Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-04
GOSSIP OF THE DIAMOND
BY RED PERKINS.

n HE baseball season opened yester-
day afternoon at San Luis Obispo.
II The Arroyo Crande team, with
Spec" Hardness feeding them over
for the Arroyo Grande team, took the
scalp of the Merchants in fairly good
game, the score being to 0. Hardness
is we'll known in Los Angeles, having
twirled for the Hoegee club and the
Harper & Reynolds clubs in the Sunday
semi-professional ranks.
The only feature OF the game was the
pitching of Hardness. lie made the
opposing players look like bunch OF
school boys every time they STEPPED to
the plate. "Spec" has all that is essen
tial to make great twirler-speed,
curves and control That he will easily
make the pitching staff of the Beavers
looks to be q certainty. If McCredie
had witnessed the game his face UNI
doubtedly would have been covered
with smiles that wouldn't come off
One lone safety was made off his de-
livery, and no man got beyond first
which is pitching ball. But one ball
was knocked out of the inheld.
Jimmy Doyle, famous locally for just
judgment as an arbiter of gall games
will probably be one of the umpires in
the California State league the COM
San Jose team returned yesterday from
San Francisco with word that Presi-
dent Frank Herman of the league is
anxious to secure Doyle's services If
possible and has asked that Doyle go
to San Francisco this week to confer
with him regarding salary, rules, etc.
Doyle has umpired many games In
San Jose and about San Jose and has
always been a great favorite with the
LII 1x.t r.sl H,rfNa =
universally regarded as just. He keeps
the players on the move, works as hard
as any of the performers in the game
and knows the ms and outs of baseball
as we'll as any man who could be Sc
cured to handle an indicator. With
five games a week to handle the league
will be In O position to pay fat salaries
to its umpires, and many men will be
available, hence the selection Of Doyle
can be regarded as tribute to his
ability and knowledge of baseball
The Visalia second team, known as
the Athletics, defeated the Parlier club
on the local diamond yesterday by a
score of to / in a fast and exciting
game McHenry and Roth engaged in
a pitchers battle, the first named al
lowing only three hits to the visitors.
He famed ten OF the Athletics.
Roth twirled no-hit, no-run game.
He struck out five. Catcher Inquest
of the locals received an injury in the
third, and Munsen, the change back
stop, finished the game. The Athletics
are a clean bunch of ball tossers and
will give amateur teams a run for their
money.
Parlier desires game on their home
grounds next Sunday, March 7. Ad-
dress John F. Eird, manager Parlier
club.
The San Jose club will be as fast as
any of the others when the gong sounds
Wednesday, March "a. Stricklett has
several men who have agreed to terms
and only the final signing of papers is
necessary to secure them. Two pitch
ers from the Coast league and West
ern association inf1elder will pndoubt-
eddy be secured for this club.
The scheduled games between State
leaguers and the Colored Giants Of Los
Angeles may be called off unless the
Fresno management arranges date
for the appearance of the team there.
San Jose has two contests slated with
these people.
The Santa Clara college team will
meet the State leaguers in the second
next Sunday.
Manager Stricklett of the San Jose
club win have the Prune Pickers cut
ting capers on the Luna park field on
Thursday. He will spend today and
tomorrow getting his men here, and
by the end of the week the season, so
far as the players are concerned, will
have begun. The park will be put In
the best possible condition Immediately.
Stricklett states that Brick Devereaux
has an excellent chance to land the
services of Barney Joy and Ruter, the
two famous Honolulu pitchers, who
have already made good in fast COM
pany.
For the first time since 1 have been
a baseball manager have all my men
signed up at the beginning of the sea-