The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-06

tate. The baseball people claim that the
grounds were secured at a much better
and naturally feel highly elated over
their success. The Walker estate, under
the terms Of the lease, agrees to make
number OF improvements that viii be
greatly appreciated by the fans who
spend great part Of the summer months
at the grounds The space included in
the present entrance is TO be built up as
a part OF the grand stand. increasing the
seating capacity of the two stands By n
couple Of hundred. The old stand is 70
nave backs put on the seats and a num-
Der of boxes Will be put down in front,
Tickets for these boxes viii be on sale
up town and the fastidious fans will be
able TO secure their seats in advance.
The diamond viii bo resurfaced and the
numerous canyons and mountain peaks IN
the outfield will be filled up and leveled
off. When completed the grounds will be
the finest for fast playing in the league.
While the lineup Of the team for the
coming season is far from being complete.
Yet the local club has got the names of
at least six good players attached to "A
salt Lake contract and is in correspond
euce with several more. which Il is hoped
will be landed within the next two weeks
Tho players already signed and whose
names baVe been announced are Gimlin,
Hansen. Davis and Pitchers Wigs. Quick
and Essick. This Is n good start. All
of them excepting Essick are well known
TO local fans and are as strong as could
be secured for their various positions.
II am lighter now than was this time
last year" said Ambrose Putnam. the
former Helena and Spokane southpaw.
who is now signed by the New York
Americans, as he stepped off the scales
az Cincinnati last week. That means
- observed the left-hander. "that ] won't
have to train off much flesh TO get into
playing shape I joined Christ Church
Parish Gym when returned home last
1ail, and while / am not much of a be-
lever In indoor work for a ball player,
il has enabled me 20 keep in good shape.
Another thing that has kept me from
growing fat is total abstinence Haven't
Sazed at the amber. let alone touch IL,
for three months.
John J. ATcCloskey writes from the east
that he will have his team signed and
ready TO begin practice by April T. The
grounds at Riverside park. Boise, are be
ing put IN condition for playing at that
time. Mac has not given out the
names OF any more players he has
signed. but intimates that he may have
pitcher by the name of Starl6ells, who
played on the coast last year.
There will be no important changes
made in the playing rules this year. A
great many hoped that the foul strike
rule would be dropped, but II seems 10
have come TO stay. The American league.
Which has consistently opposed It, could
not muster enough votes when the COM
mittee on rules met 10 carry the day.
The only noticeable change in the playing
rules Is one allowing two coaches on the
side lines, no matter how many men are
on bases In the past but one coacher
was allowed on the lines when only one
man was running. and two coaches when
more than one One criticism Of the
game has been that 70 lacks life and GIN
ger and 1t is believed that an additional
coachcr will supply this. Several years
ago the coaching business was over done.
Coachers were genuine pests, and a rule
limiting the number was adopted.
One Of tho late stories that has fur
nished enjoyment 70 q large number OF
baseball fans in various parts OF the
country relates 70 Frank l<iilen. former
~ a member of the Indianapolis team.
The story which has called forth no de-
NAL and which further goes to provo
that the once star twirler was possessed
II his full share OF shrewdness, Is as
follows:
len pitched FOR the old Pi;tsburg club
ut Cleveland. the spectators were aston
ished 20 see the visiting coaches signal
the umpire's decisions balls and
strikes back to the twirler as If the
latter were mute.
After the game Killen pulled hand
ful OF cotton from his ears and started
What's that cotton for?' asked one
Of Killcn's friends. "Earache2''
No" said Frank; that's a little in
vention OF my own TO keep me from
becoming purified up with pride when
Tebeau. O'Connor and Burkett get out
IN the coaching lines and call me pet
names"
IF 7 could only speak Just two one
syllable words 90 all the young ball play
they would be Don't drink
wv Risky and beer have been the cause
az the retirement OF nineteen out OF
every twenty men who have left the
gamc In the very prime OF their lives.
Or the famous players who were with
me I'm the old peEnant-winning days !
r9n remember score who allowed strong
drink 10 drive them into retirement al
most in the zenith of their popularity.
az rNwaaU
a young and ambitious player one-half
drink -"
Spokane IS now getting q piece OF Ma
t1nal association Justice similar 10 the
kind handed Salt Lake In the Donahue
rase. Ike Durrctt. the big outfielder OF
THE Indians Is claimed by Montgomery,
Al3-, and II looks as II the. Alabama
town would make good with Secretary
l'arrel MONTGOMERY held Duretts con-
tract two years ago when ne jumped 10
Inc Pacific Coast league. then an outlaw
organization. Farrell issued an order Civ
ing the clubs in the Pacific National
league fuil ownership Of any players that
they might set 70 jump from the outlaws
last season. and Durrett was induced te
come over TO Spokane. Now MOntgom-
rrv finds out that Durrett IS once more
under National protection and puts in a
claim for his services. with "A good
chance OF securing them
Reilly wants 70 trade wilmot out of
sunny jim Shaffer and offers TO give
Heine DIESEL for she lOng-nOsed Butte
first. baseman. Wonder what has gone
wrong with DIESEL? Last year Spokane
swiDed DIESEL bodily from Salt Lake.
DIESEL must he somewhat of gold brick,
whom Spokane is anxious 10 lose.
Charles Elsey, former captain and first
5aSeman for Spokane. and later first
sacker for the Portland team, has asked
President Lucas 10 place him on the list
or umpircs. He says the expense ac-
count has been cut down. but the oN-
pcnscs OF the players have not been re-
duced. and he Is anxious 70 quit the game
for this year
There Is certainly one qualification FL
sel- has FOR tho pOsitiOn-hc Is big enoug i
10 inspire awe IN a little shortstop, and
his reputation as a fighter might intimi-
date some Of The t9lkative players 70 DC
q E;tlc shy on words As far as size is
concerned. Elsey has the best OF any OF
tho applicants 50 Tar by at least twenty
pounds Whether that kind of weight
viii have any effect on President Lucas
scales remains 10 be seen
a Nottingham (Wash) paper has the
following TO say Of Dugdale's latest move.
d. r. Dugdale came up from Seattle
and went over the baseball situation
with managers of the local association.
AR Dugdale f. lending his aid TO the ef-
fort 10 effect the organization of a league
embracing the cities OF What cOnl. Ever
ct. Victoria and Vancouver. =. G. and
possibly Sedro- Wooliey and Mount Yer
non. That nc NAV take an active part
in the management OF the league IL or
ganized seems quite possible
Many stories have been told OF the win
ter Job George Davis was once given in
New York city hail in return for personal
services Tor Andy Freedman. but Davis