The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-17
SIGNING NEW PLAYERS
INDIANAPOLIS BALL CLUB HAS A
NUMBER OF GOOD MEN.
Schedule of Preliminary Games
Holiday Dates mt HOme-What
New York offered Rusie.

cranks and rooters are beginning to ask
what sort of a team Indianapolis is to sup
port this season. And the same old answer,
that it is to be the best in the Western
Association, is about all the information
that can be elected. But President Colt
and Manager Watkins firmly assert that
indianapolis is better provided with good
ball players than any other of the West
ern teams. AS yet, however, they decline
to name the members of the team, as all
the contracts have not been made IRON
clad and with the large amount of Skin
mishing after available ball players in
which the managers are at present indulg-
ing they feel that the least unguarded
word from them might ruin the apparent
ly bright prospects of the local team. About
March / the team members will all be
signed and everything be in condition for
the public to know all about the men
who are to win the laurels for Indianapolis.
Yesterday word was received from Roat,
who played a part of the last season with the
Indianapolis team. He is ready to sign
with this years team. Shields, who was
about in the notion of becoming one Of the
HooSiers, heard a rumor that Glena1vin
was to sign with this team, suddenly
changed his mind and declined to come
here for fear that he might become second
best to some other man. But now that
his mind has been disabused of such an
idea, there is some chance that he will
again consider Indianapolis as his head
quarters for the summer. Manager Wat
kins says that he has had no information
that Glenalvin would be with the Indian
apolis team. Perry Coughrnan, new man
to Indianapolis people, will be one of the
ball twisters. Coughman was well recon-
mended by Fred Ener, the well-known st.
Louis short stop. Word has just been re-
ceived from Coughman that he is now at
Platea, Pa, where he has a large room
IN which he is daily throwing the ball and
that he expects to be in excellent condi-
ton when he joins the team here. Pas
torious and Sonier will also pitch for the
home team and the noted Bob Wood will
be one of the catchers. 1t is also decided
that Jack Newell will be at short. George
Henry and George Nichol will help carry
on the work in the outfeld A. N. Clifford,
who became renowned in his work with the
Butler University football team last fall,
and T. F. White, both local and compare
lively untried men, are to be given trial
in the infield.
Manager Watkins states that all anna
tours of merit will be given a chance to
show their ability and if any Of them prove
to be worthy they will be kept with the
team. A local pitcher named Fisher is to
be tried also. Walters. an outfielder, whom
Roct ester and Indianapolis both wanted so
badly that a board Of arbitration was ap-
pointed to settle the dispute, was finally
awarded to Indianapolis. Now it is claimed
that Manager Chapman, of Rochester. has
frightened Walters out of signing with In
diarapolis because money had been adj
vanced to him by the Rochester manage
ment and they threaten to make it warm
for him if be comes to indianapolis. Man
ager Watkins has written to President
to release all hold on Walters.
It is intended that the Indianapolis team
shall play a number of preliminary games
before the regular season opens. The team
has arranged to open the Cincinanti season
on March 81 and April l. After that the
At Home-April 2, Wabash College; 8, But
Ter University; A.. 5 and s. st. Louis; 8,
caoned team o an from cagada Which has
been travelling over the country in a spe-
cial car; II, Terre Haute; 10, Is, Cleveland;
90, Chicago AbroadaMarch 81 and April 1
Haute: e May 2, 5, Fort Wayne. There are
yet some open dates which Manager Wat
for the association has about decided to
have the Indianapolis team play at nome
Labor day This Would suit it the local man IAN
agement very we'll and it is hoped that such
an arrangement will be made.
There has been some stir in baseball cir
| cles in this city during the last week, &C.
Cs stoned by the visit of Manager Davis Of
| the New York team, who came here
| to try to induce Amos Rusie. the stal
pitcher to sign a contract with the New
| York team, with whom he played last year
Mr. Davis was very anxious that it should
| not be known that he was in the city anc
| he registered at the Grand Hotel under az
assumed name. 1t seems that he and Rusit
| failed to agree for he left the. town will
| the contract in his pocket still unsigned
| The trouble was that Davis was unwill
ing to pay Rusie's price. AT the close O
| the last season Ruse claims there wa.
some $3.50 due him for extra work and h
| has never been able to secure it. On tn,
return of Manager Davis to New Yorl
| the newspapers there told some strang
| tales of how Rusie had been offered $500
and had refused to sign. Rvsie states that h
/ was only offered $1,000 and that amount wa
| to include the $3.50 already due him. He say
| he demanded $500. and that as he think
| he is worth at least that much he will
not go for less. Manager Davis says tn
Giants" will sail for Jacksonville, Fla.
either the 2Srd inst. or 9th to begin prac
| either the Esd inst. or 9th has not reporte'
| by that time no further efforts will b
made by him to sign him.