Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-24
BASE BALL SITUATION.
Augusta Team in Excellent Shape
for the Season of 1896.
All Now Needed is Liberal Stock Subscriptions
by the Public.

solicitation of stock subscriptions row in
progress One thing is certain, unless the
people of the Kennebtc valley who are in,
terested in the national game are ready to
| give it a substantial backing. such team
cannot be maintained. With such "a back
ing, we are in position to state that We
can put into the field team vastly
stronger In all its departments than the
one that represented us, last year. We are
glad to State that so far rs the canvass
has thus far progressed it has met with a
most generous response. We think that
kennebec valley people generally appre-
ciate the value of being represented by a
live team in the strongest base ball leasue
OF the New England states It's advertis-
ing value alone is not to be under esti
mated. Behind the various clubs of the
league stand some of the
most substantial business men of the
various cities represented III it. The
league Is well Differed and its affairs are
conducted upon those methods which ex.
periencc has shown essential to the high
est success Of the game.
1t is perhaps needless to onumerate here
the handicaps under which we entered
the league, last season. \ new team had
to be developed Of young and unknown
players. A complete equipment WIS pur-
chased, two new grounds put in condition
for playing and finally, by long process
| of sitting, most creditable team was
evolved. The great weakness of the team
| throughout the season was in the pitch
ing department. A the start it was i'm
possible to secure any experienced
pitchers, and all of the young expert
ments who Were tried in the position were
speedily found wanting Later in the
season the acquisition of the veteran Dill
worth partially filed this need, and about
the middle of the season Coylc came to fill
long felt want. These two men were
practically the only winning pichers the
team had during the entire season 1t is
true that Butler pitched few very strong
games; but he was signed as a catcher,
and it was behind the bat that he did his
best work for the team. In this position
he has no superior in the New England
League, and he should be regularly
played there.
So much for the last season, now as to
the coming one. Although the work of
securing new men has not been done with
brass band, it is nevertheless true that
the officers of the association have carried
on large correspondence with players
and are now able to announce that the
team will be able to start the season with
six experienced pitchers, from whom it
should be possible to select four who will
be amply able to hold their own against
the heavy hitters of the league.
OF the old players, Butler, Pickett,
Kelley, Bean, Doherty, Dilworth, Conner
and Johnson will be retained. The idea
is to make up the team at the start, and
carry IL men through the season, all of
the three extra men being pitchers. One
Of the outfielders will also be player
capable of putting up strong game on
the intield in case of accident to any of
the regular players there.
All of the new pitchers who are on the
string, and whose names we hope to be
able to announce before the close of the
week, have been tried out in fast com
pany. Two of them are also recommended
rs tirst-class ortiielders and hard hitters
With this aggregation there appears to be
no reason why our kennebec team should
not be able to make n most credtablo
showing and put UP from the start to the
close of the season far stronger game
than they played. last summer.
| Now Il word as to the new manager
While it is true that no selection has been
made rs yet for this place, it is also true
that over 100 applications have been made
for the position. The officers of the asso-
citation felt that in view of this fact. and
! Will loSCINtti ttuiii, tllcit vas lio utttt
| of undue haste in the matter The work
of the winter Is wholly clerical, and this
has been done patiently and thoroughly by
the officers Of the team, with, as will ap-
pear later, gratifying results.
1t is probable that the selection of a
manager will be made the present week,
and we feel safe in predicting that he will
be first-class man, of successful expert
ence in the business, thorough knowl-
edge of the game, and an acquaintance
with players that will enable him to
strengthen the team at whatever points it
may he found necessary.
In word-the outlook for a good man
ager and good team is very bright All
that remains is to insure it, at the start,
sufficient backing to carry it through the
season.
Our people had the opportunity. last
summer, to see faster ball than was ever
seen before in the kennebec valley, and
they We're not slow in showing their ap-
precciation of it. The indications now