The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-26
BASE BALL GOSSIP.
Manager Leonard May
Give O'Connor a
Chance.

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oval today, but he won't be with the
Worcesters. Dan Brouthers, released
by Springfield a few days ago, will
cover first base for the Rochesters, and
O'Hagan will be played in centre field.
Manager Leonard of the Worcesters
is after good outfielder who can hit,
but hasn't found one to suit him yet.
He has been dickering with Thomas
Fleming of Indianapolis of the Western
association, who has not been at liberty
to sign until now. Fleming played
with St. Josephs team of the Western
association last year. He played in 1O9
games, and had fielding average of
765. He made 112 hits out of 43S times
at bat, an average of 256
Manager Leonard is disposed to try
out Billy O'Connor of the Rockford
team, which dsbanded few days ago.
OConnor is expected to reach this city
in a day or two. He has been playing
great ball in the west, and has friends
in this city who think he would be fast
enough for the Worcesters.
Manager Leonard said yesterday,
when asked concerning O'Connor, that
he would be glad to see a local man
make the team, as it would be of great
assistance. Putting on a Worcester
man would interest his friends and ac-
quaintances more than in any other
way. There is only one thing to con-
tend with, Mr. Leonard thinks, in max
ing a place for a local man. If he can
not play fast enough ball to suit, and
the management is unable to keep him,
his friends can't be convinced that he
lacks the necessary qualities, and get
sore on the team.
Manager Leonard is predisposed in
favor of OConnor by the good reports
that have reached his ears, and when
the player returns, he will be given the
privilege of practicing with the team
to show how he handles himself. In
the opinion of many who have seen
O'Connor at work, that is all that will
be necessary. They are confident he
will quickly show that he can play the
game.
Invitations to a meeting for the for
nation of a stock company to govern
the Worcesters will be sent out today
or tomorrow. The meeting will be held
in the parlors of the Bay State House
probably Wednesday evening
Manager Leonard expects several in
nuential citizens will become members
of the stock company. He has called
on a few. and received good assurances
from them. They promised not only
to take some shares of the stock, but to
interest other friends.
President Marston will send a finan-
cial statement of the standing of the
club which will satisfy anybody that
he is not seeking financial support
alone The club has to its credit in
cold cash over $1,000, and there is not
an outstanding bill worthy of the name.
The entire Indebtedness of the club at
the present time is not more than $50.
The financial showing Of the club is
encouraging. Everybody who took
any interest in the club this season re-
members that the early games were not
well attended on account of cold
weather. else the club would be many
more dollars ahead. The crowds which
attend the games at the oval these days
are good paying ones to say nothing of
the Saturday crowd which is enough
to pull the receipts to a high figure.
Last Saturdays attendance shows
how much interest is being manifest in
base bal in this city at the present
time. There were a few over 1900 paid
admissi~ MS a wonderfully good crowd
considering that everybody realized
they were taking chances on seeing
game because of the threatening
weather.
Worcester is fast gaining a repu-
tation in other cities of the league, of
being one of the best towns in the
league
The rule of paying the visiting team
no guarantee in case of rain, worked
well Saturday. When it was made.
some managers feared in case of small
crowd, a home manager would refuse
TO play He would be protecting his
pocket, but the visiting team would
suffer. But with the large crowd at
the oval Saturday, both managers
wanted to see the game played and
Doesche1 was asked to let the game go
the full nine innings if possible.
Manager Leonard insists that Wor-
cester Will not get another pitcher, be
cause the team does not need more
than three, il they are well. In case
Of double headers the team would have
to play four pitchers. With that in
mind, he asked Manager Dooley of the
Montreals how many double-headers
the latter would want Worcester to
play in Montreal on the next trip. Man
ager Dooley replied that he would have
a double-header on Saturday only. I'm
der such an arrangement, three pitch
ers can get away with the work. The
man who pitches Friday will be the
one to pitch Monday, and by Tuesday
the others will be sufficiently rested.