Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-03
BASE BALL GOSSIP OF WEEK
Omaha Breaks tn, Dsnvsr Charm ana
L,cal Fans Rejoice.
TEAM is PLAYING VERY FAST GAME
Work of the Rourkeites Of the same
GiItsdged order that Marked
Their Course During
All Last season.

Welt
We won a game in Denver. That's some
thing. Last season we went to Denver
time after time and came away licked. 1t
doesn't matter why or how; the simple fact
is that Omaha couldn't cut the mustard on
the Denver diamond. It's different now,
and having made a start, there is no telling
whero the windup will be. Those two
games have demonstrated another thing,
and that Is that the Rourke family is just
as strong in the field as 1t ever was, and
hat means a lot in the Western league.
II saved many a game for Omaha last sea-
Bon and will win many a game during the
present summer. Hard batting is a fine
feature Of the game and a very important
factor In the outcome, but nice, clean,
snappy fielding is what the people like to
see, and that's what they get when Omaha
Is playing. No Omaha pitcher has occasion
to complain that he doesn't get support, for
he has the most reliable team in the circuit
back OF him. And the boys are hitting q
little. too. They couldn't break Pop Eyler's
hoodoo, but they certainly gave the old gem
tleman the scare OF his lifetime, and maybe
on the next meeting the result will be diff
ferent. whitridge was touched up at q
lively pace, and the hits all came when they
counted Another nice feature OF the two
games is that while Omaha stole three
bases In each game Denver didn't steal any.
Maybe you think Johnny Gondlng's good arm
isn't working7 When they get to stealing
bases on that boy It will be time to put up
the shutters
One Of the really gratifying experiences
Of the present season up to date is the
treatment accorded Omaha In Denver. All
the papers were full Of good words for the
team from Papa Bill down, and the whole
bunch of fans seemed to lay themselves out
TO see how pleasant they could make 1t for
the team. This is the sort Of spirit that
should prevail and Omaha will remember IL
when Captain Tom Delehanty and his bunch
Of Grizzlies come to Omaha.
Denver is considerably crippled already by
the loss OF Radcliffe from short. Rad is sick
in bed and may not be able to play this
aeason. Hartzell, who takes his place, isn't
in hrst-elass condition. but will likely I'M
prove when he gets hardened and becomes
familiar with his new duties. But even at
that Radcliffe will be missed from the IN
field. Dundon put up his usual fast game
at third and still holds his high position In
the estimation Of the people. And, by the
nav Won didn't notice any spots on Eddie
Hicksy's work, did your He's In the game
Sor Rood now and will make Dundon hustle
harder than he ever did to hold the place
al premier third baseman in the western
league
n other teams opened about as the
nubito had expected. It was O guess De-
tween Kansas City and Peoria for the nrst
9ame, ana Big Bill Wilson grabbed JUST
TO b thai he could. But ne let tne
o,hsra no for the same reason. Milwaukee
G.A.2a ah0u strength. ana
a.. Joseph shows positive weakness LES
Moinea is still a guess, but may yet make
rood on some of the U~ndertaker's claims.
Now that VEn Brunt has taken hold OF the
az. Joaeph team again, It is likely that the
uiayera will put more lie into their WORK.
ma make a better showing In the game
A pair OF Iowa spectators, who apparently
had an idea that . base ball team Is simply
n never-failinG fount Of shekeis' had the
nerve to try to buy out Van Brunt, putting
m noAhinR but "shoot-mouth." When the
ttma osmS 20 make good on their talk. they
ware Just about 80 cents worse on tnan y
man with no money at all. Van Brunt Is
gama and. even though he will be In New
York he will still be owner Of the st.
Ioaenh team until reliable parties take II
Of his hands. And the players Will ge'
.hair nav. Not that q ball player needs
money in ST. Joseph, but then one OF them
might get over into Kansas, and thats
different.
big Ed Delehanty tells the washington
Post that he had no thought OF going 70
Denver; that the only negotiatiohs ne
tLnowa ~ were a letter he had from his
brother telling him that he might get on
with Denver, and a telegram from Packard
received after he had gone back to Wash
ington. Offering him $4,000 per to play
with the Grizzlies. Big Ed mas the tele.
gram and letter both to show his gooo
faith. and IL his talk is any good he II
glad not only to get back to washington
4 but to be alive.
The season opened very auspiciously 81
far as the umpires are concerned. Not .
kick worthy Of mention comes from any o.
the Western league towns. Out In Denver
thew think that Mccarthy has a hot temper
this Judgment being based on the fact that
he talked back to the fans. but otherwise
his work is. praised. Last season much o.
the enjoyment OF the sport was spoiled by
Incompetent umpiring. and the general hops
is that MIR. Sexton has found a corps o.
men 10 give decisions who are capable o.
doing 80 without starting all the rows W.
had to put up with during the war days. .
In the Hickey league the trouble is TAI
from settled. The Columbus people arr
still warlike; Clingman has refused to 50 4
st. Paul, and the presumption is that Bryce
Is paying him his salary while he loafs. 4
special meeting Of the league has beer
called to decide on this case. The mayol
Of Indianapolis has told 10000 fans whit
signed a petition for Sunday games tina
the law prohibits base ball on Sunday ant
win be enforced. The mayor favors tn
game, but Will not overlook the law. Som
games have been played without regula
umpires. but the bowls that have gon
up from the managers do not seem to hav
reached Hickey's ears as yet. And Georg
whltewings Tebeau is still busy telling tn
world that the Western league cannot last
Well, well
Attendance so far at all the games in
dicates a revival for sure. Never In tn
history of the game have the people turne