The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-07-31

W1fh Frank Norton president OF the
t1U1aa state league, and the Burlington
shaseban team as co-stars, Keokuk
Baseball association and the Keokuk
INDIANS are prepared to open formally,
the new baseball park at ThHty-second
Z end Main streets tomorrow afternoon
Mt three O'Clock The Keokuk Con-
cert band Will play before the game,
and all that is needed to make the
opening a real success Is tho crowd,
and that is assured
When Umpire Logan announces the
batteries for the first time in keo-
krk's new park tomorrow afternoon,
Schard VIII be sent 10 the hurting
end of the game and Brown will do
the receiving Overmm is likely 70
do the hurting for the Masters crew.
The Iine-ups of both teams aside from
the batteries will be the same az they
have been with possibly one exception
In the Indians makeup
Keokuk's new park rs built on
grounds purchased some years ago by
the Keokuk Baseball Grounds asso-
citation of which Frank L. Griffey
was president and Louis Sterne was
secretary. The park has been built
through subscriptions from the pub
lie and the subscriptions were col
lected and handled by a committee
appointed at meeting held in the
early spring.
Directors Get Credit.
The credit for the construction OF
the park and for the work connected
with the building of the new home
goes to the board of six directors.
These six men have worked hard and
faithfully to give Keokuk real base
ball home, and they have accomplish
ed their work now, and realize the
fruition Of their efforts
The directors are J. j. Crimu1ins,
gJY., Dr. Charles r. Logan, John Hays,
e. W. McManus, Fred H. Overton
and Larry Brown. John Crimmins is
the president of the baseball associa-
ton. Frank L. Griffey, president of
the old baseball grounds association,
has been working with the new asso-
citation in every way to assist them
in building the new home.
It will take considerable rain to
make any trouble with the grounds,
SO that local fans may be assured Of
a game tomorrow unless old Jup
Pluvius cuts loose most unmerci
fully.
Finishing touches were put ON the
grounds yesterday and today The
fbleachers were put up yesterday, and
the grounds were being put into shape
for the fastest kind of baseball. There
is no question but that KeokIk has the
best field of any of the clubs, and the
new park is a home to be proud of.
Substantial and Comfortable.
The grand stand which was COM
pleted early IN the week is eighty
feet long 1t is situated so as to face
the north, and is built parallel with
the Main street extension. The stand
is most substantially built with con-
crete anchorages and piers and heavy
timber bases and supports.
One feature OF the obstruction is
the tiers of seats built so that one
can sit comfortably without the one
behind him sticking a foot into his
back and soiling light colored clothes.
The seats are so built and backed that
they are the most comfortable that it
is possible to have.
Home plate is set about at the cen
ter of the stand and sufficiently far in
front to conform to the rules From
the stand one looks across field level
as a floor except for the slight hump
in the infield made by the pitchers
box The outer gardens are level and
the field gives every promise of being
lighting fast.
The new Keokuk park is reached by
driving out the Main street extension,
or from the boulevard, or by the Nc
Kinley avenue street cars.