The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-31


League VIII Have One of the Best
Years in Its History-COnfident
That the st. Paul Team VIII he
Up at the Front When the Season
Closes.
Manager Charles ComiSkey, of the st.
Paul base ball club. returned yesterday
from the South. The st. Paul magnate
has not been in very good health for a
little time past and after the league meet
ing at Milwaukee, went to West Baden,
Ind, to recuperate for few days
He returned yesterday, however, feel
ing much better and spent the afternoon
in looking over the grounds at Lexington
park, or more strictly speaking, looking
over the feet of ice which cover the
arena of base ball. and making arrange
ments for the removal of that part of 1t
which may not melt before the early
days of May, when the st. Paul fans will
be treated to their first professional ex-
hibition al home.
Manager Comiskey Is of the opinion
that the league will be stronger this
year. than last. The Omaha franchise
has been disposed of at Buffalo and
this city, which has long been anxious
to get into company faster than it could
find in the Eastern league, to which it
belonged, promises to lend cordial sup
port to a Western league team this year,
even though ST. Paul people. are apt to
look on Western as misnomer when 1t
Is applied to a city as far east as Buf-
falo. That the Western league however.
has been playing the fastest ball next to
the National league, has been conceded
generally in the last two or three years,
and for that reason there seems every
reason to believe that Buffalo will heart
lily support a Western league team. with
its faster exhibitions.
The eighth town Is not finally deter
mined upon yet. While the schedule has
been arranged with Columbus in view. it
1t not beyond the pale of possibility that
Cleveland will be substituted. The sched-
uie has been SO arranged that the SUBJ
st1tution could be made with little incon-
Venience and while the problem is not vet
settled, there is a strong inclination on
the part Of some of the Western league
magnates toward letting In Cleveland In
Columbus place.
ger Com1skey last night. that my team
will rank up with the best of them this
year Minneapolis and Milwaukee are
fornlda Bile competitors. 1 am willing to
admit, for they have mustered some high
class players there. Jimmy Manning, too
may be trusted to get together, at least
within month after the season opens
team that will, when licked into shane
give the best in the league a good brush
for the pennant. But do not think the
people Of st. Paul will have any reason to
dfsparage the ability of the ST. Paul team.
There will be some old favorites on the
team, whose ability Is undoubted
Il think [ have the best pitching staff
In the league without exception. Roger
Denzer is the best pitcher in this league
today. There may be better ball play-
ers viewed from the all-around stand
point, but DenZer has not his equal in
TINS league. Fricken remains, and his
work Of last year Is his recommendation.
1t is not necessary TO say that 1t was
better than any year since he has been
in the league. Cross Is on my list, and
he has puzzled them all during the last
three or four years here. 1 have been
looking into the record of a young fell
low named Check down at Madison who
will be given trial, at least. can
have McGill if I want him. Willie says
he Is in as good shape as ever If his
arm is all right, his head is as good as
any of them.
The inf1eld is going to be better than in
a long time. Isbell will be at first base
as l do not believe it will be possible for
me to secure Boyle. Glenalvin will be al
second. Shugart will be at short, and
Geier at third unless l can find third
baseman whose work promises better
Ceier is so good an outfielder, as we'll as
valuable a substitute player. that II
he desires to continue in the outffeld
would be glad to keep him there if 1 car
see my way clear to do 1t without weak.
ening the team If Geier does continue tr
the outfield and 1t may be possible to fl
the third bag with good man before the
season opens, as / have lines one OF
two, Burke and Preston will probably be
willing to play the other two gardens
Burke IS one of the fastest fielders this
league has known and q natural bal
player. I think he will play better bal
this year than he did last. He will sigr
with St Paul willingly, will Preston
w bo has haap hara all Iyinfar ond ir