The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-23
FANSLAY HAMMERS
PLAYING OF INDIANAPOLIS TEAM
ALL THAT ONE COULD WISH.
Improvement So Noticeable that Much
May BE Expected from Series at
HOme-Baseball Notes.

The Indianapolis team will return home
tomorrow evening after its two weeks
Western trip. On Tuesday the club will
meet Milwaukee The club, since it be-
gan its trip. has played the game of base
ball in a manner that should draw forth
from the most pessimistic fan words of
commentator. Disheartened at the miser
able work done at home which was mainly
through the rank work of the umpire. the
Indianapolis players started West with a
determination to win.
While on the trip just closed the pitchers
have been in better form than at any time
during the year. Kellum took the measure
them but two hits. Newlin, who at one
time was member of the Minneapolis
team, took delight on the following day
in allowing the Millers but one run.
At this stage Of the year the different
managers of the country are looking
around for material with which to
strengthen their clubs next year. Manager
Watkins has several live wires out at
present, with the hope that he will be able
to land one or two men. There are at
least three places on the team that will
surely see new faces next season. Mar
can, who has played such a good game at
short since the injury to O'Bren, will I'M
doubleday be kept He may not be con-
tinued at short, but may be able to play
another position.
The Boston Herald has put itself on
record as favoring rows between players of
club and the umpire. This is to be re-
GREETED The sporting writer Of that paper
says that when such brawls occur they
always result in a larger crowd attending
the game. This is hardly true. as will be
remembered by the disgraceful scenes a
few years ago at the New York. Cincin-
natl and Chicago parks. The attendance
in these cities greatly reduced on &C
count Of the pugnacious spirit of the play
ers who were continually quarreling with
the umpire. AS a result the big leagues
passed stringent rules. giving the umpire
absolute control over the game. Since this
rule went into effect the games have been
| materially shortened. and 1T has put the
game on a more respectable basis.
President Barney Dreyfus, of the Pitts
burg club. has come out squarely against
betting on baseball. In many of the cities
| where the National and American league
teams located, poolrooms are operated
and books are made. 1t has grown to such
an extent that players have been known to
buy tickets in the pools. Managers Of sew
| it has begun to kill the interest in baseball.
| These pools are openly sold in Pittsburg,
| Philadelphia, Detroit and Cleveland. In the
latter city there are several men engaged
in making a book and they work so openly
| that runners are employed to secure bets
| on the games. Indianapolis might also be
| included in the list as 1t was known that
during the former series OF games played
| here a book was operated by well-knowr
gambler. This form Of gambling is on
the increase, and efforts should be made
at once to discourage it. The game thrived
| for years without it, and IL gambling is tc
| be attached to ii the demise of the great
national game would certainly come, sooner
or later.
An Eastern sporting writer is out with
| the statement that a blacklist should bt
placed on every college player who ha:
played with professionals during the season
just closing. He says it is the only way
| to keep the sport clean. He thinks that be.
| fore long the members of the different
| athletic boards will take UP the matter
and punish those professionals who have
been posing as amateurs. The rules can.
not be too stringent on this line. II may
have tendency to better the sport