The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-04-01
II. work on Rural Route No. Has
Done Him a World Of Good
and He is in Spleen
did Condition.
ARoUT KEOKUK PLAYERS
Has a Great Array Of Talent and VIII
Make Teams Of Central AS
ISOLATION go Some Dur
ing Season.

"pa" Belt is here. The big man
from the rural route was seen ap-
nroaching in the distance last even
ing and is now in our very midst. But
he is not the "Pa" Belt of old, for he
has greatly cahnged. He has grown
surprisingly thin, waiting and long
Ing. with that wistful expression up
IN his countenance, for the opening
of training season; but it will not be
long before the players roll in, and ne
is able to direct their actions under
the mild warmth of an April sun.
Even today he could not restrain him
self and went to the baseball park for
a short visit to the scene of the COM
ing summers hostilities.
But 1t is indeed true that the ven
cradle old man of baseball has taken
off little of that said avordupois, and
his arrival in Keskuk is marked by
perfect condition. When Belt arrived
in Keokuk last season about this time
he tipped the scales at nearly 200
pounds. Last night he stepped upon
scales in one of the cigar stores and
weighed exactly 165 pounds. All of
his suits are trifie too large for him
and his farm work on Rural Route
No. | has done him a world of good.
He says he is not worrying in the
least about the catching department
for II anything out the ordinary hap.
pens he will be able to don mask
and breast protector himself, and
with pad on his left hand can show
them all how to receive.
About the Players.
Belt is confident that he has
bunch of world beaters with him for
the coming season. According to a
statement made this morning the team
signed this year is fifty per cent bet
ter than that of last year. Every de-
partmenI will be better fortified with
ba.l fingers and the outfield will be ex.
ceptionally strong. The team will be
great deal faster as the men who
have left the team will be supplanted
by men Of speed.
In the catching department there
are two men to report in addition to
Belt Shaeffer is the Notre Dame
college man who has a good record in
Intercollegiate ball, and Wilson is a
catcher who has played independent
ball in Kansas and comes with good
recommendation.
On the finging mound Belt has a
great array of artists who should be
aDe 10 pass up an assortment of a
championship nature. Bramble,
Trough and Carroll are known to Keo-
kuk fans, while Gypsum and DeSilve,
TWO left handlers, are expected to be
worthy of good tryout Lavelle is
well known to Belt and If he can keep
IN condition will prove a good man.
lie came to keokuk from Centerport,
iowa. Smith, a twirler who was in
tne Texas league last year, Blue Jack.
Ell, who is already in town, and Camel
from Decatur completes the list.
camel Is also quite we'll known to
Bet and two years ago lead the Three
league while with Springfield. Last
season he could not get in condition.
Miller on First.
Miller will be on first base. Belt
Will not report any other first sacker
and is entirely satisfied with the work
OF Miller, He visited Miller in ST.
LOUIS short time ago and found the
tall lad in good shape for the coming
season. Belt could find no man in
u. .ae league any better than Miller and
lle expense of reporting some other
payer VIII be done away with.
belt has two crackerjack men for
s'oohd base, but 1t is likely that