The morning call., 1892-04-11

yesterday was Harris, as no runs were made
on either side after he was taken out OF The
box. The young man was not ratified but
he couldn't get his high ball low enough.
a few more days of practice and fine weather
he will come around all right.
Next Tuesday the Colonies open the new
Oakland grounds, but at this early date it
is impossible to announce the makeup of
Oakland team. Some of them may escape
on the trip up from Los Angeles or take up
quarters in the local pound. 1t is hard TO
tell just what the colonel will do. He says
he has more men coming from the East, and
no doubt he has, but it will behoOve these
young men to start with requisiti0ns from
the Governor Of their State to the Governor
of California in case they should want to
return home at short notice.
Elaborate arrangements have been made
for the opening exercises across the bay
with carriages. brass bands. etc. Frisco and
Oakland are the attraction for that day and
will be exhibited to the populace for an
hour or so on the principal streets, after
which they will fall to on a brand new dia-
mond. The grounds have been rolled into
state of solidity and the fences set back
for the accommodation of hard hitters. 1t
Is expected that an immense crowd will
turn out TO honor the Oakland magnate who
can get good players but cannot keep Them
Three games are to be played across the
bay this week. Following the opening Los
Angeles and the tail-enders play game on
Wednesday. Thursday they play at Haight
street. Friday In Oakland. and Saturday and
Sunday on this side. making six games all
told for the week. Frisco opens series of
four games in San Jose on Thursday. The
cTaDks there are bursting with eageIDesS for
game or two even If their idols are in third
place.
Have you noticed a certain redness of late
in the eyes of tie ex-California League
players who are out of job? 1t is not
caused by dissipation. The chill sea breeZes
whistling through knot holes i'm the left field
fence brings on that redness of eye. 1t is
noticeable in the entire knothOle Brigade
from Pop SWEET down to Pete MeegaD, but
there is no help for il. The unemployed
must peep through holes and cracks In the
fence if they want TO see the game
Time was when ballpiayers were admit
ted free to the games. A broken finger or
dislocated thumb-joint was an open sesame,
but they don't go now. A star OF last
season. and even players who have played
in the teams this season, must dig up two
bits or pick out knOthole at convenient
height from the ground. As result the
boys have formed a Knothoe Brigade and
boyc0tted the baseball business, and any
member caught paying his way into the
park is backlisted.
The brigade includes: Tom Power, pres
ident; Pop SWEET. secretary; Shea, CahilI,
Bug ODay. FogaIty, Donahne, Meegan,
Josh Riley, Gagus. Peoples, Bill Brown and
George Sharp. Each of these members have,
knotholes with their names or numbers on
them, and some have boxes to sit on. These
men, or some Of them at least. played the
kind Of bali that put the California League
where 1t Is to-day. They made the game
popular and profitable for the managers Of
that day and this, and now they want the
earth in the shape of 10-cent seat on the
bleacherS
This shows what a ballplayer gets by
making a swine of himself when his play
ing days are over. and now he has nothing
but a wnd-swept knothole at which TO
place his blood-shot eye while viewing the
performances of his old comrades who are
still in the race. Bill, Brown went out to
the park the other day after a long siege Of
sickness to see game. lie stood gazing In
through the portal for some time. but no
one asked him TO come il and take a seat.
When he attempted to pass In they refused
him.
Pop SWEET and Power rustled around and
found nice large KIN 0thole for Bill back Of
left field, but be was so weak from recent
sickness that he could not stick TO his post
long enough to see the game out. 1t seems
that room might be found on the inside for
the few unemployed players in town. 1t is
true that the managers have been sorely
Overrun with non professional deadheads.
but they might stop these without drawing
the lines so closely as to exclude Power,
SWEET, PEBBLES, Sharp and others Of the
knOthOle Brigade.