The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-25
WILL SOON PLAY BALI
THE FIRST GAME WILL BE SEEN
EARLY NEXT MONTH.
There Are Twenty-Five Candidates
for Places on the Team
Baseball Gossip.

The men who will represent Indianapolis
in the American League this year will re-
port to President Watkins next Wednes-
day for duty. The preliminary practice will
be commenced at once, so that the twenty
two men who will try for positions on the
regular staff can be given a trial to dis
play their worth. The indianapolis team
was to open the season at the Cincinnati
Park next Sunday, but as the Cincinnati
team will not leave the South until April
6 or Z the games are postponed. The Reds
were booked to play in Indianapolis April
4 and 5, but these games have been post
poned until a later date. The first game
at the Washington Park will be played
April 4 or 5, when the candidates for posi-
lions on the Indianapolis team will be di-
vided into two teams, and the Vets will play
the Colts. This game will give the local
fans an opportunity of sizing up the work
of nearly all the players who will be here
by that time.
The work on the new park is nearing
completion, but will not reach a stage of
perfection for about two weeks. The grad
ing of the diamond was done yesterday,
and the place Is assuming the appearance
of being an ideal ball park.
President Watkins said last night he had
heard nothing from President Johnson
since he returned home from the league
meeting I'm Chicago a week ago. This is
taken as good evidence that the settle
ment between the American League and
President Hart, whereby an American
League team will be placed in Chicago, is
favored by both parties. The agreement
has TO be signed by each magnate in the
American League before it is referred to
the National League magnates, and 1t Will
be several days before the settlement OF
n 49, no AA11follxy rotfHnd rh
date of the next league meeting has not
been fixed.
President Watkins received a letter from
Barney Dreyfus. of the Pittsburg Club,
| Yesterday, cong~ratulating the Indianapolis
magnate on securing Kelly to play first
base FOR this team. Dreyfus says Kelly
will easily be the best first baseman in the
| American League, and will be a hard work
err for the interest of the club. Dreyfus
says Kelly is easy to manage, and predicts
| that President Watkins will have no trou-
bic with him.
Shortstop Madison has written President
Watkins that he will leave for Indianapo-
lis next Wednesday,. He says he has had
no opportunity to do out-of-door training
this spring, but he is in good shape and
will need but little practice TO harden him
for the seasons campaign.
The new uniforms for the Indianapolis
team are up to the usual standard of beau
ty for which the indianapolis Club has been
known in past years. They were purchased
from Charles Mayer & Co., and the trav-
eling uniform will be gray, with brown
trimmings, and the home uniform will be
white. The sweaters and coats will be
gray.
Col. John I. Rogers yesterday denied the
published reports that the Philadelphia
Baseball Club was ~endeavoring to secure
Pitcher Hickman, of Boston. He said: "A
few months ago Mr.. Selee. of Boston, Of
fered Manager Shettsline Hickman in ex-
change for Cooley. We declined TO make
the trade without a cash bonus. Since
then there have been no negotiations be-
tween Philadelphia and Boston with re-
gard to Hickman Moreover, we do not
want the player, and would not have him.
The Eastern League magnates ended
| their session at New York yesterday. An
other meeting is called for next Thursday.
when the report of the circuit committee
appointed by President Powers will be pre-
| sented TO the league. President Powers
announced the makeup of the circuit COM
mittee as follows: George w. Sweeney,
/ Rochester: +. j. Leonard, Worcester; L.
p. Hyle. Syracuse; T. s. Corey, Providence,
and c. T. Shean. Springfield. The commit
tee was instructed to get to work on the
formation of the new circuit as soon as
possible. The work will have to be accom-
plished in a very short time.
Players in the Eastern League who de-
stroy balls by throwing them out OF the
grounds or by getting rid of them in any
way without consulting the umpire will In
the future be severely dealt with. The
magnates passed q resolution empowering
the president of the league to impose a fine
OF SIS on each offender.
The election OF officers for the coming
year resulted in the selection OF =. II. Pow
ers as president, secretary and treasurer.
Mr.. Powers was also elected On the board
OF directors with William Gault, OF Toron-
to; George w. Sweeney, OF Rochester; T.
b. Cory. OF Providence, and E. j. Leonard.
Of Worcester. George a. O'Neij, OF Mon
treal, and President Powers, were ap-
pointed on the transportation committee.
Hotel Empire. New York. high-class ho-