Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-17
AMATEUR ATHLETICS.
Opening Of the Season Of 1892 With
Unparalleled Activity.
TENNIS GAINING IN POPULARITY.
Improvements Made in the Various Pitts
burg Club Grounds
FIELD MEETINGS ALREADY ANNOUNCED

racquets. Add to this the number sold by
numerous other dealers and the several
hundred players who did not need new
racquets and you will have slight idea of
the number of devotees of tennis in Pitts
burg and vicinity. The actual number of
tennis players in the vicinity is variously
estimated at from 5000 to $4,000. The
popularity of the game is growing year by
year, and though it is yet too early to begin
play, preparations of grounds, ETC., portend
a wonderful activity in that pleasant pas
time.
Every amateur athletic club in the coun-
ty now caters to tennis players, and as a
result there will be at least q
score more club courts this year
than last. The Pittsburg Tennis
Club is just now somewhat entangled, but
hopes to be prepared for play early in the
season. The trouble with the club is that
it is not sure Of having its Bellefeld
grounds. The owner, Mrs Dawson, wishes
to dispose of the property, and the club has
SO far failed to secure q lease of the prem
ises. There is another scheme on foot,
however, which may fix the club better
To Purchase the BeIl.neId 0rounda
Three members Of the club, MessrA Barr,
Moorhead and Dawson, are organizing q
land company among the club membership
to purchase the property and lease it to the
club. The gentlemen have so far been quite
successful with the project and it now looks
as though 1t would 60 through. Nearly all
the shares have been taken, and the pro-
moters of the scheme hope to finish their
ment the land company will have a good
thing. as we'll as put the club In good con-
dition, as the property is quite valuable.
If the grounds become the property of the
land company large sum of money will be
spent in Improvements. A frst-class club
house will be erected, and everything will
be put in good shape. The idea of club
honse came up last year, but nothing could
be done inasmuch as the ground could only
be leased from year to year and the club
would be in danger of having it sold and be
out the money spent in improvements If
the property comes into the hands of the
club men there will be no difficulty en-
countered in securing the money necessary
to make improvements.
Tournaments to Be Held ThIs Season,
NOIWlLHStauuluU Iue IdCG JnaG INC CluD
feels little unsettled, arrangements are
made for the regular tournament for the
Western Pennsylvania championship,
which will be held on the same dates as last
year, the week of July II. The tournament
promises to be especially good, from the
fact that the club feels alittle chagrined
that the championship left the city last sea-
son. Mr.. Buch, of Altoona, who took the
honors, won on his merits but he will have
to work harder to keep it in his possession
another year. There are number of Pitts
burg men who are going i1 to work for the
cup this year. OF course, the list will in
clude Mr.. Moorhead, who was defeated last
year.
All the Western Pennsylvania tourna-
ments will be on dates corresponding to last
year. The Altoona double championship
event will be the first week in August,
though some of the members would prefer q
July date. Numerous club tournaments
will also be held during the season. The
Sewickley Athletic Club will be prepared
for good season on its new grounds, and
baps more. The Allegheny Athletic Club
and East End Gymnastic Club are also
counting on open tournaments during the
season.
The Brushton Club Grounds.
The Pittsburg Cricket Club will not only
have frst-class cricket season, but IL pre-
pairing for boom in tennis as well. The
clubs grounds at Brushton are now ac-
cessible by the Duquesne street railway,
and as there are excellent improvements in
the way of clubhouses, courts, etc., the
club grounds will be more popular than in
previous years. Four new courts will be
added this spring, making an even dozen in
all. Heretofore the distance has prevented
many ladies using the grounds, but this
season large addition to the list OF lady
members is anticipated.
The cricket club is to give its regular
tournament this year as usual. As there |
has been some talk of the Pittsburg Tennis |
Club going to- pieces the cricket club has |
been quietly negotiating to have the big |
tournament on the Brushton grounds. This |
will not very likely occur, as the tennis |
club is pretty sure of coming out in good !
shape, If not on the Bellefeld grounds some |
place else almost as good. Both of these |
popular clubs expect to have large in i
crease in membership this season.
The East End Gym Boys.
The East End Gymnastic Club will open
its outdoor season about May 30 with big |
open field day,at their park. In the mean |
time quite q number Of improvements are |
booked. The park will be leveled of, the |
courts and other like improvements made. /
Beginning with the May tournament, meet
ings will be held monthly until the end of
the season.
Inasmuch as some of the club members
think they could do pretty good 50-yard
dash, that event will be added to the list.
The programmes will be arranged to suit
those who wish to enter and any event will
be added which will increase the interest.
Already some of the members have begun
indoor training and will be given outside
work as soon as the weather will permit.
At this months meeting of the club eight
new members were elected. The new men
are all good in some department of athletics
and will add to the clubs roll of honor.
Among them are bicyclist, high kickeD
Jumpers, etc. Prof Kirchner is going to
put his men through hard this season and
make the record OF the club better than it
was last year.
Pittsburs's Amateur Baseball Teams.
There is one thing that is disappointing
10 all local amateurs, and that is the fact
hat Pittsburg will not be represented in
The A. A. q. Baseball League. The boys
believe that Pittsburg could produce team
IF amateurs that would stand pretty close
% the top if they would not be pennant
winners. The Eastern teams are too tar
away for Pittsbure to enter, rs the expense
would be much greater t han the income.
Why would it not be o good scheme for
he Allegheny Athletic Association and
East End Gym teams to play series of
yames for the city championship and the
Winners challenge the winners of the A. A.
o. championship for series of games here
lfter the close of the season.? That Is an
dea the clubs should entertain. There is
10 doubt that the games would draw well
md be money makers for the winning club.