Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-07
MELANGE FOR BASE BALLFANs
Contains Gloomy Major League Conc
ment, n Little Ancient History
and a Few Local Items.

The big league race starts out like a
procession and with about as much excite
ment attached to it as usually scintllates
about a funeral. 1t may be deemed a bit
too early yet to commence a hammer chorus
at the expense of the major organization,
but there seems to be little doubt that 1t
will be more hampered this year by weak
taiendcrs than in years gone by. Wash
ington and Cleveland are undoubtedly dead
'uns, who will not be revivi1ed at any
stage in the season. Pittsburg looks to be
in the same class, but will probably pick
UP later in the season. New York, how
ever, is as good as the Giants will ever
get unless Rusie and Seymour are added to
the twirlng staff. With dead weights like
these the race can never be of much inter
est even II a fight should take place In the
upper stretch of the league circuit. Eight
clubs would result in a rattling run for the
pennant, especially If the weaker clubs of the
octet were strengthened from the remains
of the four that should be dropped. This
may come to pass even before the end of
the season In the meantime the interest of
the average fan is centered In some in
dividual aggregation and not the race as a
whole. The upper seXtet is in a neck and
neck struggle. The new Browns are hold
ing the pole bravely, but slump will lose
JuGll Iue pldCG. DOSlOu, DIS USUAL SldTIS
out poorly. Season after season the Bean
eaters lag behind until June comes and
then take brace.
when l managed the Omaha team in
the Western association in 'SS / received
letter from one Nichols, an aspiring
twirler of Kansas City, and the earnest
appeal Of the youngster for a trial on my
staff of pitchers had the true ring" said
Frank Selee to the Washington Post man
the other day. IL inquired of certain west
ern managers and they spoke highly of my
applicant. l wrote him to join the team at
once and since he signed the Omaha con-
tract he has pitched under my management.
In the fall of 'S9 l signed to manage the
Boston league team for the next season.
The Brotherhood trouble was brewing at
the time and we were all fighting for stars.
Before leaving Omaha told Nichols would
bring him to Boston with me. A few weeks
later the agent of the Cincinnati club called
on President Mccormick and offered him
$4,000 for Nichols, but had he offered ten
times that amount he could not have Sc
cured Nichols, who was man Of his word
and would never sign with any one but me.
raised the Cincinnati clubs offer $500 and
Nichols came with me to Boston. He was
then blooming forth as one of the promising
youngsters, but was not regarded popularity
as the leading twirler Of the Omaha team,
as Dad Clarke monopolized that honor.
Arson came to Omaha and looked over
Nichols and Clarke. Nichols impressed him
favorably, but Clarke was more to his fancy.
Nichols is the most talented pitcher in the
games history to my notion and l won't
even bar Old Hoss Radbourne."
Local baseballists are getting in shape for
the seasons campaign. Manager Sage has
called the Metz Bros aggregation together
and has secured the old Fort Omaha grounds
for the season. The park has been put into
first-class condition, and accommodations
have been put in for spectators. The team
will blossom forth in new uniforms, which
will consist of dark green shirts and pants
with black trimmings Dad Sage is hust-
ling for games and would like to hear from
any aspiring amateur teams in the city, His
address is 1921 North Sixteenth street.
The Hayden Bros team Is also ready to
| take the field. The aggregation will be
made up much the same as it was last yeas.
Its lineup will be as follows: Small, catcher;
E. Welsh, pitcher; Malone, first base;
Monahan, second base; Spain, third base;
Harrison, shortstop; Lafferty, left field;
Kelly, center field; II. Welsh, right field.