The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1907-03-21

| scene of action, and practice has al
| ready begun. The players who have
SO far arrived all stack up well, and
to borrow an expression from Presi-
dent Selig, 1T begins to look like
we're going to have a bunch of pen
ant grafters." The weather was fine
| last week, and Manager Law had his
| men out nearly every afternoon.
One of the first men to throw off
his baggage at the local station was
Shelter, who is to hold down second
base. Shelter is one of the many
| men whom Charlie Frank had tied up
| in New Orleans under one of those
tight-as-Dick s-hatband contracts, for
which he is famous, and whom Law
only secured by bringing to bear all
the forensic power of which he is
ssessed-that is, if baseball play
ers ever do possess such power. Any
way, Law got him, and if appearances
count for anything he's the real hot
mustard.
McDivett is also among those pres
ent. He is to play right field, and
comes with record of which any
man might well feel proud. He play
ed with Mobile last year, and helped
the Gulf City win the rag. He comes
with fielding average of .915 and
batting average of .22S.
Manush meandered in on Friday
According to the soothsayers, Friday
is an uniucky day on which to begin
a journey, but Manush may have
started on Thursday for aught that
is known to the contrary. He neg
lected to state when he left home,
and the dope digger forgot to ask
him. Any way, he comes with a good
record, and it is hoped that he will
bring us good luck. Manush played
with the Arkansas league last year,
and has steady eye and good arm.
Mounger, who is to be one of the
twirlers for the locals, rolled in on
an 'owl" train Friday night, and was
at the grounds early yesterday morn
ing. He had his first work OUT dur
ing the early forenoon and proved to
be in good form. Mounger was a
member of the Texas league last
season, and has clean record.
They are telling good story con-
cerning Jack Law, the manager of
the Columbus baseball club, and a
negro bell boy who is "batty' over
the game. 1t seems that Law was
seated in a local hotel lobby one
night last week discussing prospects
with a few of the faithful, when a
negro bell boy, who has been saving
up his shine money for three or
four weeks in order to be in posi-
ton to witness the opening game,
sidled up to the night clerk, and in
hoarse stage whisper asked:
Boss, who am dat big tall gem
nun over dar talking to all de other
gemmuns?"
''There are several gentlemen en-
gagged in conversation in different
parts of the lobby; which do you
mean?"
Dat dar gemmun wild de blue suit |
of clos and de white hat"
That's Jack Law, manager of the |
Columbus baseball team. Why do |
you ask?''
"Nothin'. only kase I thought / |
heard Mr.. Sid Bluhm tell another !
white gemmun he was lawyer, and |
though he 'peared too 'stinguished |
lookin' to be jes common ebery day |
lawyer. | jes knowed from his looks
he bound to be some big man.
And now the dope diggers'' are
trying to figure out whether the joke
is on Law or the lawyers.
Elaborate preparations are being
made for the opening game in this
city, and it will be attended by the
largest crowd which has ever witness
ed a game of ball in this section of
the State. There will be a parade
of the clubs in uniform, headed by
the band, there will be some cere-
mony at the grounds, and then will
come the champion contest. The
street car people can carry a thous-
and people at time to the grounds,
and they are making their arrange
ments to carry five thousand people
out to the game. All of the stores
will close, the city schools and col
lege will be asked to give half holi- ,
day, and every town in this section
will have delegation present to
root for Columbus. 1t is expected
that President Compton and other
league officials will be here. Every
body pays for the opening game, and
tickets will be placed on sale one {
week in advance at the drug store to