Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1888 — THE GREEN DIAMOND. [ARTICLE]

THE GREEN DIAMOND.

The Battle for the Base-Bail Cham* pnshioip of the United States. In the League Boston Makes a Brill* iant Start—St. Louis Takes a Tumble. [CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.] Beautiful weather, higher temperature, grand ball-playing, and enthusiastic crowds of spectators have combined to make the opening days of the base-ball season of 1888 an auspicious one. What a surprise Anson's colts have given the base-ba]l world since the championship season opened ; what a wonderful tumble the hard-hitting League champions of 1887 have taken within the past ten days; how Boston’s work has tickled and delighted the residents of Sodenville ; how sadly the Hoosiers and Phillies are handicapped with disabled men at the outset of the race ; and wnat stiff and determined games Washington and Pittsburgh are playing, are the topics that are just now being enthusiastically‘discussed by the lovers of base-ball everywhere. New York has, beyond doubt, felt the absence of Tim Keefe, its great pitcher, and the news that on Saturday last be had finally bridged over his differences with his club and signed a New York contract, must indeed have been welcome news to the base-ball lovers of Gotham. Keefe is to New York what Clarkson is to Boston, what Van Haltren is to Chicago, and what Baldwin and Getzein were last year to Detroit; and now that his strong arm will once more send the ball over the plate for the Giants, they may safely be expected to make a better showing in the race than they have made during the past fortnignt. Of Chicago’s work one can only speak with praise for the good judgment of Anson; the quiet, determined manner in which his old ’•wheel-horses” have settled down to business, and the brilliant work of his “colts and yearlings.” Among the Chicago colts young Farrell has probably made the most brilliant showing. His work from the very outset has been of a character to challenge admiration everywhere, and if he continues as he has begun he will fill Mike Kelly’s shoes within a year’s time, so far as public regard and ball-playing ability is concerned. Just as Kelly was, Farrell is a fine back-stop, an übiquitous fielder, a clever trickster and base runner, a cool-headed and sure thrower to bases, and a batsman who hits the ball for a purpose and with effect. No young player in the country has a brighter future before him to-day than has FarrelL And now just a word about Detroit. The team that swept everything before it last year seems absolutely worthless this year, so far as its record thus far has demonstrated. “What is the trouble?" is a question that is being asked with concern in every base-ball center in the country, and with despair in Detroit. Well, it looks as though the team was demoralized through and through. The listless indifference that has characterized its work thus far shows this. It has been asserted that the pl avers are opposed to Manager Watkins, and have entered into an agreement among themselves to do no earnest work so long as the Directors retain him in his position. If this is so, the sooner the Directors put Mr. Mans ger Watkins upon the pension list the better will it be for themselves and the chances of the team in the race. The record of the League and Association teams up to Wednesday, May 2, is as follows: League. Won. Lost.iAssociat’n. Won. Lost. Boston 9 .. (Cincinnatiß 3 Chicago 6 2 Athletic 7 4 New Yorks 3;St. Louis 5 3 Pittsburgs 3,Baltimore 6 4 Detroit 3 5 Brooklyn 7 5 Indianapolis .. 2 6 Louisville 4 7 Philadelphia.. 2 7|Kansas City... 2 6 Washington... 1 7|Cleveland 2 9 GOSSIP HERE AND THERE. Chicago played its first four games of the season at Indianapolis and won them all, much to the discomfiture of the Hoosiers. “The chagrin of their defeat brought forth the following wail,” says Harry Palmer, in the Evening JowneJ,: Baby’s left the town, Baby’s gone away. And we’re praying in Hoosiervill* That Baby’s gone to stay. They told us Babe was aged, That he was growing fat; But verily he scored a run Whene’er he came to bat. They said he'd lost his teeth, And could not catch a ball. But just the same we think “Old Anse" Will be there in the fall. We'd like to see him old. We wish he'd lose his hair. Take his harp and climb, with “Birdie," Up the golden stair.

One cow which gives 5,003 pounds ol milk in a season will bring in more net profit than three cows producing only 3,000 pounds sack.