The Indianapolis journal., 1903-04-19

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION SEASON
WILL THEN BE LAUNCHED.
First Game i'm Indianapolis Next Fri
day-Opening Day Programme
General Baseball Gossip.

being in championship form. No matter
how pleasant the spring training weather
might be, the players are never as gooo
when the first bell taps as they are later
in the season, but the spring weather this
year in nearly all parts of the country
where association teams have been prac-
ticing has been about the same as in lndi-
anapolis-cold and rainy, with only teW
days in which the players were able to get
any good practice. The teams will not be
raw by any means, as there has been
enough work to take off the raw edges and
partially prepare the men for the getaway.
The Indianapolis team has not fared any
worse than the other teams. During the
Cleveland series the Indianapolis men got
some much-needed practice, and they VIII
spend tomorrow and Tuesday in conscien-
tious work. Manager Watkins said the
cold weather was greater hardship TO the
pitchers than the rest of the players. as he
did not care TO take chances on giving
them sore arms. Every day the pitchers
worked out under the grand stand, even
If the weather would not permit games to
be played. The pitchers were called out or
the warm dressing-rooms and limbered
their arms by pitching the ball. When
they completed their practice they were
immediately sent to the clubhouse for a
good rundown and then into their street
clothes. 1t has been very fortunate that
some of the players are not laid up. but
they are all in pretty fair condition. con-
sidering the weather during the past two
weeks. The other players had enough work
to take the winter kinks out of their mus
cles and they were not permitted to grow
develop team work Is more deeply felt than
anything else, but Manager Watkins says
the men will be ready on next Wednesday
to deliver the first defeat of the season to
Louisville at that city.
The passing of baseball from the realm
of speculation to that of fact on Wednes-
day will be hailed with delight in all cities
of the American Association. Indianapolis
will open at Louisville, Columbus at Toledo,
Minneapolis at Kansas City and st. Paul
at Milwaukee, From all association cities
comes the report of an increased interest
in the game this year. In Indianapolis the
interest is more pronounced than ever be-
fore. This is largely due to the fact that
Indianapolis captured the pennant in 1872
and has team that will make game ngnt
for first honors again this year, notWltn-
standing the fact that the other teams nave
been greatly strengthened. Columbus. st.
Paul. Milwaukee and Louisville all promise
to have a look-in for the flag, while some
and make game stand for first-pIace hon
ors. Indianapolis practically has the same
team as last year. Jones is strong acqul-
better than it was played in 1902. Tamsett
will no doubt strike his gait and come TO
the front with flying colors before the
championship season Is very ola. Jones
and Tamsett are the only new men In the
in and outfeld. Heydon will have the as
sistance of Woodruff in the backstop work
this season. In the pitching department
team-Kellum, Williams and Killen. Man
ager Watkins has tried several recruits thls
spring, and has practically decided on roru
and Newlin as the other two twirlers ,ith IN
good pitchers. Last year the pitchers were
a big factor in winning the championship;
and it is to be hoped that this year Will
prove no exception.
After Indianapolis plays two games at
Louisville-W and Thursday
Louisville will come to Indianapolis to in
augurate the opening of the season In this
city. Manager Watkins and Secretary
Ruschaupt promise a most attractive pro-
gramme for the opening day. First of all.
Watty says a victory will be registered on
Friday by indianapolis, the most important
number on the programme. I. j Hickey;
president of the American ASSOCIATION, Will
be here for the occasion. The 1902 pennant
will be unfurled and placed on the pennant
pole in center field by Mayor Bookwalter
He will also make a short speech prior TO
the opening of the game and Will pitcn tne
first ball of the championship season
There will be q parade on Friday AFTER
noon, the members of both teams occupy
ing carriage and the outfit TO be headed
by the Indianapolis Military Band. There
will be a concert at the park prior TO
the game Numerous box parties are
being arranged for the opening day, and
the demand for box seats at huoer o,ug
store where the seats will be on sale, has
been large. The opening will be one long TO
be remembered and an immense crowd Will
witness the first struggle OF the season in
this city.
The Indianapolis team will leave for Lou
isville next Wednesday morning, and will
be accompanied by number OF rooters.
President George Tebeau, of the Louisville
club, promises the opening in that city will
be a festive occasion. Kellum will proba-
bly, pitch the first game against Louisville.
and Kelum is slated for victory by his
team mates. 1t isn't so easy to win in Lou
isville it is for visiting teams to win on
their merits in Indianapolis. In Louisville
the rooters throw bottles, mud and stones
at the visiting players, and, judging from
the reports of how visiting teams were
treated in Louisville in exhibition games
this spring, the COlOnelS are pTtpdIcu 10 Dc
as rowdy as they were last year. Indian
apolis enthusiasts wish the Indianapolis
team good luck and a victory In the OPEN
ing game at Louisville, but hope they won't
be assaulted before they leave the park.
George Tebeau is as hot-headed during
game as any of the rowd1es on the bleach
ers and this is probably the reason he has
never taken steps to prevent the rowdyism
at his park.
Just before the opening Of the National
Leagues season to-day President Brush.
of the New York club, announced the pol
icy of the club under his administration.
Said he: 1--WE did all that we could to get
together a strong team this year. That.
however, is only a beginning. Whenever
there is chance to improve the New Yorks,
whenever / can find an available player
that can be purchased or secured by ex-
change, and who looks as IL he might bene-
fit the New Yorks. l will get him. I pur-
chased the New York club with the inten-
ton of placing a winning team in this city.
1t is not the first baseball club that / have
championship organization in baseball.
am determined TO have IL for New York.
II the club of this year is unequal TO the
emergency we will have a better one next
year. IL this years organization can be
strengthened in the middle of the season.
when the season Is two-thirds over. or at
the very end of the year, we will strength
en-. We want good players, and we are In
the market for them. / have confidence
that the team of 1903 will be much stronger
than some imagine. No limit has been
placed on Mr.. McGraw, and we will make
the Giants not only giants In name but
giants in fact"