The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-05

OF late the rumor has been going the
rounds that the redoutable Baseball Tom
my was TO leave our midst and hence
forth would travel with the Coal Barons
from WilkesbarTe.
How 1t would break up the baseball
laity IL the king OF cranls were to shed
tie bl-ved gray for the blue 1t would
bo little short of recession, it would cast
gloom and consternatioa over the popu-
lace and doubtlessly the Grays dis
appointed and disheartened at the
loss Of their time honored mascot
Would drop by slow and easy
stages on level with the tail end
ers. When the question OF the veracity
OF the report was put To Tommy yester-
day the GEAR old chap, loyal TO the last,
admitted that Manager Chapman had
made ovcrtures 10 him, had in fact offer
ed Tim tempting bait in the form of
lump of the filthy lucre TO jump his con-
tract. tut he had not accepted, not he
His contract with the Grays was signed
and sealed; he Yves man OF his word and
as long as he was engaged as general utll-
ity man and substitute player IN sny old
position on the diamond he would live
up TO his agreement despite the sweet
and duIcet music sung INTO his ears by
any such siren as Manager Chapman.
Ip the camp of the Grays there WAS
doubt and disbelief. One and all looked
npon Tommy with sorrowing eyes as
though they doubted his protestations OF
LOYALTY and there was a feeling that III
the game was lost 1t would prove the
truth OF the rumor that the once beloved
Tom had Quilted home for other fielts.
Ptrchance II might have been due to
this, tho possible changing of their mas
cot into hoodoo that the boys put up
such ON exhibition OF yellow ball, but be
that as Il may, the Grays played with a
raggedness and lack OF team WORK which
nearly lost them the game. Tommy,
however. "rooted,' bis reputation was at
sake and he s'rooted" with all the life
and vjgor that years Of experience
has given him, and TO his JOY ultimately
succeeded in lsnding the Grays a win
ner by two runs.
Lucky, who pitched for the Coal
Barons, was severely touched up in the
first three innings, a total OF eight runs
being made of of his delivery and the
poor working of his team. But there is
some excuse In his c2se. Ii Is his first
professional game with the team, and
consequently he was more or less affected
by stage fright. After the third he
hraced up. and it wss not until the sixth
that the Providence men were again able
70 nnd him, and this time for three ruzs..
One bad trait in Lucky's pitching.
which VIII be TO his benefit TO rectify, Is
the apparent unbelief IN the ability of
his supports. 1t was noticeable yester-
day whenever batted ball was stopped
by him and he figured in the assist no
would run halfway to first and then
would toss the ball to Earle as though
doubtful whether the first baseman would
be able to hold 1t. 70.
The local cranks and casual observers
alike were considerably wrought up in the
seventh iuning when Captain Canavan
substituted Hodson for Crane in the
pitchers box. This was the yellowest OF
yellow innings. Aided by errors on tho
part OF Canavan and Bassett and sIovenly
fielding on the part OF the Grays the Wis
itors succeeded in rolling up five runs.
As q natural sequence "Big I'D" became
more or less ratified for a moment, and
after giving three singles to Lezotte, Dig
gins and Earle, was removed from the
box. II was not his fault, still Cana
van looked upon the change as beneficial
to the team and substituted Hodson
despite Murray's objection and the dis
approval of the spectators. With Hodson
in the box, however, the team steadied
itself wonderfully and in the eighth ana
ninth innings. shut the visitors out. The
summary: