The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-24
NEWS OF THE DIAMOND
DoINGs or THE TEAMS PREPARA.
TORY TO THE SUMMERS WORK.
All Western League Managers strfv-
Ing for Good Players-A Lively
Season I'm Prospect.

The season is near at hand when the
rooters and the small boy will be equally
delighted at the approach of o'clock in
the afternoon. The rooter will pay the
price of admission and take his seat in the
grand stand, while the small boy will en-
joy the national game in the cheaper, but
more democratic manner. If he gets to
the grounds before all the knot holes in the
fence are pre-empted he will lay claim to
the first one he finds and then defend it the
rest of the afternoon; or, IL too late for
that, he will wait near the entrance gate
for a FOUL If good fortune follows him he
will likely get one before the game is half
over, and then be allowed to enjoy the
balance of the game from a seat near the
top of the bleachers.
1t is expected that the championship sea-
son will open with the Western league
about May 1. The schedule meeting will
be held in Milwaukee March H. and at
that time the matter will be settled. There
is also some talk Of cutting the season to
four and one-haf months but this plan has
few advocates. The season last year was
five months, and is generally considered
short enough. There will be some lively
hustling at the schedle meeting for the
good dates. These Memorial day, July
T. Labor day and any other days which
may be set apart in the different States
for legal holidays.
None of the baseball teams of the Western
League are intending to train in the South
this season. The cost of such preparatory
work is too great for the result attained,
and the managers have decided that the
grounds, together with number of pre-
liminary games, which the most of the teams
National League mines, viii put the players
in good condition by the time the season
opens. Indianapolis has an advantage in
this preparation, in that she is farther south,
and if the weather is in any degree propiti-
GUS to practice the diamond she will UNI
doubtedly get the benefit of it. Then, too,
she is farther east than the most of the
Western teams, and will have greater OPP
portunity for securing games with the Ma
been arranged with the Cincinnati, Cleve-
land, Chicago, Louisville and st. Louis
teams, and by the time playing begins Man
ager Watkins expects to have dates ar
ranged with the National League teams
from the far East. The indianapolis players
will begin to arrive here the latter part of
next month, and will be given little team
work on the field if the weather will permit.
Then the schedule of preliminary games as
arranged will be carried out
The National League committee on rules
will meet in New York tomorrow to decide
on the regulations for the coming season.
Ned Hanlon, chairman of the committee,
has list of changes which he intends to
changes, the ones he will suggest being
more in the nature of simplifying existing
rules rather than making new ones. His
great aim will be to give the umpire book
of rules that can be interpreted without
the aid of a lawyer. In this way he hopes
to do away with the disgraceful arguments
which often take place over the umpires
Interpretation of some rule. The most rad
ical change he suggests is in the size of
pin1 fhn FOL Gf nm
Under the present rules 1t Is IL by inches,
but Mr.. Hanlon suggests that it be made
baseman will be the only ones who will be
permitted to wear the immense gloves
which heretofore have been Wofn by almoss
expected to put little more science In
the game.
Last year considerable trouble
perienced in deciding what constituted
bunt hit Mr. Hanlon suggests it be de-
fined as "a deliberate attempt to hit ball
slowly within the infield, so it cannot be
felded by. an infelder in time to retire the
batsman."
the outfield fly, over which the umpires had
so much trouble last season, the. umpire
will be made to declare as soon as the ball
is hit whether it is an inheld or an outfield
fly, that the base runner Will know what
claring the batSman out on a fly hit that
''can be handled by an infielder." Mr.. Han
lon would make it compulsory upon the
umpires to prevent endless kicking by play
ers. He suggests the following: ANY
player other than the captain leaving his
position in the field. or leaving the bench
to question decision by the umpire shall
be fined by the umpire not more than $40
for the rSt % ana nd TOR tine rn
the game 1t should also be compulsory
upon the umpires, the Baltimore president
them by the rules, and he believes that if
they do not exert their authority they
should themselves be subject to a fine by
the League.
The following list of players signed by
Western League clubs is published by
Sporting Life. This list includes only six
ty-four players, but it is thought fully
twice that number have been signed. Con-
tracts are being held back until salaries
are adjusted under the salary limit.
Indianapolis George E. NicoI, Sam B.
Mert Marvey Robert
ST. Paul-Olie H Smith, ]. A. Messerly,
Tim ORourke John T. Pickett.
Toledo-Robert Gilks, Albert .Weddege,
Albert Wood. Marvin H. Hawley, Fred
Joseph Walsh, Frank Snyder, Tommy Nj
land, James L. Outcalt, w iiliam Dam
William Gaghe Goy Charles erny
Nops, Frank Russell. Mike S. Reach.
Kansas ctyMartn e Bergen tn William
err Georse Cary william in Summers. o Pad-
Il. Armstrong, Kirtley Baker. William
Grand Rapids D. Donahue, Michael
J. Kilroy, II. G. Troby. Fred W. Clausen.
Peter Cassidy, James Callopy, Robert Car
uthers, G.. d. Jones, w. H. Wheelock,
Frank Fear.
Minneapolis Wilson. Joe Strauss,
j. w. Healys Perry Werden, John Free
man, H. L. Clayton. Jack Tanning, Joe
| Werrick.
Manager Watkins has released Caplinger,
to Jacksonville, McGreevy and Mertes to
| Quincy and Hansen to Peoria.
Amos Rusie, the big New York pitcher.
| has been the cause of a great deal of
trouble in the National League this year,
and at one time it seemed that his demand
, for more money would result in some seri-
| Gus trouble President Freedman, of the
New York club, was in a dilemma, and, as
| he expressed it, might just well close his
| ball park as not to have Rusie. He was in
| frame of mind to aceede to almost any
+. demand Rusie might make, when he called
on his friend Byrne. president of the
| Brooklyn club, for advice. He was told to
| scorn Rusie's demands and prepare to play
ball without him. Mr.. Freedman was not
much pleased with this advice, and it
/ seems from recent developments that he
| did not accept it. He Immediately sent a