The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-26

BASEBALL NEWS,
Items of Interest CONCERNING tho Nov.
ments Of Roanoke Players.

0A6GR ALL NEWS
Items of Interest CONCERNING tho Move.
ments of Roanoke Players.
a reporter Of The TINES yesterday in
his regular rounds learned somethfng
about the movements of the Roanoks
baseball players, which will doubtless
be read wish great relish by the cranks.
Manager Boyer has asigned another
player, L. D. Williams, for regular
catcher.
He comes from the State of indiana
IRON which State so many fne ball
players Gomez and played the past season
with the famous Anderson team of that
State. he ia 25 years OF age, is 6 feeF
high and weighs IT'S pounds. Williams
Is natural ball player, catching the
sWifsest pitching with great ehse. throws
TO bases like shot. As q hitter, b ia
way ap, being very hard, safe hitter.
HIS trst professional engagement Was
in 1880. Vhen he played in tho Nebraska
State League. In go he played In Now
Castle, Ifd.; in 81, played in Peru, Ind,
OF the Iadisna State league, and led
that team in batting and fielding. After
VI ne played with the strongest indie
pendesit club in Indiana until '94, WHOM
ne csnghs Ard captained the Kinghton,
lndj, team, at thai time considered tho
state. In the spring OF '95 40 sssrted
an with the famous Demorest club, of
Wiliismsport, Pa, but wss too high
priced catcher for that team, SO hs re-
turned to Anderson, Ind, whera ho
nnlahed the season, playing in every
game C95), having {. fielding sverage OF
9S5 aud basting average OF ais Ho
refused to acceps an offer during o5 70
join the Cincianati league club and the
Grand Rapids OF tho Western league,
preforring to make 81 record for .hinsel I
in minor lcsguo first. This soaeon he
was sought aitsr by Austin, Tex. and
minneapolis, but was secured by Mana
ger Boyer. Bancrofs, manager OF Cin-
cinnsti' says: "Williams will make
you first class man" Spence, msrager
OF Demorest, OF Williamspore, GAYS:
williams is fast enough for the ma
tional league; is s. good catcher, hard
hitter and throws fine to bases; besides
Ia O great all-round player" James,
manager of the Anderson, Ind, Eagles
last season, says: "Willisms was tho
best man I bad last season; fine
catcher, good base runner, throws we'll
to bases Snd a good, sure, hard hitter;
beides being great round player
and does not drink"
In securing Williams Manager Boyer
does not hesitate in saying that he Is
positive Williams' work IS catcher
will not be surpassed by any catcher In
the Virginia league the coming season.
Williams writes Manager Boyer that
he ts taking excellent care of himself
and ia practiclng daily in the club
rooms.
Williams, with his catching, hitting
and sll-round playing, will certainly
prove en- acquisition to our club.
The New York Giants will play our
team on March &c and the Phiiadelphia
team on April 4. Mr.. Hanlon, manager
OF the Baltimore Champions, has written
for April 4, but as this date WAS pre-.
viously given to Philadelphia. the date
for them has not yes been definitely
arranged, but will be one day early in
April. Tho Brooklyn and Boston clubs
are also expected here during the prac-
tice season, and very likely Ted Sulli-
vans '"Tod Sullivan's Texas Saeess"
Will play US gamo. The manager of
the Syracuse team In the Eastern league
also wants dste.
Several college teams have written
for dates. The season will BIO likely to
open on Thur;day, A pril 1G. and it ia
expected that Roanoke will opon away
from home.
a meeting OF the State league will BIO
held in Richmond February 10, q
schedule adopted, president and gen.
ersl manager elected snd all matters
arranged preliminary to the opening Of
the season.
The Roanoke players are ex pecsed to
report for practice about March 16, so
as to be in good condition OF the OPEN
ing OF the season.
Walter Brodie. the great csnter
fielder Of the Baltimore champions,
takes six mile run every day for the
purpose of getting himself in condition
for the opening OF tho season.
Jake Sherer, Roanoke's center fielder
OF last year, has signed with the New
Haven team in the Atlantic Associa-
ton.
The enserptising firm of Gilkeson &
Child have displayed in their front win
dow photographs of the memb ers OF til o
Roanoke baseball team. Among those
80 displayed are G. W. Bowyer. mana
ger; S. D. Williams, regular catcher; O..
FL. Sheehan, change catcher; Jim Sulll-
van, first base; M. @. Mitchell, second
base; Jas. Groves, lefs-fielder; Harry
P. Tate, center fielder; j. II. Tomney,
Mccain, PetsingeF, Eddinger, Kimble
and MORALS, pitchers