The San Francisco call., 1898-03-31
With Dual Leagues the Games Are Certain to
 Be Hard Fought.
Midweek Gossip of Doings on the Home and Interior
 Diamonds.
Interior Clubs Begin the Importation of Players to Strengthen Weak
 Points.

With two regularly organized leagues playing ball in this city every Saturday and Sunday it looks as though the na- tiona1 game had come to stay. Since the death of the old California League base ball has been In a state of coma here, but although the public has refused to pa- tronize the games the players have kept themselves in constant practice, with the result that there are scores of ball play CTS in California to-day who are capable of putting up as fast a game as the most ardent crank would care to see. During the past half-dozen years many have graduated from the sandlots into the pro- fessional ranks, and these, with such or the old players who have kept themselves In the game, have been drafted into the present organization. They will have to put up the. best they have in stock, for San Francisco Is comparatively small, and even in its palmiest days, from baseball standpoint, 1t would have been difficult for two leagues to exist here. Consequently, unless both organizations uncork the blue ribbon article and play right up to their limit all the time, one or the other will be forced to the wall, for with the teams of either league har- vesting naught but icicles that band IS doomed. At best, the interior clubs can do little more than meet expenses on their home grounds and when visiting other interior points, so that the profit must be derived from the San Francisco games. All these facts justify the preolctl0,n, ,n,is tLar every man who plays ball on Cal1or, nia diamond this year will nave 10 exceI his previous efforts in order 10 Keep III line, and the slightest let-up will De the signal for his release. Slovenly played games, dragged out to more than two hours, unless they be extra inning games, will no longer be tolerated. Short, sharp contests full of life and episode, are what the patrons demand and what they will get with the two leagues bidding Tor popularity.
 The Fresno team of the California League is determined to have the best there is going. This is the first season Fresno has ever been represented m regular State league, and the people there are anxious to prove their oft-made as- sertion that theirs is one of the best base ball towns in the State. The managers or the team have plenty or capital behlnd them, and have spared no expense In get ting together a strong aggregation ana giving 1t a good home. A new ball park has been laid out. with grand stand and thousand people erected. Regular sal aries are guaranteed the players, and the strongest team it has been possible to secure has been gathered. But not con tent with those now under contract, the management has sent East TOT more players, and has secured a battery from Des Moines and a shortstop from one of the Western League teams. The names of these players are kept secret at pres ent, the managers preferr1ng to spring them as a surprise when they make their first appearance, but they are said to be exceedingly fast. Fresno was to have opened it's new grounds last Sunday, but a heavy rain Friday night soaked up the diamond so that 1t could not be played on. The opening of the season will take place April 3, when San Francisco will meet the babies.
 A strong effort is being made to induce President Bert of the Pacific States League to reinstate Mcclure of the San Francisco team; After McGuire's un- warranted attack upon Daubenbts at the close of last Sundays game at Central Park, President Bert ordered the first baseman's instant release; He said there might be some excuse for man who struck another in the heat Of passion, but Mcclure nursed his wrath until the close of the game and then smote Dau- benbis, which act was sufficient to prove him unworthy of being allowed to go upon diamond. Manager Crowley has represented to Bert that if the latters order holds another member of the San Frsnciscos will leave the team, but Bert was obdurate, and said McGufre could not play any more if every man in the team withdrew.
 The strong teams presented by Oakland, Fresno and San Francisco of the Califor- nia League have made the managers or San Jose Stockton and Sacramento do some bracing up of their weak points.
 San Jose has secured OuInelder Parker and Catcher Weed, both strong men, while Sacramento has signed Edwards Spokane'S famous outfielder, and Catcher J. R. Sullivan, who has played with both the Western and Eastern Leagues. Stock ton has not been behind, and has gathered in it's old battery, Iberg and Peters, who did the brunt of the work for the Cali fornia Markets last season. In addition Beck, a pitcher from Seattle, with good record. has been secured for the season
 Treasurer Bonnet of the Paclnc States League has on hand S15 80, received from the games at Central Park and Sacra- mento last Sunday, which is to be held until the close of the season when 1t will he divided between the first three clubs, the winner taking half and the other two dividing the remainder. Two per cent of every game played is to be set aside for worth battling for, and is a further guar antee of good ball: San Francisco con tributed S6 so of the amount turned in and Sacramento $9, while San Jose has not yet made it's report.
 The California League has similar fund. setting aside 21a per cent of the re- ceipts for that purpose.