The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-21
BAD WEATHER FOR WORK
HOWEVER, THINGS ARE BEING
RUSHED AT THE NEW BALL PARK.
Work On the Grand Stand Will Be-
gin TO-MorrOw-The American
League Will BE Strong.

During the past week local baseball was
very quiet. The weather was so unfavor-
able for the ante-season fans that they
even refused to discuss the prospects of
Indianapolis for the coming season. The
rainy weather impeded progress on the
work at the new ball park, but President
Watkins had a gang Of men at work and
took advantage of every favorable moment
to hurry the work along. The entire fence
and the two bleachers are now completed.
The work on the grand stand would have
been started last week but the heavy lum-
Der could not be secured. 1t will be at the
grounds early tomorrow morning and the
carpenters will begin work on the massive
structure at once. There is still some grad
ing TO be done on the field and when the
ground is in condition this will be hurried
through that the diamond can be
sodded. If the weather does not get too
bad the park will be completed in a few
weeks.
Although the National League has not
held its meeting to decide on the reduction
of the circuit of the major organization
the rumor seems to be general that the
circuit will be cut TO an eight-club organi-
cation. To bear out this story a dispatch
was sent out from Baltimore that deal is
on whereby McGraw, Robinson and four
other Baltimore players will be sent to
New York to strengthen the Giants and the
remainder of the Baltimore players and the
city will be turned over TO the Eastern
League. Baltimore and Washington will
both be represented In the Eastern League
next season and Louisville and Cleveland
will be members of the American League.
There has been much talk lately of Chi
cago gaining admission to the American
League or rather Charles Comiskey gaining
admission to Chicago with an American
League franchise. This talk has not
abated because Comiskey has given up the
idea but because there have been new
developments in the matter Comiskey is
still anxious TO get into Chicago and Hart
is still persistent that has territory shall
not be invade by an American League
club. Even if Chicago is not represented
I'm the American League the circuit will be
stronger the coming year than the old
Western League circuit. With Cleveland
and Louisville added to this league it will
be greatly strengthened.
There will be new faces In the Amer
lean League next season aside from the
various clubs When Cleveland and Louis
Vile are brought into this league and
there seems 10 be no doubt in this matter,
the American League magnates who trans
fer their franchises TO those cities will
have first choice of the players left from
those two clubs after the National League
clubs get pick at them. There will be
several good men left and they will greatly
strengthen the American League clubs and
cause the other clubs to look out for men
10 improve their teams. President Wat
kins Is alert and he says he will have the
Indianapolis team strong any in the
American League and will go out after the
pennant again the coming season.
The voting on the name Of the new ball
park has been lively and last week many
suggestions were sent TO President Wat
kins. The manufacturers of cigars still
persist I'm having their friends send in
votes on the names Of cigars on the mar