The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1908-03-12
BASEBALL SEASON
DRAWING NEAR
PLAYERS ARE BEGINNING To RE
PORT. AND THERE WILL BE A
PUBLIC MEETING MONDAY
NIGHT FOR DTSCU SSION.
All Baseball Enthusiasts Are Urged
to Attend This Meeting, as Great
Deal Depends Upon Its Outcome.
Practice Begins Immediately.

The baseball season is drawing
near, and as there are some import
ant matters which must be settled
at once, President Banks of the local
/ association has called a meeting OF
citizens to convene at the city hall at
eight o'clock Monday night. The
success of the season depends almost
entirely upon the outcome Of this
meeting, and every man who wants
| to see the game played here is ur-
gently requested to be on hand. Con
| certed action will be necessary in or
| der to successfully launch the team
and carry it through the season, ans
every man who loves the national
game and wants to see it successfuII
played in Columbus should be pres
| ent.
The team has been signed and tn
players are already beginning TO re
port, Alexander. one of the outfield-
ers, having arrived last week. Ace
Stewart, who is to manage the team,
writes that he is in fine shape and
| is ready to lead the team to success
Stewart, who is now at his home II
| Terre Haute, Ind, recently spent sew
eraI weeks at French Lick Springs
and his stay there benefited him con
siderably He writes that he is feel
ng fine. and intends to use every en-
ergy to inject ginger into the team.
The bright, spring-like weather of the
past week caused all lovers of base
ball to think of the sport, and the
are eagerly anticipating the opening
of the coming season.
The players are all expected to
reach Columbus within the next ten
days, and practice viii begin at one.
President Banks has received a let
ter from the manager OF the baseB-s =
team at the A. and NJ. College, stating
that his team would like to play a
series of three games here on March
%, "a and %, and his offer viii be
accepted. The A and NJ boys are
very popular here, and the games are
sure to attract large crowds. These
will probably be the first games on
the local field. Unless present plans
are changed the Cotton States League
season will open on April ?. Some
of the directors thought this date too
early, and endeavored to have the
opening postponed two weeks, but no
definite action in the matter has ever
been taken, and it seems practically
certain that the season will open
April 2. The official schedule has
not as yet been announced, but Col
umbus will open at Meridian and viii
begin a series of games at home on
April s, probably having the Meridian
bunch as her opponents in these con-
tests.
Nothing is ever certain in baseball,
and after the directors of the local
association had relinquished all hope
of retaining Huber, the fast short stop
who was so popular here last year,
the tide has turned, and the foxy lit
tie player is more than likely TO be
seen in the local lineup again this
season. President Banks was so
anxious to retain Huber's services
that he made a deal with President
Commisky, of the Chicago Americans.
for a Cover Commiskv, however,
failed to fulfill his part of the agree
ment, and Huber was drafted by
Charlie Frank, manager of the New
Orleans Southern League club. Ever
since the draft was announced Presi-
dent Banks has been dickering with
Frank to secure Huber's release. The
Pelican manager was obdurate, how
ever, and refused all offers, but a
New Orleans paper is authority for
the statement that he has decided to
release the much-wanted shortstop.
Two of the local directors are now in
the Crescent City, and it is very like
ly that when they return to Columbus
Huber will be with them.
One day last week President Banks
received a letter from Fitzsimmons, |
d knight of the Indicator, who served |
a short time as umpire in the Cotton /
States League last season and who
is now in Rochester, y. Y, in which /
he told of a good combination catch
er and outfielder who is anxious to
come South. The players name is
Cooney, and he is not only at home |
either behind the bat or in the field |
but is hefty with the stick. The Dis
coverers need a man of this descrip- |
ton, and Cooney may be engaged
The grounds have been put in fine |