Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1887 — BASE-BALL [ARTICLE]

BASE-BALL

News, Notes, and Gossip Anent the Great National Game. Detroit Ahead in the Race for the Champion Pennant of the League. [CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.] The last game of the first home season took place between the Western clubs at Chicago and Pittsburgh Saturday, and upon the same evening they departed for their first tour of the year among the Eastern cities of the League. On Satuiday the first fifteen days of the season had passed, and at the close of that day’s games we find just as might be expected under the new rules —the heaviest batting club of the organization a good four lengths in the lead of its nearest competitor in the race. Detroit has been playing magnificent ball ever since the season opened. Not only is it batting powerfully, but its fielding strength is greater and its team works better in every particular than that of last year. In Getzein and Ganzel it has a battery that is working with much effect under the revised rules, and it is needless to say that the old out and infield is as strong as money aid enterprise could get together. Those who feel interest enough in the race to exercise their judgment in picking f. winner will probably not fall far short in selecting Captain Hanlon’s team as that which will carry off the League pennant of 1887. Boston is playing strong ball—stronger a good deal than it was anticipated it would play. Mike Kelly’s presence in lhe team seems to have had just the effect generally anticipated, viz: that of imbuing it with the winning spirit which so long characterized the Chicago team while Mike was with it. Philadelphia and Pittsburg, too, are each playing a rattling, determined game, while New York and Chicago, from both of which was expected so much, are a good deal further down in the list than they should be. Particularly is this true of New York, which in many quarters was looked upon as the fancied candidate in the League race. Their record will show such confidence to have been the result of misjudgment, however, for New York is playing at present a much poorer game even than it played last year. It v ould seem that it needs a general weeding out, from manager down to mascot, and tbe sooner it comes the better. The following table will show the record of the clubs up to Sunday, May 15:

- | . -o •2 a .2 • ? Clubs. « c Itc .2 j fl “ m po d ij? «> j3La 2 2 IS -g = * I .2 g a ® OX3 o S !jq 5 a O 3 R K fL fc lps lu ? 5 a o Detroit... 5 2.. 6 13 15 Boston. 3 1.. . 5 ..| 913 Philadelphia 3.. 3.. .. 2.. 814 New York .. 1 3 4~| 815 Pittsburgh. 1 .. t. 1.. .. 3 .. 2| 6,12 Chicag0........ 1 4 5 12 Wiiehmgtou. 3 .1 3 14 1ndianap01i5............ .. 1 2 .. .J 315 Games lost 2 4 6 7| 6| 7 11112].. i..

President Spalding has signed: a new player, Emile Geiss, who, it will be remembered, was blacklisted by St. Paul last year for failing to report. Through the efforts of Sam Morton he was reinstated, and signed with the Whites. He is said to be an excellent fielder and a good, strong batter. Should he prove the correctness of these reports he will probably be put upon third base, while Tommy Burns will be sent out to infuse a little of the old warhorse spirit into the infield. But it is pitching strength the club wants most, and pitching strength it must have, or gpod-by to all hopes of a creditable showing in this year’s race. One of the fairest among the many fair faces that may be seen in the grand stand at the Chicago Ball Park during a gome is that of Mrs. Ned Williamson, the young wife of the Chicago Club’s big short stop. Ned won his pretty wife in New Orleans while playing ball there, and both seem to have little cause to regret the meeting. Mrs. Williamson and several lady friends sat behind your correspondent in the grand stand atlast Saturday’s Detroit game, and, judging from the young lady’s modestly but earnestly uttered comments upon the play of both teams, I should say she might give even her clever and good-natured husband a few points on the came. A certain 'young fellow who drops into Spalding’s store occasionally saw Mrs. Williamson some time ago in company with Edon Madison street. - Rushing into the store he greeted your correspondent with the announcement: “Say, come out here, quick. I want to show you how Ed 'Williamson puts in his time when he’s in town.” We went out, but Ed had disappeared among the crowd, and the young fellow referred to was in despair. “Say,” said he, “I would give a hundred to get an introduction to the lady Williamson was with. She is the prettiest girl I ever saw in Chicago.” Several days later, while standing in the store, the same young fellow came up to me and as we were chatting together Mrs. Williamson, handsomely dressed and her big blue eyes shaded by the brim of a becoming Gainsborough hat, entered the door and passed up to President Spalding’s office to make some inquiry as to the time of the team’s return. - The young man referred to seized me by the arm and, with parted lips and distended eyes, gazed up the stair-case.

“That is the girl I saw with Williamson,” he whispered. “Do you know her?” “Yes,” said I quietly. “That is Mrs. Ned Williamson.” I never saw a man’s face change color more quickly or assume a deeper shade of <-hngrin as he heard my reply. “I should have known as much after all I have read of Mrs. Williamson and Mrs. Williamson’s beauty. Please don’t tell this on me.” was all he said as he left the store. HERE AND THERE. Hornung’s hopeful, the same youngster who used to sit upon the grand stand and shout to his father, “Go it, Joe,” wants to . sign a contract as mascot for the Bostons. Tom Deasley makes the best third baseman the New-Yorkers have yet tried in that position. The nine would be greatly strengthened by keeping him there. Glasscock told the Detroits: “Yog people up here are mistaken about your team. You are not playing fast enough ball to win the pennant. Wait till you strike the Eastern clubs, and you’ll see.” The New York W’orZd in speaking of the New York Club and its poor work says: The fact is that they are giants no longer. They are very small potatoes, and in an advanced state of decomposition, too. They have been treated too well, and are spoiled. What is now needed is a general toning up all around. Gerhardt, of the New York Club, is loud in his denunciation of Ewing, who practically froze him out of the team by signing a contract to play second and not nt all behind the bat. Ward, the Captain of the Giants, also receives a send-off, as he would not permit Joe to practice with the regular team. Gerhardt says he will be glad when he gets away from the crowd.