Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-01
BASE BALL GOSSIP OF WEEK
BOurke Family and Guests Afford Fine
Article Of Sport
SPLENDID GAMES At WNT0N PARK
Passing of Fleming Affects only
Slightly FieIdinE strength and
Improves Batting Force
of the Home Team.
SPLENDID GAMES At wNTOS PARK


Pretty good ball.
That's what the fans are seeing out at
vinton Street park these pleasant spring
days. II is about as fine an article Of the
great national game as ever was exhibited
in these parts, and the best OF it is the
public appreciates the offering. Omaha
people. always known for the lfberality
with which they supported a ball team.
have been more than generous with their
patronage so far. and have been well re-
paid for their uberality by the quality
Of the sport. The condition has had its
effect on the visiting teams and each in
turn. no matter how loosely it has played
elsewhere. seems inspired by the presence
Of the crowds TO do its best. Even Des
Moines and Colorado Springs played
Enappy ball here-the Millionaires even
playing q scrappy game, something Omaha
people do not like. OF course, il is the
home team In which the most interest is
felt. and it is merely stating a fact to say
that not since the days Of 1883 have the
people exhibited such general interest.
Arguments on the beef trust and such
questions have been sidetrRcked in favor
of debates as to whether Ace Stewart can
cover as much ground as did Jack Crooks,
or whether Cy Sutcline put EN- down %
Danny shannon with any more accuracy
luau u1Eh JuAALe 0buulnb Etl tm tNti ~
Ace or Joe. And, while we are on this
topic, that same Johnny Gonding made
two Of the warmest blunders ever seen on
the local diamond during the first Des
Moines game, spelling q shut out for era
ham. II is so unusual for him to make q
costly error that the fans expected the
grand stand to fall when he threw the
ball nearly TO centerheld fence instead OF
10 Stewart, who stood ready to nail a run
ner and make the third out In the inning
It resulted In two runs. During that game
Carter and Genins executed the neatest
double steal seen here in many moons.
Carter was on third and Genins was on
first and started for second. Lohbeck
fired the ball to Quinn and made a good
throw. but Genins was already safe and
Carter had crossed the plate. II was as
daring a bit of base running as one cares
70 see.
While talking OF individual players, a
word may well be devoted 10 young Mr..
Thomas, the relief catcher. He is playing
his first professional engagement, but the
average onlooker would think him q vet
eran. His fielding back Of the bat has been
splendid so far and his throwing to bases
almost equals Gonding's. which is about as
much as can be said for a catcher these
days. He has played first base and right
held, too. and has done remarkably well,
his one error being made at FIRST base and
costing nothing so far as the game was
concerned. Manager Rourke has great con-
fdence in the youth and predicts that he
will develop into one Of the best in the
business. He certainly is apt and has the
advantage OF having splendid tutors in
Stewart and Gonding.
In the passing OF Tom Fleming the
Omaha outheld is weakened 10 a certain
extent, for Fleming was a veteran and a
splendid fielder. His weakness was at the
bat, where he had not shown any strength
at all. With Carriers great Improvement
in batting and the popularity OF Genins, It
seemed almost certain that Fleming would
be benched in favor Of Stone. who is
needed on the team because OF his hitting
ability. While this decision had not been
reached, Fleming anticipated II, and had
practically made arrangements TO jump TO
Sacramento. Burns ofer 20 take him on
the Colorado Springs team spared him the
unpleasantness Of being blacklisted, and he
left Omaha with the best wishes Of his
team mates. his manager and a host OF
friends. who would have liked to see him
1nish the season here. but who hope he
will do we'll In his new company. Fleming
is a splendid fielder and will be found quite
an acquisition for the Millionaires,
AS a team the work of the omahas is still