The morning call., 1893-04-17
GOSSIP OF THE GAME.
Notes of the Californian and Eastern
Diamonds.

The baseball fever has broken out again
in its most yirulent form. CIanks can be
heard in oil places and at all times discuss
ing the relative merits of teams and indi-
vidual players.
The fever has struck Oakland so badly
that other outdoor sports have been rele-
gated TO the background, and the Oakland
club has caught the fancy of the cranks
from over the bay. In fact, their old
championship team of 1882 which Oakland
went crazy over and wined and dined to
their hearts content, has been suppIanted
in their affections by the present Colonels
Reitz is making a phenomenal success
with the Baltimore team. In the exhibit
ton series just played his work has been
hailed with delight and wonder by the
baseball enthusiasts; in fact he is already
being considered the premier infelder in
the Baltimore club.
The Augusta team of the Southern League
has already made itself felt, as the league
clubs that played through the South have
pronounced IL the strongest club in the
league. This is peculiarly gratifying to the
California League managers, for the
Augusta team is drawn wholly from the
California League and demonstrates beyond
a doubt the superiority of the California
Leaguein in playing strength over other minor
leagues.
a list of the Augusta team will be readily
identified by California League patrons 1t
includes Wilson, German. Denny, DoOley
jimmy Stafford, Bill Everett Stallings ana
O'Brlen of last years Oaglands.
Augusta cranks in a recent game pre-
Sented Jerry Denny with 4 suit Of clothes.
hat, gold-headed cane. um brella and cigars
innumerable for knocking Il home run over
the fence. Denny will be in clover if this
practice continues, for Jerry is an adept at
long hits.
a recent issue Of 4 sporting paper Bit Nc
Quad hard lick for jumping Oakland and
calls on President Young to discipline him.
Lohman seems to have regained his old
time power, as Tar as throwing is con
cerned; with his arm IN shape he is one Of
the strongest throwers in the profession.
Stockton has secured new man in Nc
Wicker. He IS reputed to be very heavy
batter. His advent viii cause change in
the position OF the team, as II IS more than
probable that the Duke VIII play him first,
Sweeney second and Lawrence center field
Whitehead is playing better ball than at
any time since 1855, when he made his entry
in the league with the Stockton team. His
manner OF playing third electrified all audi
ences those days, and it was no unusual
occurrence TO hear the crauks extol his
play as superior 10 that of Jerry Denny,
who was then in his prime and the ackn0wl-
edged king-pin CT the country at third base.
The weakness OF the home team has de-
Yeloped ltseit IN the pitchers box, as
neither Knell nor Balsz have pitched the
ball they are capable Of. both being very
erratic and lacking control.
Danny Sweeney has been relegated to
ObscuTily This player was one of the
most popular that ever played in the league.
but he traded on his popularity to defy
discipline and cause Decentralization, until
his release for the sake of discipline WAS a
matter OF necessity.
Clark Is not doing any catching for the
BRtlmOTes, as he Is suffering with a sore
arm and cauuOt do auV thTOWinp
Billy Lang, late of the Oaklands. who
signed to play center field for Chicago is
doing all the catching for the club In its
exhibition games and is filling the bill re-
markably we'll
Jack Sheridan has been appointed umpire
in the Southern League.
Callopy Of the Oaklands is not throwing
very well, but this Is not the result of ina
bility, but rather of a sore arm, as he has
always been regarded as one of the most
accurate Of minOr-lelgue thr0wers n the
country.
A fact not generally known Is that first
Baseman Fare is graduate veterinary
surgeon Of more than ordinary ability.
Tom Brown has been appointed captain
of the LOuisyilles.
Dewald of last seasons Oaklands is do
ing some fine pitching in the Southern
League.
McCloskey of the Sacramento team of '9l
is managing the Montgomery club of the
Southern League. His side partner, Beesie
McQuirk, is playing first for his club.
GO0denough and Cartwright frs base for
Frisco for 81, are playing with Memphis Of
the Southern League.
Efforts 10 place the p. n. w. League on a
live basis have failed.
The series Of five games between the San
Francisco and Los Angeles teams, which
closed with yesterdays game. has been
disastrous one for the Los Angeles man
ageT, chiefly because he has had no pitcher
upon whom he could depend in an emer-
gsncy. Jack Roach is d good SOU thpaw"
and not out OF place in the crowd where he
now finds himself; his record last season Is
enough to clearly demonstrate that, but he
works out against an uphill pull such as
the southern team has had here this week.
NlcOl is really an untried man in this kind
Of company, and Will have TO overcome his
nervousness before he will win against the
old slageTs in The Harris band Of hope.
Borchers IS a puzzle that will be solved
sometime in the future. In fact, he Is an
experiment. Mr.. Ludley should have
brought Mr.. Cobb along.
Manager Finn is after Shlebeck, who was
released by Los Angeles the FIRST of the
week. His introduction into the Stockton
team will cause a change of positions all
around, and, 1t Is conceded, will strengthen
the team. There can be little doubt that
he Will be on the inside of a Stockton uni
form In the opening game OF the coming
series.
Danny McVicars. the man who took
midget" Sweeney's place in the Stockton
team, was put i'm left field and has thus far
played great game. Stockton may vet get
over on the sunny side Of easy street If Finn
keeps on signing good players.
The rumor reached here yesterday that
McQuaid has been left out Of the makeup
of the New York club. Perhaps, after all
he had better have STAYED with the Colonel