Omaha daily bee., 1905-04-23
PORTING GOSSIP OF WEEK
Western League Season Opens Wednesday
Of This Week.
UTLooK FOR A SPLENDID CONTEST
Omaha viii Make Gala Occasion
of the First Day at Home,
with Flag UnfurIed and
other Exercises.

Only three days now until the start.
On Wednesday the championship race of
the western league will open with Omaha
At Colorado Springs, Des Molnes at Den
yer, and st. Joseph at Sioux City. II
would be a wise man who could forecast
the outcome, but within month a fairly
good line on the outfit should be estab-
lished. Only one thing is certain-the
teams from the valley will not start out
with the fearful handicap they had a year
ago, when they went into the champion
ship season with practically no prepara-
ton, while the Mountaneers were nearly
as good at the start as in mid-season.
This gave Denver and Colorado Springs
such a start that for a long time It looked
as IL they were alone In the race. The
wonderful spurt OF the Omaha team is
not likely 10 be repeated, but it is not
likely to be forgotten either. President
Rourke will present almost identlcaly the
same team that won the pennant, and IL
will be a woeful disappointment II the
champions did not give a good account
of themselves.
Locally the interest will center in the
opening game with Des Moines on the
home grounds on the afternoon Of Monday,
May s. This will be made a gala occasion
by the management No attempt will be
made to give a street parade but at the
grounds the unfurling of the beautiful
championship pennant will be accompanied
by appropriate ceremony. The flag pole
will be planted in center field where the
banner will float all summer. and where
the president hopes 10 fly another for 1905
On the opening day. the program will be-
gin before the usual hour for starting the
game, a hand Of music affording a concert
in the grand stand. The teams will form
in line and march to the center field, where
a short address will be made to the players
by President O'Neill OF the Western
leaguc aud by Mayor Moores, should he
y here, or by Acting Mayor zimman. This
.N8Ell be followed by the uufurling of the
flag by President Rourke. Then the
teams will march back to the diamond,
the mayor will pitch the first ball to the
president of the league and the game will
be on The railroads will cooperate with
the base ball management in making the
day a success. for it is the desire that as
many out-of-town people as possible be
present. The affairs will mark an event in
emaha's sporting history. While Omaha
Eon the championship of the Western
league in 1889, the flag was never hoisted
so this will be the first pennant that ever
fioated over an Omaha ball park
The opening of the big leagues has
turned off few surprises. one of these is
the showing made by Conny Mack's team
which has played championship ball fol
the start. at least. The new Washington
team has also been something of a puzzle
for the other fellows, but 1t is long way
to the finish mark yet Comiskeys White
Sox are showing just about what was eX
pected of them, while the champion Bos
tons are not doing any of the wonders
they are supposed to be capable Of. Nc
s,t auFutr WE though
they would, with the easy bunch of east
erners although Hugh Duffy's team die
put check to the runaway for minute
This far away it looks II the Bostol
and Brooklyn teams had the cellar cham
pionShip between them. The report tina
Soden and Conant have sold the Bosto
team and plant, to be delivered at the en
of the season. started something of sen
sation, but 1t is long time until No
vember, and the deal may not go muc
further than talk. Base ball would los
something in the retirement of these vet
Grams, but the Introduction of new bloc
in Boston might not help. Again, 1t ma
be the first step in the rumored consolida
tion of the two big leagues. 1t will bear
little watching. New York has twenty-tw
straight games with the weak easter
teams before it meets western club, an
this ought to give Muggsy a fine leaC
other all to pieces from the start. In til
American association the start shows notl
ing save that the interest in base ball
W as keen as ever. For that matter the a
''tendance at all the games has been of tt
x encouraging kind, and II the start
! prophetic of the finish the 1905 season wi
be the most profitable base ball ever ha
The interest shown in the practice of Il
Western league teams augurs well for II
attendance here during the season.
.
At meeting or the ST. CroiX Tennis clu
last Wednesday evening it was decided thu
- they build a club house, with necessary a
~. .sommodations, on their grounds at Thirt,
~Nond and Pacific streets. The club hi
[NNx frst-class courts at the above locatic
and intends making them the fastest
the city. Members of this organization a
eligible to enter all tournaments held he
In the city, and the club will hold amor
themselves series of prize tournament
Sasass-s=ns..s----s-s--z-s