San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-04-25
FOOD FOR
THE FANS.

body is picking winners. AS much
interest in the game has never been
manifested as this season and there is
every indication that baseball will be
a real success in Texas in 1897. All
the cities that are represented in the
association are enthusiastic over their
respective clubs and all the cranks of
these cities claim theirs is the winning
team. 1t is too early to attempt
comparison of the various teams, at
this time. for no one team has yet
played the entire circuit. The only
comparison to be made from San An
tonic standpoint is with Austin. We
have seen these two teams play and
can express an opinion as to their mer-
it's. While the Senators cannot be
classed as a slow team-in fact 1T is
the fastest aggregation the Capital
City has ever had with the possible
exception of McCloskey's Joplins of 'SS
it is conceded without any sense OF
prejudice, that they are outclassed by
the Bronchos, either individually or
collectively. Strating with O'Connor.
Weikart? The latter may give Mike
hard argument in batting, but look at
the difference on the bag, and then
Mike is a far superior general on
ball field than WEEK" Our pitchers
are young and strong and eager to
learn, and with Little Matt Stanley be-
hind the bat, we claim the star back
stop of the league. We have never
seen Ellis, Austin's regular second
baseman, who has been sick, play, but
if he is any better than our own Char
ley Weber he ought to be in the big
league. Between Knau and Spencer,
at short, there is hardly a comparison.
That boy Knau is a wonder, but he
is yet young and has a few things to
learn. He can hold his own with any
short stop in this league and everybody
says that the Texas League is the fast
est minor league in the country. 1t is
admitted that Austin has star third
baseman in Leo Mesmer, but look at
our outfield. There is only one man
that can play left field in Texas this
season and that is Billie Kohnle. That
lad will have more to do in keeping
batting averages down than any one
man in the league. 1t is doubtful il
Mike Lawrence could catch Charley
Bailey in a foot race, but it is a ten-to-
one shot that Bailey can do more time
" work at the bat than the eX-Bron-
cho centre fielder. George Keefe takes
care of everything that goes out in
right field and he is not to be tritled
with at the bat when hit is needed.
George can also go in and pitch in case
of emergency, and he will win his
game too.
We play ball today. The Daily Light
Cadets and the Duerler Cum Drops
will line UP at the San Pedro ball park
at $50 o'clock this morning. We
won't do a ting to de Gum Drops; you
Just watch us lay 'em out. Well be
there with our rabbit feet and if we
don't win the game by playing ball
We'll hOodoo 'em out of it.
The tatistically inclined ball crank
may be interested as we'll as surprised
by the table of figures showing the
progress made in eight years time in
the fielding department of the game.
The figures of 1888 compared with those
q. of 1896, show Enthusiastically that de-
4pite the changed rules and the heavier
lind hotter batting which the men now
have to face, the fielding of every po-
3ition has improved. How much or
tlis progress is due to the introduction
III armoured gloves for the tender
taIms can hardly be estimated, but
cAedit must be given the ball player,
nevertheless, for faster fielding in e@-
civ way. Ten years ago it was no I'M
&c, ho1 wild
throws over first-nOw a ball that is
thrown too wide to be handled is usu-
ally near enough to the mark to at
least Craze the basemans hands, says
the Chicago Record.
At Galveston they refer to Short
stop Beecher as Electric" Wait till
they see our Looie Knau.
The beautiful $500 silver cup, present
I'd to the Texas league by Hernsheim
Bros. & Co, of New Orleans, arrived
in the city yesterday. 1t is now on ex-
hibition in the show window at 313-515
fremont street, where it will remain
for a week. From here it will be sent
Ito Houston, thence to Austin and
Naround the circuit. Each city is en-
Nitled to one weeks exposition of the
trophy before it reaches President
Ieurmann in San Antonio, where it
Nil remain until claimed by the club
Winning the seasons pennant. The
cup is of solid silver, cigar shaped, and
standing on a black enameled base
add lt eighteen inches high. Tie point
ed end rests on three basebails and trio
Of bats On the face or front of the
cup is a full sized embossed figure of
a player holding a bat and in the at
titude of striking at a ball. 1t is
rich design and elegant workmanship
and viii be truly appreciated by the
lucky winer of the 81 pennant The
nresentation took place Yesterday