The record-union., 1891-07-10
BASEBALL TALENT.
How the California Article PIeases
Eastern Cranks.
Reftz and Roberts Jump Their Con-
tracts at Rochester-Van Hal
tren Writes Letter.

In recent letter from Philadelphia
George Van Haltren has the following to
say concerning the California baseball
players now with Eastern clubs:
In regard to California players in the
East, / will tell you what I know. Jerry
Denny is in pretty hard luck. from what
I hear, as his arm has been bad all spring,
until finally New York either released
him or loaned him to Cleveland, where
he is now putting up good game and
batting well.
Fred Carroll is not batting in his old
time form, and is fielding badly. His
team (the Pittsburgs) are badly demoral
lied through dissensions between the
players, managers and directors.
Phil Knell, every one will be glad to
hear, is pitching excellent ball, and it Is
principally through him that the Colunl-
bus A. A. team is as far up as it is. He
recently retired the Louisvilles with but
two hits i'll an eleven inning game.
Knell pitched one season for the links of
Woodland, Yolo County.
Bill Brown is now playing with the
Philadelphia League team, catching now
and then, but playing first most of the
time. New York released him to
strengthen the former club. He is play
ing first very well, but is not hitting as
well as he can.
Tom Brown is the surprise of the sea-
son, as he is putting up a wonderful game
| in the field and batting thirty per cent.
better than he ever did before, and is run
ming bases out of sight. He leads the
country in long hits, having thirty-two
so far in two, three and home baggerS
Pete Lohman is putting up great game
| for Washington, and he is installed a pet
among the baseball admirers there
through his willingness to do what is said
to him. lie is great catcher, and every
body speaks well of him. am sorry |
didn't get him for Baltimore, but we have
just secured Hardie and be is just as good.
Carsey is also doing good work, consid-
ering the poor team he has had behind
him all season.
Dan Sweeney came within an ace of be-
| ing with the Athletics of Philadelphia,
| but they needed a man right away, so
signed Beecher, just released by Wash
| ington.
Jerry Hurley has not been catching
much for Cincinnati, but what little he
had to do was done very well. AS far as
I know, Powers and Pete Sweeney are
doing very well, but their team appears
to be very weak, and they sold their best
| catcher bowman, who played with Sac
| ramento last year., to Chicago for 81, 800.
He wasn't good enough for the coast,
either!
l see, according to the averages, that
| DUNCAN has a batting average close to
| 400. He will make great ball player.
| Goodenough has turned out to be great
| drinker of German Disturbance
| Now, as for myself, / am not satisfied
with my work at ALL My batting, while
not bad, is not good, although [ am sec
ond in the club at last accounts, having
an average of .3l6. Werden, our big
! first baseman, leads with 1888. 1 was
playing short-stop while Rays arm was
getting well, but am now playing left
| oil II lnr- fro, 1%ni,, @l,,>
| Baltimores since the 9th day Of June, and
am doing very well, all things con-
sidered. Hardie is going to play right
| field when he joins US. We are in third
place, Boston first, st. Louis second. If
our pitcher, Healy, gets in condition we
shall make strong bid for the pennant.
! Wise and Mcmahon are talking of
| spending the winter on the coast. / will
| be there myself as soon as the season is
| over, as / am anxious to see my wife and
baby. Tom Browns wife also has a
baby, one day younger than mine.
REITZ AND ROBERTS.
The following from the Philadelphia
| Sporting Life will be read with interest
! by California baseball enthusiasts, mas
known throughout the State. 1t also
shows that the California League Direct
ors have evidently decided to disregard
| the provisions of the National agreement:
Second baSeman Reltz and outfielder
Roberts of the Rochester club have de-
Hserted that club. They took French leave
| on Saturday or Sunday last. 1t is under
stood that the two men signed contracts
to play with the Oakland club of the Cali
| fornia League,an as that league will with
! draw from the National agreement the
Rochester management will have no
means of redress. The Rochester club
has by no means sustained an irreparabIe
| loss. Roberts was an Indifferent fielder
and useless at the bat, AS second base
man ReitZ has not been of late a glitter
ing success. The only thing to be regret
ted is that the men cannot be made to suf-
fer for their action. For nearly a month,
while Reitz was laid off with split finger,
he received full pay, and he has taken
this course to repay the local manage
| ment for their liberality."
Dale and Lawson of the Oaklands are
also said to be contract jumpers.