Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17

national game at Minneapolis indicated that
! the Minnesota metropolis was a gold mine
when supplied with a team which would win
majority of the games in which 1t par
| ticipated, and the losses suffered during the
! preceding two seasons were recouped, leaV-
! ing balance OF ample proportions to divide
among the stockholders.
| Buck Keith, who controls the Omaha
| franchise in the Western league, has estab-
! lished himself in a sumptuous office in the
Nebraska National bank building and at al
most any hour Of the day or night now his
portly form can be seen bending over
| swell ll-topped desk while the willy man
ager figures ways and means for success
full season next year. Keith has decided to
call the local team the Twin City Base Ball
club" and by reason of this credit for It's
success-for such is sure to accompany lis
eareer-will be distributed equally between
Omaha and South Omaha. Danny Taylor, the
well known baseballist who last summer
played in the Utah league and later was
manager of the Omaha Medical college foot
ball team, is the secretary of the local club.
Keith has his wires out for a warm aggre-
cation of ball players and asserts that he
will get together a nine which will be abb
a place over his desk where the pennant for
1900 will be deposited. Pete Lohman, one
of the most popular knights of the diamond
who ever circulated through the west, has
been released from George Tebeau's claim
list and Buck expects to get him for captain
and manager. AS soon as he discovered that
Tebeau had ceased negotiations with Lohman
he Immediately discontinued any attempt to
get Billy Bowman, late Of the New England
league, and is devoting his energies toward
securing Lohman's services. Pete Lohman
used to catch here in 1S94-95 and was a
great favorte. Last season he managed
team in London, Ont, which captured the
pennant in the Canadian league.
Commenting ON other prospective players
Buck said: 1--WE got q cinch on one OF
the greatest first basemen in the country
John Rebsman, late of the Texas league
Rebsman is winner and has made base
ball the subject of scientific research.
better, boy never covered the initial bag.
He doesn't drink, nor swear nor smoke, and
is Just the kind of an individual / am look
ing for. 1t is possible that may get a
full nine OF Just such men, as they're the
kind that make hit with me.
II am also corresponding with one of
the best known amateur sporting men in
the country, Arthur Hilebrand, and eX-
pect to get him for one of my pitchers. He
has been the pitcher on the Princeton uni
versity ball team for four years, but grad
yates in the spring and | expect to sign
him In 98 he was also captain OF the
Princeton foot ball team, and is one OF the
foremost college athletes. His home is up
at Lemars, Ia, and used to hear of him
when he was a kid. Have had my eye on
him ever since"
Tomorrow Manager Keith will begin an
exhaustive campaign for financial assistance
for the Omaha club. He has received prom
ises OF splendid support from some of the
leading capitalists in the city who are anx-
ious to see Omaha again assume a promi- |
nent place in base ball affairs of the country
As yet he has not decided upon grounds
The Omaha Street Railway company de- |
clned TO undertake to place the Vinton !
Street park in condition for a ball park |
but indicated its interest in the success OF |
the Omaha club by subscribing a liberal
amount.
movement is now on foot whereby it .
is hoped to interest the South Side I'M
proYement club in the matter sufficiently TO
have it take in hand the preparing OF the |
Vinton street park into suitable ball |
grounds Certain members OF the club
have indicated their approval of the plan,
appreciating the value such a park located
on the south side would be. 1T will take
about 81, 900 to prepare the Vinton Street
park into suitable grounds" said Mr.. Keith.
1T must be leyeled down and grand stand
and bleachers built. The location of the
park between Omaha and South Omaha and
the excellent street ear facilities make It