The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-03
BASEBALL JOTTINGS
MANAGER WATKINS GATHERING A
STRONG TEAM.
News Of the Diamond from other
statcs-Anson CIaims Nothing and
HAS Surprised the hooters.

che local baseball team, looked knowing
yesterday afternoon and asserted that they
will, within the next week or two make an
announcement OF the members or their
team which will make the hearts OF the
faithful roUters OF this city bound with
joy. Only part OF the team has SO far
come to light as Manager Watkins has a
number OF good men on his string whom
the remainder of the willy managers of the
Western League would immedia tely
lay claim to and spoil a whole
winters work should they, by some
hook or crook, discover that
such men are wanted. Manager Watkins
says he has never before in his baseball
career been In box where ne dared not
to tell what he il doing. But he says that
when the list is made public it will prove
to be worth the waiting.
The players will begin to arrive in the
city on the 9th of this month and will
Immediately go into training for the sea-
son. practcins on the diamond when the
weather permits. A number of preliminary
games had been arranged with the yari-
Gus college teams Of the State. but the
action of the college presidents Friday night
In adopting resolution that none Of the
college teams should play with professional
teams, has destroyed this schedule. How
ever, 1T will not affect the Indianapolis
others, and Manager Watkins will
range to have semi-professional teams from
over the State play on the dates left open
by the withdrawal of the college teams.
The Light Artillery will have strong team
this season and several interesting contests
will take place with the Indianapolis team.
The Artillery team will open the season
with the Hoosiers ON the 31st of this month.
If cigars, shoes. hats. etc, will be any in
ducement to- the hard hitters of the
Hoosers there ought to be several balls
bounce against the outfieId fences of the
park every game. Advertisers are making
contracts to give such articles to the play
ers who make home runs-those who drive
the ball against certain signs. The offers
numerous, and 1t will puzzle the players
to know which sign to hit. One day cigar
in order, kut the day a new pair of shoes,
new hat or a fve-dollor gold piece may
be needed and then the ball Will be sent
spinning tc right, center or left field, ac-
cordng to the location Of the various prize
Manager Watkins is well pleased with the
changes made in the playing rules. He says
the rules u naSe Dfam ranr 80
an interpreter. The rules which govern the
power Of the umpire have now made him
practically monarch or all he surveys,
and this, Mr.. Watkins says. will do away
with the petty kicking which has spoiled
the beauty Of numerous otherwise enjoy
able games. Under the present arrange
ments. no player will have anything to say
concerning the decisions Of the umpire. and
IL he insists upon giving his opinion on the
subject lit is made compulsory for the UNI
pire to fine the player for the first osfen 1s
game ON the second. The question OF the
large nit was decided by limiting the size
catcher and first baseman. Mr. Watkins
thinks such arrangement was the best
that could have been made, as the outneld-
ers are yet allowed d large enough glove for
projections, and yet the. bunglesome, I'M
slightly catcher's nit will not be worn by
The baseball world, at least that part
occupied pg the Western League VIII have
meeting, which will be. held March II in
Aiilwaulxee. is over with. There IL prac-
meeting except the. arrangement, Of the.
schedule. The local management hopes
q q he Committee this season than last:
Indianapolis has always been good town
f fHat D there may Be games here on Dscora
ton day, Fourth OF July and Labor day.
that the y Gny VIII Be- aa
with some anxiety The season Will open
May and 12s games wi IL pc sch hs,ndEsd
games played on the local grounds, which
includes the preliminary exhibition games.
so aus IL 4 lndianapolis team IS occupying the
spare time of Manager Watkins and Presi-
air. all 1proSabilty Be light color WITH dark
trimmings. White with red trimmings is
a.
gray with brown trimmings for the travel
ing uniform has been suggested IL Is de-
sired TO obtain uniform wn,sn r VIII pres tb
season and for this reason the white uni
i bsans i unfor wnch ai
teams, s also desirable IS the players, !. to
uniform This was illustrated by Man
ager Watkins Yesterday afternoon ,s,a ION.
a game at Sioux City, and the Corn Huskers
were ut the bat in the last half of the ninth
out i1it.As 10th teams were wearing gray uni
form. making them look very much alike.
Cross was in the box for indianapolis, and
the sioux city man ON third called to him
that the ball was cut, and to throw 1t over
and let him examine t. Cross glanced over,
Indianapolis third baseman. The conse-
tSe iield W While Sioux city made the VIM VIM
ming run. Pre- sident Colt says the league
teams to wear on their home grounds,
then the travelling uniforms could be differ
emit and the opposing teams always wear
The outlook for good ball this year is
promising There is a notable absence of
extravagant claims on the part of the mani
ayers. Even Arson has not made claim
that mis- team VIII have walk-away in the
National League, and this fact has led
many persons who have watched the game
for years past TO predict that he Is gather
ing an aggregation that will make a bet
ter race for the pannant than he has been
able to make lin recent years. Contrary to
his usual boasts that his team would easily
finish III first place. he has said that he
Will make no claims for. anything until he
has won lit. This sounds as IL he had a.
team that does not need the encourage
naent OF Aroundless boasts - aid them.
With all that it seems tc be the general
opinion among the baseball writer's that the
contest in the father league this year will
be between the Eastern clubs. and the West
efn clubs seem to have tacitly conceded this
point in the arrangement of the schedule
for the big days when two games will be
played. The largest crowds can always be
secured at the home OF a winning club,
and the schedule for holiday games is nota-
BILE for the fact that three Western cities
cleveland. Cincinnati and .Tsoulsville-have
TO home games. while the other three West
ern cities have home games only orice-
July 4. OF thirty-six holiday games, thirty
will be played on the diamonds of the six
Eastern clubs.
The national game is spreading. The
news comes from England tina. the London
Baseball Association has membership of
seventy clubs and IL out of debt for the