Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-03-07

The baseball season in Wilmington
will open on Saturday afternoon, May
9TH, when the Brownson club will play
some other strong semi. professional
team. Negotiations for the opening
game are now pending. The Browpson
club will, In all probability, be Will
mington's chief representative on the
diamond this year, and, Judging by
Manager Harry McSweeney's piedic.
tions, the city will be we'll represented,
even II it is not 10 some professional
league. is R 5il,,gf Z. .5
Several times since the baseball sea-
son closed last year baseball enthusi.
asts from other cities have visited viii.
mington with view to asceI tanning
what encouragement they could receive
for locating professional club here,
but none have met with success to such
an extent as to warrant them in going
ahead with their original ideas. Ono
of the obstacles has been tho matter Of
grounds. Tho Union street grounds
afford the only suitable location for
ball playing, and as the Brownson man
agement had lease on them 1t was
impossible for anybody else to get them
without the corsent Of the Brow nscn
people. Brownson had no inclination
to 90 out OF business and give up their
grounds for nothing, and as sufficient
inducements have not been offered for
the grounds all negotiations have fallen
through ard Wilmington will have no
professional team this year, unless some
thing unforeseen develops and some very
quick work is done.
Ever since the close of the season
laat tho Rrntr mn a hoe
been looking forward to the opening Of
the approaching season, with view to
making some radical changes and
giving the people OF Wilmington first.
class article Of ball, and as soon as Mr..
insolvency was chosen manager he set
about making his plans for the season.
He has been at work on the details for
some time and has matters pretty we'll
in hand; ID far advanced, In fact as
to be able to announce tho opening date
as stated above. He could also an.
ncunce team for the opening game,
but several trst-class mines are after
that date and he does not want to be
hasty about reaching decision. Neither
hns he completed his arrangements for
games on other choice dates, such as
Memorial Day, Fourth of July, &c. :,
but no has arranged for series with
several clubs. including the Highlands
| of Philadelphia, RitteDhouse Of Rox.
borough, Mauayunk OF North Philadel-
phia and other equally strong teams.
Negotiations are pending for games
with the Cuban Grants, Chester, Nor
ristown, Morristown, Pilgrims of New
York, Monumental Of Baltimore and
other clubs Of like calibre. So II the
| hopes OF the management arc realized,
local baseball lovers should have no
cause for complaint, as great care is
being taken rot only to.get the cream Of
| the semi professional clubs but also a
variety that will insure many new faces
on the diamond here.
1t has been tho rule heretofore, ex-
oept when the city was 10 some league,
to have only Saturday games, except
occasionally, whers there would be a
game arranged now and then for some
other day 10 the week. The team will
start out this year with new idea and
will deviate from the former Plans to
the oxtent Of having several games e8ch
week, II the patronage will warrant,
and it is believed It will, with good
sport, which is guaranteed by the man
agaInent. The time for the weekday
games has not been definitely decided
upon. but they will probably be played
on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as rule,
with occasional games on Wednesdays
We have eXerted ourselves to the
utmost" said Manager McSweeney in
speaking Of the outlook, to give the
people OF Wilmington Just what they
want ard what they are entitled to-
that is, first-class baseball. We have
been negotiating for some time with
| nf tho haQf tata In arkn %
the country and believe we have nine
that will be able to cope with the
hest. Where 1t was POSSIBLE We have
given the preference to local talent and
have number OF our best men on the
team. This year We will start out with
Common behind the bat and our pirch
ing staff will comprise Day, Kenney,
M. TIerney and }. Tierney, and We
may haye another pitcher before the
season opens. We will also have for
the other positions Shannon, aullin,
McDermott, Stannard, Ferguson. Savers
and several others. Some OF our nego-
tiations are still pending. The men
will begin to practice about the middle
OF April and should be in good shape
by the time the season opens. We have
option OF dates with SONS OF the best
semi professional clubs in this part OF
the country. and there should he no
lack of interest from the beginning to
the end of the season. We realize that
Wilmington, with its more than re, 600
people, is amply able to support first
class baseball team and we intend to
give the people just that thing. We
will keep close watch on the work OF
the nine at all times aud will improve
whenever there is an opportunity to dc
go. We will always be open to sugges.
tions from our patrons and will take
all suggestions into consideration and
adopt such as We feel will be beneficial,
We will start the season with fully
uniformed team. Our men will veal
light gray suits, " 18th blue trimmings,
anu will have maroon sweaters upon
each of which will be large b. We
want the team to make good appear
ance and believe it will. :"
Extensive improvements ars to be
made to the grounds. The left fielc
fence and bleachets, which have beer
in bad condition for some time, will bt
renewed. Alterations will also be made
in the grand stand and right field
! beachers and the entire fence will bt
, put IN good shape. The playing GROUND
, VIII also bs leveled and put in much
better condition than ii ever was in
before, and it ia believed that the rs
suits will be more satisfactory.
. The Wilmington City Railway Co
having three lines running to and pas
the grounds, the Front. Fourth anc
Eighth street lines, and during tb,
J spring or SINNER the Peoples Railwa,
20. will have its Second, Sixth and
OlaytCn atraat linaa In narration IT.,