last rear. and if the Frisco boys
hit during the coming months as they did
in 1890 they will finish pretty close 10 first
place.
THE FIRST BATTERY.
Harris will present TO the patrons of
opening day an EXPLOSION brotherhood bat
Iery in Pitcher Toby Lyons and Catcher
Pop SWEET George Cobb will adorn the
bench and Clark will be assigned to right
Ield. Harris says the ball patrons know
Cobb is Il good twiTler and he is anxious TO
let the people see what kind of material the
new twirler is made OF. LYONS, who looks
ike the famous Ned Williamson OF Chicago.
depends for effectiveness on a bewildering
change Of pace. He has all the curves and
Shoots that every professional boxman Is
supposed to possess, but his forte lies in
his ability to deceive the batsman regarding
the velocity of the ball pitched to the plate.
San Jose will present as its battery George
Harper of last years Sacramento team and
little Chick Speer, " no helped win he 1890
pennant for this city. The Garden City
team will be accompanied TO The Haight-
street Grounds by about 300 residents OF
San Jose, 3 no will come up under the care
OF Manager Finn. Tie members OF the
new team have been working like galley
slaves to get into condition for Sunday, and
besides pTaeticing III the forenoon and after
noon take a ten mile spin to Alum Rock
shortly after sunrise. This run Is led by
George Stallings, who takes as much inter
est in the new team as If he were manag-
ing it. .--o
a feeling that cannot be accounted for
has sprung up among the majority of the
local enthusiasts that San Jose viii capture
tie first game. There is nothing on which
to base such feeling, unless IL be faVOrlt-
ism, as neither of the teams has practiced
in public 10 any great extent. 1t is prob
dbie that the presence OF most OF last years
Frisco players in the San Jose team has
something to 90 with the idea of the cranks.
AT all events there VIII certainly be an
even division Of cheering when the two
clubs appear on the diamond.
The uniforms of the San Francisco Club
arrived Yesterday from Chicago and were
distributed among the players. The uniform
is WithOutdo one Of the PrettieSt ever seen
In the CaifgrBia League. The shirts and
hreerhes are Of pure white heavy jersey
CLOTH while the caps, belts and stockings
are black. Across the breast of the shirt
Is the name Of the team IN black letters.
Another uniform has been ordered and viii
be here within TWO weeks.
One OF the greatest fans" Of last year,
Jim Wilson, tie actor, has deserted the
Oakland team and this year will root for
the Fri~cOs. Wilson has adopted war-cry
ana when spectators next Sunday hear some
me yelling ''yi-yI-yi" they will know it is
Jim Wilson expressing his approval Of a
.rnnH nlnr- LIZ HnrrisI fnnn1