The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-10
GAME WITH BUFFALO
COULD NOT Be PLAYED
Rains and Cold Weather Prevent
the Contest and Hoosiers'
Practice.
GOSSIP OF PLAYERS
Ruschaupt Goes to Cincinnati to
Get Hoffman If Possible
Games This Week.


chances OF the Hoosiers to get into good
condition soon. The game with Buffalo to
have been played yesterday afternoon was
called off on account of the rain and the
wet condition of the grounds and the cold
weather prevented the players engaging
I'm practice. Several of the men are now
suffering with colds, Manager Phillips hav-
ing such severe cold that he hardly
speak above whisper. The colds are the
result of an attempt t. practice on wet
grounds. and if the players escape sore
arms they will be lucky. The Buffalo team
left for Columbus last evening.
:
She outfeld question is quite serious
proposition just at this time, but President
Ruschaupt promises that good men will
be obtained for the team before the cham
pionship season opens McCreery. who has
been selected for the center garden. is the
only outfieIder now here who is considered
strong enough for the team. Negotiations
have been opened with Detroit for Hon-
man, an extra outfielder. and President
Ruschaupt will go to Cincinnati to-day to
hold conference with Manager BarrOws,
of the Detroit Club Barrows has promised
10 give the local club definite answer to-
day or Tomorrow and Ruschaupt hopes 10
return home with Hoffman While negotia-
tons are still pending with St Louis Tor
SWander and Cleveland Tor ROSSmdn or
OHara, il is not thought probable that
these men can be secured until the Amer
lean League season opens on April IA.
Cleveland is now having fight over
O'Hara, as the national commission has
awarded the player to Toledo. IL the action
Is not rescinded there may be little chance
question at present is not particularly
bright, Ruschaupt and Phillips promise 10
have good men here by the middle of
April
Indianapolis will not play at Fort Wayne
to-day because the park in that city is
under water. Cleveland Americans are
scheduled for exhibition games in Indian
apolis tomorrow and Tuesday. and, the
weather permitting, two very good games
can n,,,i be expected incidentally Manager
Armour the chances OF obtaining a good
fielder from him for the Hoosier team this
season On Thursday and Friday Fort
Wayne will play here and on Saturday
Marion will be the attraction at the local
park
The championship seasons of the National
and American Leagues will open next
Thursday. Most of the teams have returned
North from their Southern practice trips.
aid between now and the opening day will
play exhibition games Reports from
are in only fair shape because of injuries
and sickness 10 the players since leaving
the South, but every club manager is hope
ful of having his men in condition for the
opening of the season.
The few exhibition games that have been
played by the Hoosiers this season have
demonstrated that Indianapolis will have a
fast infield- Dickey is built right for
good first baseman. and he seems to be able
TO take good care Of his territory. Magoon
will round into shape and put up fast
game at second Hess is still little too
heavy for fast work. but he has shown
that ne will do better a at short than Pete
Tor the third bag, the fans who have seen
t Gsr b that ne a gives Prose Of making
had. The catching department will also
be in good shape, as will the twirling staff.
Phillips. volz. Cromley. Allemang and
Newlin are counted upon the regular
pitching staff, but Fisher has been making
such good showing that he stands good
chance Of making the team or being placed
with another club. The Hoosier outheld
IS the only weak department of the team
at present, hut ii will be strengthened be-
fore the season opens so that the
team will be fast and well balanced in all
departments. For the present il looks
81 Powell and strader Will take care of the
out garden with McCreery.
Indianapolis will have no left-handed
pitcher this season. Manager Phillips re-
ne would rather have a good southpaw
than two good right-hand men, but he was
unable TO get q good left-hand twirler this
season Foulkes. a Milwaukee left-hander
was given trial and he showed that he
Is not quite fast enough for the team, al
though with another seasons training he
may be able to pitch exceptionally good
It was Pat Tebeau who first reached the
conclusion that IL was absolutely necessary
TO have giant on first base. Tebeau. a
small man and third baseman. showed that
. lively sawed-off who could jump high
could get most of the high shots while
his activity in the pursuit of grounders
would be a great thing for the entire field
ing system OF the team. Commisky had
introduced deep play along the line toward
second. and everybody was, more or less
clumsily. trying 10 pattern after Commy
After the shock which Tebeau gave had
worn of. the clubs began to develop third
basemen out of good batters and brainy
hustlers who fell Just a shade shy of the
requirements in other positions, and the
result Is shown in the list of the first base
men of to-day. Selees first baseman FOR
the coming season will be Frank Chance,
developed from a catcher and a marvel at
batting and baSe-running. Commisky has
two-lsbell, developed from pitcher. and
bonanue. developed from catcher. Both
can play great ball on the initial bag
Boston National League) has a wonderful
drst baseman in Fred Tenney, who was a
frost as a catcher. The Boston American
have a fairly good man I'm La Chance.
another ex-catcher Brooklyn, In the Ma
tionai. has Doyle, another ex-catcher. Ex-
catchers, in fact, seem TO make great first
eackers. New York National League) has
Dan McCiann. former second baseman.
New York american League) has John
Ganzei. who started among the minors as
q catcher. Philadelphia (Nationals) had no
regular first baseman last season and IL
seems uncertain just who will fill the lob
this year. Harry Davis plays first for the
Philadelphia Americans-an ex-catcher
Pittsburgs first baseman is Kitty Brans-
feld-stiH another ex-catcher ST Louis
SNauonal Leaguel Will have Beckley St
Louis american League) had Anderson a
reformed outhelder. last season. Cleveland
used Hickman, ex-pitcher, on first
Washington had Clarke. a catcher, playing
drst
Can Ducks Smell.
1t has been often asked whether or not