The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-26
WATKINS is THE OWNER
THE TRANSFER OF THE I~NDIANAP-
OILS CLUB Is MADE TO HIM.
A. Stehin Property, on East Washing
Gossip About the Club.

W. II. Watkins is now the sole owner OF
the indianapolis Baseball Club, the deal
which has been pending having been finally
consummated last evening at 7:30, when
w. f. c. Colt and William Schmidt signed
the papers for the transfer of all the stock
and assets Of the club over TO Mr.. Watkins.
Mr.. Watkins will continue the club under
the name of the Indianapolis Athletic Asso-
citation. under which title it was incorpo-
rated some time ago. He will be the presi-
dent and manager, the other officers TO be
selected at a future date. Mr.. Watkins has
sent for his VIE, and will make this city
his home.
The location Of the new ball park can
now be given, as the lease for the land
was made yesterday. Mr.. Watkins leased
the A. Steffen property. on East Washing
ton street, this side OF the Belt Railroad.
lying just east of Rural street, on the south
side of Washington street. 1t is calculated
that this location is the most desirable OF
any that has been under consideration since
the old park on East Ohio street was va
Gated. The new grounds will be within ten
minutes ride from Meridian and Washing
ton streets, and directly on the car line.
1t will take but a short time longer 10
reach the new grounds than it did the old
park. Already contracts have been made
for the grading OF the park, and work
will be begun this week, so that the grounds
Will he in first-class condition for the open
ing Of the season in 1900. 1t viii be neces-
sary to level the grounds to some extent.
and they will be sodded this fall. The grand
stand will be erected in the northwest cor
ner of the lot, and it will be as substantial
as any in the American League. Mr.. Wat
l%-- 49, -. I'll - L. =. s1nn m
build a pretentiou3 grand stand. but he will
have one erected that will seat 200 people.
He may also make space for boxes. Bleach
ers viii be built TO seat about 800.
The left-1eld fence will be 23 feet from
Che home plate at the foul line, and the
right-ield fence 33 feet from. the home
plate. This distance is a great deal SHORTER
than the old park, but the game will be
made more exciting. for 1t will be possible
to have home runs over the fence. 1t will
also be possible for home-run drives TO be
made to deep center without the ball being
hit over the fence, for the grounds run to a
point in the southeast corner: The park
will be one of the best in the league when
completed.
In regard to the makeup of the team for
next season Mr.. Watkins will not talk, as
he says he has been 50 busy with the pur-
chase OF. the club that he has had no time
to consider the other details, but will come
to them later. In speaking of Bot Allen,
who managed the Indianapolis club the past
two seasons, Mr.. Watkins said that Allen
was claimed bv the Indianapolis club merely
as a player, and If he wanted TIC play in
this league he would have to do so with the
Indianapolis club, or his release would have
TO be purchased from this club. Watkins
says he knows nothing of the report that
Allen is TO go to Cincinnati.
Mr.. Watkins was aksed as to the prospects
OF Sunday baseball for Indianapolis, and he
replied that he will not try to nave Sunday
new ball park on the site selected has
caused a little criticism among some of the
property owners din that neighborhood, but
4 nor daO1Q 10 fh0 N rnpv fhnl
park will cause a boom in the price of prop
erty on East Washington street. They say
that when the season opens business men
VIII travel to the games and will get a view
of the property in that locality, and would
not see II otherwise. Seeing how desirable
II is. some OF them will purchase property
In that neighborhood. They claim that the
ball park on East Ohio stree, helped TO
build up that part Of the city, and that in
stead Of ball grounds being detrimental
thew will be advantag eous to the neighbor-
hood.