The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-28

last meeting before the season opens, ana
all the clubs will then buckle down to get
ting their teams together and making
ready for the opening game
The schedule committee appointed at
the last meeting has arranged a schedule
which will be submitted to the directors
for approval. and. with probably few al
terations will be accepted.
copy of the proposed schdule has been
received by the Savannah Club. 1t opens
on April r. and closes August q. Savan-
nah opens at Charleston, plays three
games and returns to Savannah where
Charleston opens here. This is very good
idea. 1t does not make any club play
long series of games away from home be-
fore giving the home people chance to
see the work of their team. In past years
some teams have gone off at the beginning
of the season on long trip, and returned
home with a long list of defeats at their
credit, with the natural result that the
fans had lost interest in their playing and
poor attendance was the result.
This year it will be different No team
will play over nine games, either at home
or abroad, on a stretch, and in most
cases a stay at home or a trip on the cir
cult win average six games. The COM
pactness Of the circuit makes this posi-
bic, where il was not practicable in other
southern leagues
Savannah has Memorial day, April rs,
at home and Fourth of July also. The
holidays have been given to the big cities,
Savannah, Atlanta and Charleston, as it
is thought that the large attendance in
those cities would make it profitable for
not only the home teams, but the visit
ing teams, also. For instance, Augusta
in Savannah on Fourth of July would
draw twice as well as Savannah in Au-
gusta. Two games will probably be played
on the Fourth of July, morning and an
afternoon game.
Each club will play sixty games at home
and the same number abroad. The length
of the season is Just about right. 1t might
have closed a little earlier but any short
ening of the season would have necessi-
tated the cutting off of an entire series,
or thirty games, and this would have
made the season too short.
In a letter to the Savannah people in
terested in the club, President Blood
worth gives gratifying news. Mr.. 5. II.
Myers of Augusta writes that that city
is all right, and will be right in the push.
James Smith, Jr., of Columbus, who is
assisting Mai. Winters in organizing the
Macon Club, says the Central City has
subscribed funds to carry the club through
and that Macon will have its team signed
in a few days.
Savannah will be represented at the
league meeting tomorrow night, and one
or two gentlemen interested in the club
will go up tonight. There is no doubt
whatever as 10 the situation in Savannah,
and if all of the other cities are in as
good condition, as it is believed they are,
-
an opportunity of seeing some very good
bail here during the coming season.
Manager McFarlan has not been heard
from in some time. A letter has been
expected from him for several days, and
will probably reach here very soon. The
advance money of some of the players
should have been sent out some time ago,
and it is probable that he is having
hard time trying to quiet his men, but il
everything shows up well at the meeting
tomorrow, the money Will be forwarded
Immediately Tuesday, and McFarlan viii
be instructed to arrange to bring the
players to Savannah The players win
not report for about three weeks but ii
is thought that McFarlan will come here
at once to assist in closing some of the
arrangements and the fitting up of the
ball park. There are lots of little pre-
liminaries to be arranged, in which the
advice of thorough base ball man like
McFsrlan will be valuable.
The Savannah team will number eleven
men, including McFarlan. who will play
centerfield. While McFarlan has about
sixteen men under contract, the team will
probably be picked from the following
players: Petty, Buecker and Leach,
pitchers Adams and Gibson, catchers;
Tate, Brodie, Jobe and Davis, inhelders;
Seery, Edwards and McFarlan outield-
ers
Buecker will probably be the star pitch
er and from all reports he is going to
prove a find. All of the sporting papers
speak of him highly and Savannah seems
TO have been fortunate in getting him
He Is young, but has been remarkably
successful He is said to have excellent
curves, a strong arm, and perfect control
of the ball
Alex Brodie is another good man. He
can play almost any position in the in
field. and Is fine base runner and heavy
hitter His record In the Virginia State
League last year is good.
McFarlan says the forte of his team
will be at the bat, and he predicts that
II will be the hardest hitting in the
league. He says every man on the team
is a good hitter, while some of them
are away up in stick work.
McFarlan has been made to understand
that Savannah must have a good team,
The people of this city have always been
used TO a hrst-class article OF ball. The
teams which have represented this city
I'm former years have always come out
well In the race for the pennant, and this
~ the only kind Of ball the fans will
support. They do not insist upon having
a pennant winner but they want an ag-
gregation that will be somewhere up near
the head Of the procession, and. while IL
may not gain the rag, Il will make the
winning team fight hard.
Bob Harper OF Savannah Is very anxious
20 get trial on the Savannah team. and
II is more than probable that he viii be
given one. Harper signed "A contract TO
play with Savannah, and gave It to La
mar when the latter was representing sa-
Vannah, but the contract was never sent
70 McFarlan for approval Harper saws
ne had offers from other clubs. and claims
mat he could have signed with Richmond
I Lamar had not obtained his contract.
harper Is very good man, Is extremely
popular with the base ball-going public
ana they viii unite IN an effort to get
MN on the team. lie says he only wants
- trial, and Is confident that HE qhov,