The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-26
JOHN WEIGH.
The SOuthpaw who VIII Pitch the
Opening Game for Savannah.
TO-Day's Line-Up.
Umpire, Thomas Connors.

Umpire, Thomas Connors.
To the fans who have suffered with
breathless expectancy the opening of
the league season here will come ease
ment this afternoon at 4:3O o'clock.
At that hour Umpire Thomas Con-
nors will announce the names
of the opposing batteries in
the opening contest of the
South Atlantic Baseball League be-
tween Savannah and her old time
rival, Charleston.
Although the contest will not be be-
tween sons of the native soil, the sem
timent involved will be the same, and
Savannah rooters will never be more
fervent in their support of the colors
of the home club than they will be
when lined up against Charleston.
There will be some formalities,
necessarily, attendant upon such an
important function as that which is
scheduled to take place at the reno
waited ball park. These little ceremonies
will be the sauce for what is to be
served to the fans later, There will be
comfortable leather cushions to relieve
the tedium of weIl-seasoned benches,
and plenty of refreshing things COM
monty served at games, all combined
to keep the fans in full voice during
the entire game.
The Sea Gulls have already taken
their flight still further southwark
from their Southern home. They are
strong of wing. They are courageous
of heart, and have at their head a
worthy chieftain. From their marshy
lairs they come backed by the same
intensity of sentiment for victory as
was manifested when old Sumter first
spoke in days that are now almost for
gotten. They realize as well as we
that no game during the entire season
will carry with it so much prestige,
and no effort will be spared to defeat
the host.
Ashenback Says He VIII Win.
In a letter written here a few days
ago, Happy Eddie said he felt that he
was obliged to win the first game here.
He had been doing these things for
i've N6dlS anu AAN 0AA NV heAAAN
to break his record at this late day.
1t is something of a habit with Ed
now, and Pap says he will undertake
to cure him of il, or 1t might develope
into a disease
AS a hitting proposition, AshenbaCk
has failed to secure a team that will
star. In Donnelly and Hempleman he
has two fairly hefty boys with the
af =
ed by LaRocque, Burt or Bratton. Ir
Childs he has a pitcher who has Won
more or less of a reputation while
trying out in the Southern League.
He is a big fellow, with good speed
but has never signed a contract which
would swing him up among the soli-
taires of the major organizations and
he has had every opportunity. Johnny
WEIGH is about half the size of Childs
with little speed, but the most teasing
ball that a loose jointed swat artist
ever swung at. AS Savidge says
Johnny has a $4,000 head and a pea
nut arm. Charleston may hit freely
but not always safely.
Comparisons Not Necessary.
There is no necessity for making
comparisons at the first bag. No first
baseman in this or the Southern
League, will make any better show
the bat. At second Eddie has Hem
pleman, who seems to be a special pet
of his. Ashenback has had him fol-
five years. He hits close up to the
300-mark. But Hempleman win have
to face one of the fastest fielding and
hardest hitting basemen in the league
in Bratton. In his FIVE years playing
professional ball Bratton has never hit
less than 800, and has never fielded
less than 900. He is one of the high.
est-priced men in the league.
Eggert's slow arm may not put him
in the same rank with Dahlen or Par.
emit, but he has plenty of speed to gel
them to the bags, and is one of tbs
brainiest men in the business. Eggs i:
an old-timer who is always coming
and the longer he plays the better hi
gets. Ashenback has Mitchell at short
Little is known of him in real cham
. rionship games, but he is reputed t