Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-28
A DISMAL OPENING.
Getting In Shape for Real Ball Playing
Notes OF the Clubs.


The base ball season started gloomiiy enough
in this section Of the country. Rain and snow
always play havoc with the national game, and
especially in this vicinity. where folks have
evidently come to regard the sport ~ practi-
cally hooded in the early spring. The inces-
SAINT moisture has left scarcely n chance for
work to be done on the new grounds, and con-
sequently all of the games proposed for the
preliminary season have had to be abandoned,
even that Of next Tuesday with Boston, which
was thought to be q certainty.
The men are now in Baltimore or POSSIBLY
Philadelphia, where they had date yesterday
that they could not I'll on account Of the snow
storm. queer result of the long absence Of
the game from our midst is 10 be seen in the
enormous enthusiasm that has arisen over the
game OF Thursday in baltimore. where the
home team was apparently defeated by
tremendous score. The cranks. however. have
carefully worked ont the fact that Washington
being defeated by its own pitchers. not
defeated at all, and that Baltimore showed no
particular amount of strength.
The team as finally organized will undoubt-
edly be a strong batting combination. There
are at least five men on il who have records Of
heavy hitting in times past. and not very far
past at that. These men will, Of course. 10
their best work this year. They always do. you
know. but at any rate there is reason TO believe
that Washington is going TO prove terror to
the pitchers Of the association.
rHR NKw CATCHER.
Sutclife, who accepted the terms of the club
some days ago, has turned short and has. after
being silent to the kilograms OF the folks at
this end for some days. signed with Omaha. lie
may be given trouble over this though that is
not likely. As soon il became apparent that
he might not come to Washington Director
Scanion began to work for another catcher. He
saw Manager Irwin of the Boston club a. lac
passed through the city the other evening aud
after some talk ii was agreed that Irwin should
let HIM have Hart, Que OF the men whom he
signed early III the season and who is perfectly
willing to play ball here. Hart Will probably
JOIN the team in Philadelphia.
meeting OF the board of directors was
held Last Monday night aud several mat
tiers OF interest were transacted The
score card and privilege stand contract
was awarded TO Mr.. Edw. Jewell. who
had this same job several years ago, and who
has therefore plenty of experience the bust
ness. Capt. Howard Prince was elected official
scorer to the great delight of many patrons OF
the game, who are very fond of the captains
careful method of .allying hits and errors and
other sorts of plays. His long acquaintance
with the game and its intricacies and his
genial. good natured disposition render him
peculiarly fit man for such a position. Prof.
Patrick Fitzgerald was appointed keeper of the
new park. and authorized to go ahead with the
matter of grading which has been a great bug
utai 10 the cluD ever since tne RrOdnds were
started. Pat promises to have the place ready
for play by a week from Monday which is good
time considering the vast amount of rain and
kindred moistness that has hindered the work
for several weeks past.
THE GRAND STAND
IS practically finished, and a prettier one was
never seen in this part of the country. 1t is
but one story in height with a small tower on
the roof for the newspaper men and the scor-
] Va A,..~
anu comfortable pattern, and has every facility
for the comfort and ease of the patrons of the
game. Two broad stairways lead up into the
stand from the ground, and give ample en-
trance and exit for the crowd. Such a stand
can be emptied of its thousand folks AMI more
In five or six minutes without the leas. rush OF
trouble. The bleachers or open stand will sea.
fully 1000 people. Ii is on the south side, so
that the actions of the players are watched from
the side OF the first baseman, and the crowd is
thereby helped to an enjoyment OF the game.
The seats stretch away from the grand stand
toward lie Droit Park and up into the air nine
teen rows high until the top men
can easily stop all high fouls that may
the open space beyond. There are going to be
no home-run hits over the fence this year. as
the longest drive possible on a Nv could not by
any means, go further than the first Of
trees on the first bound. Yet there will proba-
bly, be q number OF field home runs made as
the ball has plenty of chance to roll after get
ting past a fielder, who will have TO go lodging
between the trees in chase. IL is thought by
some that there have not been trees enough
cut down in the outheld, where they are still
standing within fifty feet OF the back positions
of the outfielders. These trees. that have been
left standing, are going TO form q beautiful
background of green to the contest that will be
very restful to the eyes of the spectator.
THE MANAGERS OPINION.
A letter received at The STAR Office this
morning from Manager Trott at Baltimore con-
tains the following reference to the game of
Thursday: 1.-The score of yesterdays game
must have looked somewhat one-sided TO YOU,
but when you consider the way in which the
Baltimore pitchers-who were pitching for us
were tossing them up to the Baltimore batters
il is a wonder they did not get more runs. Our
pitcher, Carsey, who pitched for Baltimore,
was pitching for all he was worth, notwithstand-
ing he was told not to work too hard But be-
ing young pitcher he wanted to show up well
and he did.
He speaks of Catcher Hart as follows: Il
signed Hart today. He has been playing with
the Boston Association team. They having
three first-class oatchers, did not need him. SO
Irwin let me have him. He is very highly
recommended by all the Boston players as a
number one catcher and good hitter
Manager Trott has arranged the following
exhibition games for next week on the home
grounds: Wednesday, April /, Washington Light
Infantry Club; Friday, April 3. Pastimes of
Baltimore: saturday, April 4, Baltimore Asso-
citation Club.
NOTES.
The team is now complete beyond question
Dunlap, who did not play Thursday, will Join
the nine in Philadelphia.
The men will return to this city Tuesday and
viii then pass in review Of the board of di-
rectors for the first time.
There was nothing done mt the National
League meeting in Cincinnati yesterday, except
a discussion of the johnson matter.
A steam roller will be used on the new
grounds for the purpose Of leveling Just as soon
us the soil becomes hard enough 20 permit the
horses to go over it.
George heefe is thought by his friends 10 be
fortunately favored by the new rules OF the
season, in that the pitching distance is con-
siderably shorter than it was last year As
left-hander he suffered severely last season
from the long alley and it is understood that
he promises TO eclipse ali of his former work
now.
The Sporting Lifs Base Ball Guide for the
season Of 1884 is out and copy has come to
The STAR. 1t il q neat little book. full! of in
formation relating to the game anu rcplete
with illustrations of the best-known men Of the
day in the sport.
How They Caught the Postmistress.
From the Continent