The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-05
Base Ball BrevetieS,

HAVANA, Cuba, was the scene OF
n novel base ball game Feb. ::%,
- when the Cuban X Giants, a coll
ored nine, played a team Of native Gu
bans, winning out by the score of 7-5.
Imagine n base ball team with a bat
terry rejoicing in the names Of Rodri,
guez and Molina. Depict a nine strug-
Cling along whose shortstop's cogno-
men is Mayrinac, backed up by Left
Fielder Maeza, and with a festive Con-
zaley gamboling around the center
pasture. In spite of all these handi-
caps the Cubans put up a good game
and their namesakes only beat them
out by the hardest kind Of work.
Pitcher Harry Howell. Of Baltimore,
grew loquacious the otle.. day on the
merits of Robinson and McGraw. as
shown by their magnificent handling
last season Of the crowd Of cast off
players which made up the Oriole nine.
From speaking Of these he Grifted to
Billy Keister. the chunky little short
stop who formerly played third base in
Scranton. In speaking about him
Howell said: "The most rem arkable
man in the game is Billy Keista-, " no
played shortstop for the Orioles last
year. Keister had some trouble with
his head and the operation OF trepari"
ming was performed on him. He has q
piece of silver as big. as a dollG- fitted
somewhere over his brain. a.. times
this having money on the brain makes
Keister act queerly. I have often been
playing cribbage with him when he
would suddenly get up and leave the
minutes after. when asked why he
stopped playing. he would have no
recollection that he had been in /,
| game of cards. Although short man,
| Keister uses very long bat AMI al
ways hits a ball which comes away
over his head"
Most of the National league ball
teams have begun the work o: L.
| organization for 1900. among them be-
ing Brooklyn, Baltimore and New
York. The Brooklyn team will be a
very strong one. consisting as 1t will
Of Joe Kelly, John Anderson. j. p.
| Casey. w. l.. Dahlen, II. p. DAILY, W.
c. Hill. w. T.. Donovan. w. Kennedy
j. McJames, Morris Steelman and Joe
Yeager
| Earl Wagner, Of Washington. Is
casting a desirOus eye on Joe Kelly
and would much desire to have the ex-
Oriole captain and manage his Sena-
tors in case he has a team in the Ma
tional league.
| The New York team so far has signed
several players, such as Fleming, Ga
rOni, Woodruff, Gleason, COnroy, Doyle
| and others.
| 1t is likely that Hugh Duffy, lone
J the crack Boston outfielder. will play
| with the Giants and with him captain
ing and Buck Ewing as manager
there would be some chance OF ha sc
ball being revived in New York. Bos.
ton can spare Duffy, as Hamilton
Stahl and Buck" Freeman will make
one of the best hitting, fastest out.
fields in the league.
A fearful blow was dealt the new
American association Tuesday, wher
Robinson and McGraw. two of Its
warmest partisans, turned to the enc.
my by meeting Ned Hanlon and sign.
ing contracts to play with the Balti.
more National league team in 1900
This will make the personnel Of the
Baltimore team a very strong one
Nearly all of last years players have
signed, although Walter Brodie l!
holding out for better salary thar
the one offered, and from present in
dications it looks as though he is no
likely to get 1t.
| McKenna, McGinnity. Howell ant
Kittson. all youngsters. and good onel
at that. will be the pitching staff. Rob
inson will be one of the catchers ant
our own broadway Alex" Smith will
be his mate. Crisham, the hard hit
ting young Eastern league catcher
will be given trial at first base
"Gene" Demont will hold down second
Keister will play short and the onl,
"Muggsy" McGraw will be statione,
at third, while the outfielders will
probably be Brodie, in case he get
over his sulks; "Ducky" Holmes an,
Shackard, with Harris as a utilit,
man. Dave Fultz. the Brown univer
sity man who played such a stronl
game last season. will likely play Il
the outfield In case Brodle does no
sign. and otherwise will be retained a
another utility man. Jerry" Mop
and George La Chance will probabl
be sold or traded.