Jan.

THE SPORTING LIFE.PUBMSHED AT

BASE BALL.Mitor

dronndicter registering >all is rather an a cravings of the ia well as warm

third to mae room at Brat ba» for Paul Hin«t Twtchell Of Detroit, i. secured, M 96em.pr Indianapoli. will hare a strong haul ng team

i'' ntTarJr f»™rab!yC0n"n""* O" ru

No. 202 Soath Nioth Street, Fkilada.BY THE

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EVKTIV SATURDAY AT 5 P. M.

PHILADELPHIA, JANUARY 4, 1888.

40,OOO

We have in our oare letters or telegrams for the persons named below, which will be promptly forwarded upon receipt of a stamp and address. Elias Peak. Peter Wood. Robert Matthews. W. Hyndman. Fergy Malone. Joe Straub.L. McMillan, of Denver, Catcher Geo. Miller. CatctAf Clements. Pitcher Madigau. Henry C. Meyera. Ted Sullivan. Childs, of Johnstown. Phil Powers.

.Manager Sbamokin Club. L. Gibaon. O'Connor, of Ionia. Con. F. Lawton. W.J.Bradley,of Johnstown. Wai.Dugau. Burke, t-f Scranton, Martin C. Sullivan. Al Huneler. Chas, Keipschlager. Alex .Ferson.

SOME POINTS OF LAW.A despatch from Chicago last week gave the

following 'Startling" information: 'The minor league clubs are howling because Secre­

tary Byrne of the Arbitration Committee has an­ nounced that players signed previous to the adoption of the protection amondmoat at Cincinnati cannot be fnlly reserved, even though the minor leagues pay their tax of 8250 per club for protection. The howl comes because most of the clubs had signed most of their men befure the amendment was adopted. The luinor leagues declare, and justly, (hat they will not pay for protection that doesn't protect."

"We don't believe Mr. Byrne ever made the an­ nouncement credited to him above. Any minor league under National Agreement protection which has paid for the additional privilege of reservation will be enabled next fall to reserve fourteen of its players then under contract, no matter when they were signed.

Another alleged decision also attributed to Mr. Byrne which has raised a kick U that "players are not protested who sign with a club before the league or association to which the olub belongs has paid its fee for protection." On this point Chairman Rogers, of the Arbitra­ tion Committee, says:

"Mr. Byrne ni«y have given his personal opinion to that effecr, but certainly could not have made an offi­ cial decision, since he baa not the authority. The thirteen leagues and associations thnt'were under the protection of the National Agreement last Reason are etill protected, whether tho protection fee has been paid or not, but it i3 a nice question to determine whether a recently organized league or association, like the new We-t^ra League or International Asso­ ciation, iti entitled tn protection until tho protection fee shall have been paid. Should occasion require a decision on anch a case, however, a mail vote will probably be taken, and it is my opinion that the minor league club would be protected."

PERTINENT TIPS.The Present Drill of the

National Game.

A Map of the Situation What * the Future May Bring

Forth.

THE SPORTING tIFE PLAN.Prt^ideat NimTSI^of'tEe'Pitftgburg Club, has

not always been ia accord with THE E?PORTIXG~ LIFE. It therefore gives ua double pleasure to note the faot that he was the first League presi­ dent to openly favor THB SPORTING LIFE Mille­ nium plan. The world moves, and Mr. lS'imick/8 colleagues will all, one by one, fall into line, in time. In the language of President Reach, of the I^hiladelphias- "The plan is good throughout,and it will ultimately be adopted, feature by feature. Not much may be said about it now, but while we are sleeping it will grow lustily with amaz­ ing rapidity. It is only a question of time when the entire base ball business will be conducted upon its lines." We aro sure pf it.

Notes from Newark.NEWARK, N. J., Dec. 28. Editor SPORTING Lira:

I beg leave to state, in reference to the trouble between Newark and Birmingham about pitcher Dooms, that I have in my possession a contract and a receipt signed by H. Dooms to play in Newark next season, and from information that I have ID my posses­ sion I am sure that he will either play in Newark next season or nowhere, as I am sure that Manager Goldsby has no claim on his services. So far I have signed the following players for next season: N. L. Baker, H. Dooms and R. Killer, pitchers; Joe Sulli­ van, late of Lowell, and W. J. Collina, late of the Mets, catchers; James Fields, first base; Charles Jones, third base; Leo Smith, short stop; W. F. Juhneon, late of Indmmpolis, left field; Den Casey, centre field, and John Coogan, right field. I am at present nego­ tiating with several good men to play second, and I will he satisfied wirh either one of them. T am also after another promising young pitcher, and then my team will be complete. I would like to receive infor­ mation as to the whereabouts of D. Humphries, who played second bade tor the OswegoB. C. H. MEISBL,

Manager Newark B. B. 0.

The Austin (Tex.) Club.ArsTiN, Tex., Dec. 26. Austin has signed tho fol­

lowing well-known Western League players to play In Austin in the Texas T>a;ue in 1883: John J. Me- Cloakey, who Hayed centre field for St. Jue, has signed to manage the club. H- managed the Joplin (Mo.) Club on their aucceeafnl Southern trip, and ig a good bfttttr and fine* fielder and base-runner. The other players are: Bed Ehert, who pitcued for Denver; Bradley, catcher; Raymond, third baseman, and Tobias, left ftelder, of fcnipom; Weaver, catcher, and Sherry, second baseman, of Wichita; Ukotter, first basenwn, of Bt. Joe; Mulally, catcher, and Flinv, short stop, of Bio- bile, Ala., of the Southern League club. Besides these the manager has signed Frank Huffman, the crack pitcher of the Hot Springs Club. Austin has dates Wiih Washington, the 13th and 14th of March, and Cin­ cinnati the 17th and 18th. Austin has the finest base ball park and grounds in the South.

SHort Stops From Canton*CAITTON, 0., Dec. 29. Obtain Zocher, of the Canton

Club, is managing rtio billiard hall for the Hurford House.........Virtue will be found with the CttutonClub on first baso, as he has tmt signed with the Charleston Club as reported.........All the people ofthis town think that Saunders, who is to pitch for the Philadelphia Club, ia too slow for that class, as he cannot guard the bases for so fast company.........Themanagement of the C*titoa Club expecM to have a club this year to equal the club of last year, as they will be stronger in the box than ever before,........Themamgf-rs are making arrangements to fill up the out­ field and infield of their ground*, and tbey claim that they will have the finest ground-* in the Ohio League. .........The managers are corresponding with a fewmanager* of clubs trying to make arrangements and igu dates for exhibition games in this town before the opening of the regular season.

Why Not? **The Base Ball Foportor's Association is receiving

favorable notices everywhere. By sjn'iug nearly all re­ putable bas<- ball writers will have become members." Philadelphia Ledger. "Not much, an far aa Phila­ delphia goes, aud there ore few 'reputable' writers bere." Philmlolphirt Nwat. Why no!? The object of the Association id to codify the scoring rules with a view to making scoring a^ nearly uniform as possible, eo tliat base bull statistics may be in tho future more accurate, and Hu-refore, better teats of ball playing ability. Surely thatout;ht to commend the Association to all competent reporters.

Manager Clinton Makes a Claim.BUOJKLYN, boc. 23. Editor SronriNn LITE Dear

fir: I paw a notice in last Sunday's &PORTIXG LIFE thit Irwin had buen si.«rn Hi to manage Sitn- dtisky. Allow mo 10 coirect ym: on this point as his terms were accepted by Manchester more than a week ago, and we will &o->a h«vo hre contract back with his signuture on. I Irave had eo many applica- tiens for positions on the nine that it has been im- poesil-lc to answer thorn a)l. Would yon be kind enough to mention this in your notice* and my that I take this means of imaw-jrnig ttrat ray nine is now ngagcd with the exception, potgibly, of one or two more players later on. Winliiu^ you a merry Cnrfgt- naa and a bapuy New Your, I am yours,

JAJIRS L. CLINTON, Maua^or Maiicbea.or It. JB. Q. '

CLEVELAND, 0., Dec. 30. Editor SPORTING Lire; "T. T. T/a* comments on what I had to say about the Association clique are generally correct, and altogether right from his point of view. It is a great thing to be able to credit the other fellow in an argument with seeing things right, although you know that you are ri^ht, and that he is mistaken. Only hard knocks and

>a good deal of original liberality can give you this kind of a spirit. But it's a good one to have. I was reluctant to admit that a similar ring exists in the Association "that has existed for harm in the League since Hulbert's death and did exist, but less harmfully, before it. And the Association ring hasn't got to its worst shape yet, though honesty compels me to admit that it was pretty large and bold at Cincinnati. And I agree with "T. I. IV'that it re bad for the game, and that whenever the evils that come from tho arrogance of a ring and there never was one that wasnt arrogant at some time in its career show up, the newpaperitea should paint them in their most glowing colors. I know that as a whole the base ball writers are the best friends of the game, and .am sorry to see EO many of them become mere club mouth­ pieces. A club mouthpiece is all very well as long as it is used only for good. But when cause for criticism comes it should be shown, and amendments ttnd reforms suggested. Cleve­ land isn't in the ring and suffered thereby. But I shouM have told about the ring just the same, had we had a place on tho schedule committee, or had caught fat and jucier plums than we did. But I don't think that the game is going to the dogs, because the ring is formed and hustling, and am inclined to believe that its members are sensible aud will not be quite so arrogant, if they are aware that the general public is "onto 11 them, aud that a great deal of hocgishness will hurt the game a groat deal. Oharles H. Bvroe, of Brooklyn, is the boss of the Association only because some one has to be. and he was the fittest to be bou. Until this fall his boss- ism wa-* healthy bossism. The Association received more benefit from it than did the Brooklyn. Club, But there was a good deal of funny business over the sale of the Met*. Brooklyn insists that H paid $25.000 fir that franchise, and those players and then gave the franchise to the Association. Were the players worth "325,000? Hardly! What value is to come from other sources? Give it up. But I can boild a go^d-looking fabric of my own. Of course the Association bensnts by the possession of Mays, Holbert, O'Brien, Rad- furd & Co., who, we are told, would have gone to the League via New Y^rk. Thanks! Byrne & Co., that this pain was saved ua. The flrai benefitted itself

^directly and the Association indirectly aud slightly. I say slightly, because the November transfer provision and the leave-the-man-off-the-rescrve-list trick, makes property in players very transferable and more valuable. But the Association lost a member, just as if Haw York had bought the Sleta. Then came the general strengthening of the Brooklyn team, for which good hard mouey was paid and tho 50-cent amendment. Then I thought I saw the Brooklyn Club's scheme, and it had a League look.

A MAP OF THE SITUATION.To espial u the sckeme [ must first drawn map of

the general situation. Tho League has eight clubs. Two are not ttteadily fltroog. I mean Indianapolis and Washington. Boston, New Turk, Chicago and Philadelphia are great Leaguo citUe, Pittaburg has not sbuwn its greatness yet,aud Detroit h-is a group of prizes which the League ring would like to divide among them and lose the Lfetroit franchise. This clears the way for the one-league idea that "T. T. T." galvanizes. The Association had eight and now haa seven clubs. The Athletics are in the way of League success. Ousido are Brooklyn, Baltimore and Cincin­ nati, all to'vns of th» first class; Cleveland isn't yet; n--!: >ns or Louisville. At the expense of tli- r iiese towns can be tested a tide r the L- ; ''ry Ci'nts. find the flff-pst cnn siirvivn. T; .....

Louisville, lu lUu.it ^ ivu'l \V.i-.hLu-f..!i nin ,1 . if t;n* slate, how many clnb3 rwmain? Eiyht, viz.: Bwtuii, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Now Yoik, Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburg tied Cinciiinati. What a profitable group it would be with the best c-f the players of thy frozen-cut ones well distributed! And the three comers from tlie Association would all have been tried under a fifty- cent tariff. I do not aspire to be a pruphet, and do not claim that this is a correct map, hut I will declare that it it a "purty picter" of a possible future. And strangely enough the three clubs which I select fn>m the Association were "in wid de gan,*" at Cincinnati, although up to that tirnn Cincinnati had not been "in," aud may not be at this time, as Caviar declares. It irf certain that an Eastern League circuit would be most profitable, but eight steadily strong clubs cannot be secured for it, and eight steadily strong clubs with great populations to draw from makes the model league. Am I uot right on this point?

ANOTHER ASSOCIATION WILL SPRIXG UP.

What will come later? Not chaos. You can bet your dollars and life on that. Another association will spring up, as the American Association sprang up five yoara ago, and after battling with the big monopoly will be recognized and will fight its way up as tho Association has done, improve the game as the Association boa done, aud finish out the young blood in a similar way. And "T. T. T.," Caylor aud the rest of the kickers will be with me and "iu" with the new Fttwociation, and "agin" the old, aa I, in my little way, am l(agin" tho League in these d*ys of ours. And while we are kicking aud fighting agaiuat a villainously strong and arrogant monopoly in the future we shall have the past to guidu us, both in our course dud our criticism, and shall bo able to make it very uncomfortable for the other fellows. There's too much in base ball for It to be strangled by a ring or clique. If there was not, the game would have died in the spring of 1886. It got a big "jar" at that time.

THE FTFTY-OKNT TARIFF QtTWSTJON.All this hypocrisy over the 50-cent vote may aa well

be nailed right here. Cleveland, Cincinnati, Brook­ lyn, filers, Baltimore and S>, Louis, voted for the raise, and Louisville and the Athletics against it. And had seven votes been necessary, the amendment would have received seven votes. And how abaurd is the Philadelphia talk of overturning the work at Cincin­ nati in the spring. No sis votes can be amassed for the purpose of returning to 25 cents all around. This brings mo to "T. T. T's." other drive. He says in his last letter.

"Undoubtedly Brtrnoll sees that Cleveland is assist­ ing Brooklyn's exit from the Association by its advo­ cacy of the raised tariff, but was it seen and recog­ nized before the vote in convention? If not, It will illustrate that admirable diplomacy of Mr. Byrne which has already been referred to that acumen which either grasps a situation, or makes one and turns it in a channel already leading to the desired end of the accomplished diplomat without the ki owl- edife at the time of those contributing to tbe result,"

Surely it was seen, and I discussed the probable out­ come with President Itobison, Treasurer IT>we, Secre­ tary Ilawlej aud Jimmie Williams. Cleveland may have aasisted Mr. Byrne in his scheme, bnt it was only because Byrne's way and Cleveland's way were to­ gether. Later we rnay have to break away. The fu­ ture will show that. Our people decided that Brook­ lyn could as easily do what it was charged with in­ tending to do with ft 25-cent as with a 60-cent tariff. And it can. The fact is and the managers and stock­ holders i>f clubs in cities of iesa than 400,tX)0 inhabitants may as well ponder over what I write that with present Association expense*, and any thing less than a one, two, three team, Cleveland could not exist on a twonty- five-cent tariff. We had fair attendance during 1887 and needed nearly double what it was to hold us financially level. If Cleveland cannot have a fifty- cent lean it will have no team at all. This statement will do to bet on. The twenty-five-cent tariff neces­ sary when the Association was strusgliug for life ought to have been dropped two years ago. Since that its patrons have seen fifty-cent ball for half price, and valued it only half as much as they should. Cleveland aided itself and followed the rule in doing it. If (here is any business in which Belt- help goes farther than in base ball I'll eat a dozen of Reach's boat spheres. There may be such a thing that a season of general oroaperity is ahead. There is money enough in the country to bring one out. A good fight, with few or no tail-enders, would give Brooklyn, Baltimore end Cincinnati enough profit to make them resist temptation, should it come their way.

THE BASE BALL REPORTERS* ASSOCIATION.I notice a criticism on the work of the Base Ball

Reporters' Association by Mr. Harris, of the Boston Globe. H» does me the honor to say that my para­ graph invitiug criticism from Boston was sincere. It certainly was. lie alt*o complains that he received no notice of the meeting at Cincinnati. If such notice was not seen by Mr. Harris it was his fault. It wiia certainly and generally given. Mr. Harris agrees with me that the purpose of the organization is a good one, and from what I know of him and his work I believe him to be as mnch a friend of the game aa mynelf. And my friendship is aa thorough aa I can imagine a friendship to be. In the West we seldom know the editorial handicap in connection with base ball work. Nearly nil l»ne ball reporters are Iuu9 ball editors. But it U a point tUat all practical newg- paperitos can easily understand. 3>o it need not be discussed in Its breadth, while we may all opine that nil editor may wrongly guage the public wants. To Mr, Harris I will a»y, anent the poasihle inconsisten­ cies of the foundation fur * liroctoxe laid at Cincin­

could not aid thID use, and amend mestolen base resolution'easily see that. !for diiTereneeft <oourageraoMt ri, ,take ch , .u all, the COTM»scoring -hed. Tbe unaccepted «...and left .tiona were adopted in the in'ent at9 rMtty alone. If all scorers were impartial

* alar judgment, neither would have been ne- firrora of head are not judged to be errors of

pl'\\ <i such errors of head are nearly always le for the balls which are not hits

aud \V t drop safe. Sucfa are unaccepted chancee. Bnt, M I supposed *t Cincinnati, the stolen base resolution ia the rock of trouble. We adopted it in the interest of uniformity and after dfacuaaing the cbancea for close pUys and the diffi­ culty of catching a good bage-rnnner at aecond. Plenty are caught, of course, but in most caaee after remarkable pieces of fielding, and when errors aro made on such playe they are of the same nature as errors on batted balls, which a scorer of discrimina­ tion will set dawn m base hits. If the error is bad a runner generally takei two bates upon it. Thus cornea the stolen baso and error distinction. But all the inconsistencies can b» cleared away. Our work at Cincinnati, no matter how imperfect, haa created the discussion that must precede all reforms. Bofore the schedule meetings the Base Bull Reporters ot America will have fifty members, and as many clear heads at work. Out of them muat came the ideas to build a scoring system of universal value. Especially are the Boston men needed. I am liberal enough to ac­ knowledge that their irregular system of scoring was adopted in good faith, and sanguine enough to hope that their ideas can be made to fit those of the West. The subject is important enough to bring out thought and labor. There is uo doubt about recognition by the base ball leagues, if the rules compiled are sup­ ported by the reporters of the cities in which the clubs of such leagues are operated. And recognition means tha adoption of the rules compiled by the re­ porters aa the official scoring rulea of the League. And such adoption meana uniform scoring in the true aenae of the word.

THE CLEVEL1XDS OF 1888.The Cleveland team is now complete, unless come

grabable pitching talent is uncovered, in which event it will be added to the half dozen pitchers already on the club list, fielder Simon dodged financially until Rochester got him, when tbe ciub management got clfar of eye and signed a min that ahould have been corralled a mouth ag i Ed. Hoxan,uf ths Kaahvilles and Metaof 1887. Ou Monday Manager Williams engaged D. G' odfellow, of Port Jervia, N. Y., and catcher of the Beading, Pa., and Cdnmbus, 0., teams of 18&7. This engagement completed tbe team. The men in it, with their 18»7 record* and positions, are aa follows:

Bat'g. F'd'g.l Bat'g. F'd'g. W. Stemmyer.p.. .197 .942. D. Qoodfellow,c. .285 .945 R.Gilbs. p.. ....... .333 .965 ! J. Paatz, Ib....... .313 .975W. Ore-well, p.... .195 .958' J. Stricfcer, 2b ... .333 .906M.Morrisou,p... .237 .&41JA. P. Albert, SB... .361 .8(i5E. Bakely, p...... .288 .942;J. McGlnne, 3b,.. .329 .847H. Oberlauder, p .355 .95" f E. J. McKean.lf .364 .852 C. N. Synder, c... .276 .902! P. J.Hotaliug,cf .3G7 .898C. Zimmer, c..... .331 .944 ,E. Hogan, rf...... .377 .741

This ought to make a pretty steady team, and if the pitchers turn out well will make trouble. At any rate the outside critics underrate it, and I shall enjoy it as the boya get in among the crowd aud kick things over. All the men hive signed except MorrUon, McGlone, McKean and Ziianwr. All are reserved and will sign when they are ready. It may be nettced that base- running talent lias not been neglected and that there ia uot a slow-footed man ouiaide the batteries.

CLEVELAND LIKES ITS NEW CAPTAIN.The present team is the tenth that Cleveland has

had in the last eleven years, and only one of the ten teams has been fairly well captained. That was the League team of 1883, the team work of which was directed by Tom York, and he lost heart and control of the men, when, at the end of July, tho pitchers col­ lapsed, Much is expected of Jay Faatz. He was by far the boat captain in the International League, aud will make a groat difference in the Cleveland team's work. It may aiao be an id that in these days only a well captained team can be successful, unless ita men are all old and steady heads, as in the Detroit teem. My ideal of a captain is a good player of sound judge­ ment and energy enough to show his players how to do a thing as well as to tell them to do It. This is the secret of Comiekey'a success. The Browns' procession of conquest is largely due to him, that of Chicago, to Anson; of Philadelphia, to Harry Wright, and of Cin­ cinnati, to Gus Schmelz. Unless Faatz lo-*es bis grip and I know him well enough to bot that he will not the Clevelauda of 1888, will be one of the beat directed team-* in the Association. Stick one of Oaylor'a lances right here,

THE EIGHTH CLCB STILL BURIED.President Bobison, of the Cleveland Club, is on the

Association vacancy committee with Vonderhorst, of Baltimore, and Aboil, of New York. He sava that, so far, nothing has been done to fiH the gap. It is certain that mmhpr Kan u* City nor Milwaukee will put a :- .'. i .,.-;,., .i.. u ..,, r js ft probable

urn will change Ua Baltimore, The

tho American A*- . The preference

wtil n j 21 van 10 au r.n-iuu a emu, and the Metfl may still go on.

A LAW THAT IS NEEDED.Why did not the Cincinnati meeting pasaa law mak­

ing the use of turnstiles obligatory on all clubs? Such B law will be found necessary early in the season. Under the percentage system each club has a pecu­ niary interest in the others, and should have some­ thing to say in the way the cash is handled. And the same percentage system will put a teat on Bomo of the Association managers. The«e officials will find that a good field captain is one of the necessities of the season of 1888.

PIECES OP NEWS AND COMMENT.ril break no lauce with Cnylor this week. Keep

your bundle intact, old fellow. We may need them all for other skins later along.

Jimmie Williams thinks a good deal of his catching flnd/'Deve" Goodfellow, of Port J^mo, N. Y. He weighs 180 pounds, is aa tall as Zimmer, and a fine thrower, back stop and base-runner. He firet branched out with Zimmer in the Hudson River League of 1886, and while "Ziin" led the catchers Goody was second.

The boys tells me that Phil Powers ia to come in upon u-* in a few days. He oomei to see Andy Sora- raer and wants him to catch for his new London team. Young John Cahill, who is going to be a good one in a few seasons, may also go to London.

To Caylor I would say that when, at Cincinnati, it came to a vote on a future state the aecretary declared "no quorum," so there was no vote. Had there been only the new men from Philadelphia would have voted "aye."

I learn from a Pittsburger that the Pittsburg Club has been trying to induce the Philadelphia Club, "for the good of the League," to release unto it Syd ffarrar and Ed Andrews. Can the story be true?

F. H. BKUNELL.

THE FUTURE OF BASE BALL.

Why the National Game Has Become aPermanent Institution.

"Wonder how long the base ball craze will last?" is a remark frequently heard, and then some knowing one replies: "Oh? the bottom will drop out of it in a year or two." The mis­ take made is in Betting base ball down as a "craze." It is the very reverse of a "craze." It is a rational, deep-seated love for the noblest sport ever gazed upon by delighted thousands. Shorn of all objectionable features, it is at once the cleanest and most engaging of pastimes. Through the efforts of men like those who con­ trol the leading clubs the game has been put on a plane so high as to secure the patronage of the most fastidious. The clergy, the professions and the very beat classes of people are attracted to the contests of the exponents of the Kational game. Many other sports, which have caught the popular eye, while un­ objectionable in thepiselves, have been so weighted with attendant evils that they quickly died. Not so with baae ball. Played in the open air, a healthful and attractive feature, there are at the same time n*»ne of the objectionable features attending indoor pastimes. And there ia in base ball an elemmit, growing more powerful daily, which ia bent on still further elevating the noble game, with the firm con­ viction that this will make even more solid the rock foundation on which th9 great sport renta. 80 long as water exists that other great pastime of yachting will flourish and so Ion? as there is laud enough to mark out a diamond and leave a respectable outfield so long will the great game of baae ball live.

NIC'S METHODS.

How Cincinnati's Spry Champion Base- Stealer Does tlie Act.

Little Hugh Niool, of Cincinnati, one of the most successful base-stealera in the brofession, concerning his methods of stealing, aays:

"I play aa far off ot first as to make it nip and tuck which will get back first, me or the ball. Then I set my left spikes and get a spring in th»t foot. At 'the first and faintest motion to pitch I fire myself away from that loft foot aud make a gain of five feet any­ how, and then it's a sprint for second. Most players begin to slide too soon. Yon don't want to slide until within about eight feet of the base, for you're losing speed when on the ground. Always, jiHt thw instant before making the dip, I look to aee how the ball is coming. If it'a coming high I take the beliy-bu-ter in front of the baseman, for nine mrt of ten of them swing back with the ball, and I ain't tin-re. That fools thom. If it's coming low 1 go behind luem aud twist out with roy right toe and left knee If it's going to be a pretty cl-.sn thms and the ground ia good and dry, I've got all my \*%* »ud ;i> nw * ' kick up a big dudt, so the umpire can't pee how ti.e (hint; is, and ray story is as good us fhe wennd l-a*em m 1s v- hen the cloud clears avavy, don't you a*e?"

PttK9ii>ENT BRUSH, of Indianinulis, U o e of the many gentlemen connected with h-ujeJt-N »'M. ie^r- 1* exceidiugly t';at President Steam-*, nf~ (>Hr it, lift- re­ signed. Commenting uji n the inntt-.f )i- rf|»'.!;i- m follows: "I watt very sopry to licnr tli*' ilr. Sl< ;i-IH had resigned. Ho is « splendid jjnntl-'Wtii, ' -' - " man for the Loagr.o to Jiw. 1 lmpt> )m \vill > or that arwu{[«Du>ut9 may bo iitw<tt- tha' " him tu coutiuue at the head of tha Dc-Uoii

^' K

5" & t-< <?i•*• s 3. a R ft

* "• r ' § ? SX '^«r, 1 am ^**£ rf- *«w if hat I can toward ^fcrvmg a base ball lunch for readers of THK b'tonTiir« LIPH. However, not much must be Hin* U i'riinjM b* dull out herj.JJ

deuiai from »c tie ever made the state­ ment Uhat he would not come here, these two men cannot be made the foundation for a letter. Speaking of these men reminds me that Presi­ dent Brush has received letters from both of them this week. Hines writes a very enthusi­ astic letter. He claims that the papers greatly misrepresented him before he signed an Indian­ apolis contract. He assorts that he n,ever had any personal feeling against this city and was perfectly wilting to come here. He sjjeRks highly of the efforts of Mr. Brush to secure a strong team and espressos a great desire to see Indianapolis st least lead Washington, Pittsburg and Boston, aod thinks we will certainly do so. Hinos assures Mr. Brush that ho expects to do his utmost to advance tfie interests of the elub and promises to »ho«r up early and iu tine form.

THE flLASSCOCK MATTER.

In hia letter John Healey tells Mr. Brush that he need pay fio attention to the statement going the rounds that he will not play in In­ dianapolis next vem". He thinks no one who ia familiar with ba^o ball matters will l«e any sleep over euch reports. He says he ni!»y have said iu an off-hand manner that he would not sit?n again with Indiana­ polis, but did not intend to let such a statement get into the papers. Henley very frankly admits that he was treated well by ttta homo mm igemeut and has no fault to find with anyone. He ±?i every cent that was due him and something iu addition for extra work. The Egyptian thinks the ct-»m will make a good fight in the race aud asserts that he will do all he can to placo it as neiir the top as possible. However, he says, while this ia the time when playors UMially sing the old song about being in fine condition, etc., he does not intend to give the same old cheat- nut to President Brush. "I am in good health," he concludes, "and will let you judge fur yourself aa to the rest when you see me in the spring."

Shomberg writes to a friend within the laat few days that he has fully recovered from hia heart trouble and ia in splendid health. He is in Uood Haven, Mioh^ where he acts as postmaster at night. Shorn my wants it known that he ia Also making base ball bats, and expects to get out 5,000 first-class second groVth aeh sticks. He is doing well and writes very enthusias­ tically about the coming season and what he hopes to do for the Indianapolis team.

My denial that President Briith gent a message to Glasscock asking bis advice about a deal by which Hi ties was to be traded for Gavin, has called out a reply from you Wheeling correspondent. He insists that such a message was sent, and calls me to time for stating that some one bad been giving him taffy. We were both mistaken. I was mistaken when I said no auch a telegram waa aont, but waa right in saying that the management knew nothing of it. Your Wheeling man was wrong in his statement that it waa signed by Mr. Brush. President Brush knew nothing of the telegram being aent until he saw it in THE SPORTING LIFE. No one else connected with the club had any­ thing to do with the message. It has since come out that the message was sent by J. H. Martin, passenger agent of tho C. I. St. L. & C. R. R. who is a friend of Gia-sacock. Mr. Martin and a party of friends were sitting m the lobby of the Denison House, when same one asked which would be tho better man for Indian­ apolis Hiups or Gavin. The party decided on the questiou,and finally a wager was made, it being agreed to leave it to GU^scocfc to decide. Mr. Martin being a friend of Jack, wrote and signed the message. Glasscock answered that under certain conditions Gavin would be a better man than Hinea for Indian­ apolis. That is the whole matter iu a nut shell. The baae ball management knew nothing of the message whatever. It was simply a piecu of pleasantry. Glasscock Bays he does not know bow it got into the papers, as he talked to no one about it. However, aa there is no probability of a trade being made, the matter amounts to nothing.

COMMENT ON 80WDEHS.

Boston must be "stuck" on Billy Sowders If they paid the price quoted in tho newrtpapei'sa for his re­ lease from tho St. Paul Olnb. Fmm what I hear about the deal,-I think $4,000 was about tho amount invented by Soden & Co. in what muat be regarded as an ex­ periment. He cannot bo otherwise. It is my belief that none of the "wonderful" pitchers picked by the League and American club.* from the minor organiza­ tions will travel fast enough in their new company, and I shall be surprised if Sowders doea not go down with tho others. I think he aiide a great mistake la

-fciffiia St. Piiui. Whi*n lie taco.s sucn. team* as De­ troit, New York and Philadelphia he will soon see the difference between the Northwestern and League bat­ ters. Tho same may be said of all the others, too. Look at tbe work of Crane and Viau in California. Thoy were great men in the minor organizations to which tht*y belonged, but amounted to nothing when pitted against the Leaguers. Sowd<rs, however, is a steady young player, rather a clever fielder and was an aver­ age batter last season. Baae Ball men here seem to think Boston paid too much for him, and.while they all wish him success, it is pretty genei^pwy thought that he cannot hold his own. I am told that ho haa some doubt about his ability to dance to League music himself and was not over-anxious to join the Bostons or any other League team. However, if he ever ex­ pects to g^t into faster company, he must make the start »nd. may bo, now is as good a time aa any. By tbo first of June he will know more about it. His homo ia bore aud local pride inspires a friendly feeling for him.

STEARNS' RESIGNATION.While Manager Selee, of Inn Omaha Club, was here

aa the agent ofrae Boston Club, he got in a lick or two for his own team. Lea Sowders, a brother of Billy, will probably join Selee'a club. While he haa not signed yet, it is altogether probable thaf he will do BO. He has good offers from several cluba, but says he ia in no hurry. He was with tho Jersey Oicy Club last season and madii a good record. He is a fair fielder, pood base-runner, and a hard left-handed hitter. If Omaha gets him he will hold his own with the best members of that team. There is atill another pitcher in Ihe Sowdors family Johnny but he ia young yet and has na record.

The resignation of Proeident Stearni, of the De- troits, haa broken President Brush's heart, and he re­ fuses to be comf»rtei. Mr. Brush is a great admirer of Detroit's loading base ball man, and thinks the League will suffer a serious loss if he resigns alto­ gether. Said Mr. Brush to me laat night: "Th«re m<xy be other men in Detroit just as good as Mr. Stearns, but-if tho place has many like him then De­ troit is a great town. I hope he will reconsider hia de­ termination to quit base ball, aa the League can't afford to lose such a man. Tho Detroit directory should lessen the work of its president so he could afford to take the time from his other business and remain at the head of tbe club. I feel like I had lost one of my

oldest friends."NOTE8.

ffTwitcholl cornea to Indianapolis he will be close to the home of his wife that Is to be. She liven in Cincinnati, and aa oar club has a good rate over that road and at the ride is a short one about four hours Twitchell would find this a desirable place to locate.

Larry McKeon ia still here. He haa several offers, but ia in no hurry to sign.

Jack Glaascock writes that he would like very mnch to make his Indianapolis friends a visit, but he can't afford it. It ia too bad about Jack's poverty. I would wager that he ha* a big hank account just the same. We would all like to see him, anyway.

The Christmas rush has thrown President Brush back in hin base ball affairs, but with the beginning of tho year he will be iu shape and expects to open up correspondence with all the boys and, no doubt, contracts for 1888 will be signed by all the men of laat year's team soon.

If Indianapolis could get Pfrffer and Twitchell we would agree to quit. With these two men the local club would be a great organization. Come, Mr. Bpalding, let us have Frederick. We want him for a captain. ____ ____ A. G. 0.

Notes and Comments.A HAPpy New Year to all.Now is the time to swear off.THE Omaha Club haa signed John Merritt,VAN DYKE, of Des Moinee, ia to be married soon.THE CINCINNATI Clnb will plav at Wheeling, April

16th.MOUNT JOT ia wintering at Port Huron. He is atill

unsigned.ED CARTWRIQHT has gone to Florida for the reft of

the winter.DULUTH still haa hopea of falling into some Western

League hole.THE Pittaburg Club ia believed to be angling for

Fred Pfefler.WILL third base be Hew York's weak spot still an­

other seaaon?SwARTwoob's Pittsbnrg saloon Is named the "Little

MuDongahela." COLUMBUS haa arr«ag*d E game with the Detroit

ttam for April 26.THE PortlaudH will uot have one of the team of 1887

in next season's club.FRANK GABDXEB aud the Washington Olub are still

haggling over term a.THE double umpire system la giving great satisfac­

tion in San Ftanciaco.SAM BITTI.E haa gone back temporarily to his old vo­

cation prize fighting,MIRE KELLY has been trying hia hand at first base

in 'Frisco and did well.YOUNG STALKY, of the St. LouU Western team, is said

to be a promising pitcher.("OLVMBUS h;w signed first basemon R. C. Hamilton,

late ut the Lawrence Club.TOM UAMSEY is s*id to have kept quite straight

sir.c« the close of the season.PITCHER JACK FLYNN, formerly with the Chicago

Club, liftj signed with Omaha,

tr , - was a failure with De-riau Jose, Gal.

, tra is what; tt>" *>"* ' -.". .;.-i n'Aiiy betievea that young doctor

erlander will prove a second Ramsey. 'HI Hamilton Clnb U thinking of giving young

pitcher Mitdigan, of Washington, a trial..-3 ANGELES, San Diego, Sau Luia Obiapo and Sftuta

Crnz aro to form a Southern California League.BAKNIE is reaching out for Frank Hankinaon, to

take Davis* place as Baltimore's third baaoman.THE League has been in some pretty bad holes, bnt

was never »o badly off as the Association ia now.THE Cleveland Olub haa secured a railroad situation

for tlie balance of the winter for pitcher Morrison.JACK CARROLL, of last season's Cleveland team, haa

sisued with St. Paul next season. He played there in 1884. r

BILLY TAYLOB 1» down in Savannah mixing cock- taih. Fred Corey u doiug the same in Providence, R. J.

JONATHAN HOSRISON, tha out fielder late with the Mots, ig said to have been signed by the London

THERE Is every probability of a Hudson River Base Bull League. Yonkers, N. V., intends to organize a team.

JANUARY 1 is the day upon which the International Association cluba will have to put up their 81,000 guar­ antee.

THB organ of tha Cleveland Club denies the repor t that that club will play Suuday games at homo next season.

THE Salem Club ia about to sign John Selbal, of this >'ty, upon Uie recommendation of Charlie House­ holder.

THE New Orleans Club haa at laat forwarded Geo. W. Bradley a contract after keeping him in suspense for a month.

SINCE the -St. Louis Weatern team Is to be dubbed ;ho "Whites," the Chicago team may be called the "Maroons."

TUG toboggan slide on tbe Indianapolis grounds Is cow completed aud in working order. It is being well patronized.

ANSOX ia Raid to be making a financial success of his Chicago racquet court. He aeeou to have aourod on tobogganing.

HART and Cook, of the Lynn and Rockland teams, wish to sign aa a battery. Address W. H. Cook, Leo- minster,Mass, *

GALVIN has informed the Pitteburg Club that he will not algn until April 1, and perhaps not then, unless he gets hisi price.

STAGG and Dannare practicing daily at Yale, which itive promiso that Yale will again hold the college championship.

JOE QUEST writes from Los Angeles, Gal., that the climate does uot agree with hitu and he ia unable to do much work.

MANAGER LDOAS, ofAhe Davenport Clnb, has signed Charles Raising, the first bademaa of the Hastings team of In at season.

BUCK EWINO and Mike Kelly are about the moat popular of the Eastern players with the San Francisco ')»so ball attendants.

MONTREAL is mentioned as likely to become tbe eighth club of tho International Association should Troy fail to organize.

THE contracts of pitcher E. Knowlton with Charles­ ton, and first baseman Tom Lynch with Birmingham, have been promulgated.

FUED W. BAKER, late baae ball editor of the Detroit Journal, has accepted tbe position of business manager of the Chicago Horseman.

SECRETARY HURLEY, of the Central Inter-State League, will resign that position to accept the manage­ ment of the Dccatur Club.

WOULD it bt* surprising if the Bale of popular Sow­ ders affected the St, Paul Olub pretty much as the sale of Maul affected Kaabville?

PITCHER SOWDERS' greatest feat, and one unexcelled last Reason, was the striking out of five men in suc­ cession twice in a single game.

THE report that tho Detroit Club haa secured a con- lolling intereat in the Toronto Club is emphatically denied by tfce Toronto officials.

MANAGES POWELL, of the New Orleans Club, last week signwd a youn< Brooklyn catcher named Bligh; also a player named A. J. Duna.

CAPTAIN WARD, ol tbe New Yoit Club, is spending ill his spare time on the Pacific slope in gunning, and ie ia considered a crack wing shot.

DAVE FOUTZ isabo working the "mother" racket, uut in a different way from Caruthers. He sends ths old lady each month a goodly sum.

FS.I.VE Irss, thy rising young billiard nlaver. who s St'wson'a protege, U quire a bull player, and haa an ifferfrom Harringtou's Lima Club.

MANAGER CCSHMAN has about completed his Tor- »nto team. Still, if ho can run across one more good )itcher he will talk business to him.

CHARLES ISGBAHAM, who played first base for the Ouiuth Club Uat season, is very sick with erysipelas, n St. Luke's Hospital, Duluth, Minn.

SUOBT STOP ELMER E. ROUSSET, of Baltimore, writes 13 denying the repxrts that ho haa re-signed with

Milwaukee. He is atill in the market.i.MEd DALY, of Rutland, Vt., denies the roport that

le has signed with the Chicago Western club, but is corresponding with two or three clubs.

THE Philadelphia combination will leave Sau Fran- ciaco this week and go to Los Angeles. After a ten days' sojjnrn there they will st>irt for home.

A CINCINNATI exchange says that if Fennelly peraista n his reucal to sign a Cincinnati contract, President Jtern will keep him idle and use Kappel at abort.

EX-MANAOBR Alexander, of St. Joseph, expects to landle the Mobile Club in the event of organization. 5e is at present in the meat businea at Peoria, IU.

RYAN may be one of Chicago's regulat pitchera should Clarkson go. In that event, Ryan says, he will demand $3,000 salary. He will not pitch for less.

W. C. FRBSENDEN has been appointed a Western Asso­ ciation umpire. The staff is now complete, being com­ posed of Fes-ienden, g. P. Hagan, 0. B. Powers and John Brundje.

PAUL HINEB now expresses himself as being per­ fectly satisfied that heaipnedwith tho Indianapolia. He thinks the Hooaiera will keep them all guessing next season.

WE UNDERSTAND that the well-known theatrical man, Jake Rosenthal, ia to be tho advance agent next season of the Cincinnati Olub. He is an expert in hi* line.

HENRY BOYLE haa signed for next season. If he gets himself iu condition and pitches for all he is worth, Indianapolis should secure a good position in next year's race.

IT MAY be set down for a fact that about 53,300 is the correct amount paid by the Boston Club for Sow- dors' release. And even that seems excessive, all thioge considered.

IT is atill possible that the Cleveland men will gather at Macon, Ga., March 15, and tako two weoka' practice before going to CUunibua, The Dea Moinos team will surely gather there.

THE management of the newly organized London Club, ia said to be arranging for a trip before th e Cana­ dian season opens. Louisville, PitUb*rg, Cleveland and Detroit are to be visited.

TON DEB AHE would hardly have parte.1 with Welch if ho had known that hia claim on Halliday waa no good. St. Louis will have a hard time now finding a good player for centre field.

TOM YORK will in all probability manage the Utica ! lub, should it bo organized. Tom h.is tha necesaary

experience to select a strong team, and, having se­ lected, knows how to handle it.

THE Zanesville team is now made up as follows: John McCann, R. Male, P. R. McShannic, A. Swift, J. C. Lauer, W. J. Frey, E. Hutchmson, M. Duke, Geo. Batcheller, H. Martin, W. L. Watson.

BECAUSE Connor, for reasonj beat known to himself, returned home from 'Frisco, a good many writers in­ sist that tho California season is a financial failure. One swallow doesn't make a summer.

PITCHER MITCHBLL had an offer of S225 per month frcm Toronto, but for some reason preferred to aign with Portland at $125 per mouth. Manager Ciwhman thinks Alitchell will make his mark aa a pitcher.

"THERI are alx good clubs in the Ohio League, but two are of a quality to be classed aa doubtful. Lima and Canton may pet«r out, for they are both pretty slow about signing any players." Cincinnati Time*- Stctr.

IT is now thought that the new Central League will comprise but six clubs, instead of eight. One New York town will be takran Bingharaton, It is believod. Hartford, Conn.t will hare the down East club.

HARBY WKLDOH haa pa=sod the crisis In hia long 111- UOM, aud in improving slowly. He haa been told of hia wife's "1e:itb, and ho is greatly depressed. It ia be- ieved that he will go South as soon aa he is able to move.

THE real trouble about Clarkson and Pfeffer no di>ubt lies in the fact of these two men having so often said they would not play in Chicago next year. They uow little school boys «re ashamed to back down.

DECORATION DAT ia the great day of the year In Brooklyn. And Cincinnati will play there sure, else Mr. Byrne will be on the schedule committee in vain. "To the workers belong the plums," is hia motto.

PITCHES HEALY has changed his mind, and says heill have no objections signing with Indianapolis next

rear. Of course, he would appreciate a alight increase n salary. He is one of the lowect-aalaried, yet one of

the beat players in the Hoosier team.HARRY WRIGHT still owns one share of stock in the

ioston Olub. A. H. Sj'len owna 22 shares; W. H. Joiituit, 23: J- B. Billings, 23; A. J. Chase, George H. Ijlovd, F. F. Rouudy, E. A. Pope, G. B. Hart, George 1. Appleton and C. B. Corey, oua each.

ED HOQAH, the clever out fielder and fine basa- II n nor, late of the Mets, who has been signed by the Cleveland Club to play right fluid, ought to strengthen hat team considerably, ewpeMally in a dop^rtutont

whuru it n ahxau^ jrtroug *l>twi»-uiaaiiig.

AMONG the players wintering In St. Louis are Jot Quinn, Jack German, Pat Tebeau, Sam Smith, Ed SilcBu Tom Dolan, Billy Alvord, "Bug" Halliday, Frank 0§4 hill, Jim Davis, Perry Werden, Henry * Dooms, Jack Brennan, Joe Herr, Jack O'Conuor and the Gleasoa brothers.

CLEVELAND lost $17,000; under the 50-cent tariff th* Mets* successor, unless it had a stronger team than c*» now be had, will, it is s;ife to say, l'«e twice ai mucU No wonder anch an uninviting prospect deters ciMet which might otherwise take a chance in the America* Association.

IF ATLANTA and ChatlanoogaTTmter why need tha Southern League look farther? Six strong clubs arf plo;ity for the League, Indeed, at this late dftti four more cluoa to compete with the strong four now entered, could hardly be organized. Good plavort are to scarce.

MIKE KELLY haa written to Director Billings, of tb* Boston Club, that there Is not a new plajor on thi Pacific coast worth hiring. He thinks that Tuna Brown, the Pitts'jurg and Indianapolis fielder, would make a good man for Boston, The triumvirs don't think so, however.

OATCIIEB CHRIS FULMIR, of the Baltimore Club. whoso broken finger disabled him for the latter pan of last season, ba-* had considerable trouble with l£ It was set wrong, and continued to pain even after thi time for healing had elapsed, so a week ago he had it rebroken and reset.

IT LOOKS as though the New York Clnb won Id b» greatly disappointed in ita young-blood, upon whoi% !t is depending to win the flag next season. Thosf who are in a position to judge predict that neithel Crane, Foster nor Slattery will be found on the N»w York team June 1.

THE old Western League does not propose to 1 n 1888, Denver, Lincoln, Leavenwoclh, Kansi

and Hutchinsoa&ave determined to stick, a: meet Jan. 15 to complete organization and mS schedule. Pueblo, St. Joseph, Emporia and W will prubably also enter the League.

A STORY cornea from Baltimore io the effect tha American Association haa been endeavoring to makf an arrangement with the League with a view to locab* ing the needed eighth club in Boston, hut that tta* deal has been blocked by the absolute'refusal of th» Boston Club to permit the encroachment.

FOUTZ'S ineffective pitching in California cannot fall bnt he displeasing to th» Brooklyn Club, which paii such a steap price for his release from St. Louis. Bq| then the lanky twirler will make a good right fielde** or an excellent substitute for Dave Orr, should .th* latter not do the work he la capable of. So Brooklym won't get stuck on Foutz.

SPALDINQ credits Anaou with having a heart too I 'or tbe base ball business. Says he, "Auson nevi '.ikes to take money away from the men, and, thoug' ae often makea a bluff at them, saying, 'That will < you so much,' he never reports it. Tnere has not I a dollar taken from my men In fines since we fl the m for drinking last year."

THE Columbus Club ia nearly completed. The m«m jo far signed are: Pitchers, J. A. HaQdihoe.Geor-' E. Backer; catchers, John Munvan, Charles H. Pil Ernest Smith; first base, R. C. Hamilton; aecond I Paddy Welch; third base, William Rourke; short a Jerry O'Brien; left field, Bob Alien; centre field. P.J Oilman; right field, Carl McVey.

OUN<J SOWDERS, the pitcher, for whose release 1 ton paid such an exorbitant sum of money, ia said q) t>e easily rattled when men are on bases. That wtj hia great weakness laat season. He ia very slow tm his preliminary motions before he pitches the balk thus giving the base-runnera a good start, aud after base is stolen he ia aaid to go all to pieces.

"Tuo" ARUNDBL is practicing daily in th« State Armory, at Auburn, N. Y., his home, and he expeotf to be a terror to all base-runnen next seaaon. He ! also practicing pitching, aud thinks by the time th* season opens he will have mastered alt the various da* liveries and will try hia hand in the box, if Myex% tlackott or Buckley will consent to catch him.

YON PER ARE can hardly be serious ia his our nouuoed intention of taking two teams to Ungland next summer. In the flrat place, the championship season here would interfere, and in the second plaoA It would not pay. It was trlod once before and failed financially, aud the same result would await anothet venture, as tho English are as indifferent to the gam* now as then. »

TED SULLIVAN doea not believe In having a stay jlayer on a club simply because it makea the oth< Members envious, and, on the other hand, if any ;be lesser lights make brilliant plays for which tb are applauded it grate; against the nerves of the staf Dlayer, who in turn becomes an enemy, thereby caiUft ing disorder. "Have all star players or none at;; a-li,* said -the ^niaJ Ted. - - -+*——

THE Acmes, ao mi-professional champions of New fork City, will appear next seaaon with bright new"

uniforms and a team much stronger than any that htf ever represented that club before. Club-4 aud aaiocia- ioos within a radius of one hundred miles of NefP fork City having enclosed grounds can negotiate witk his crack toam. Address Harry Curtis, manager, 44 Murray street, New York.

A LETTER from Tim Keefe to Manager Mntrie fltate( hat buso ball is on tho decrease in S^n Francisco just

uow, and that the Philadelphia Clnb will start for lome on Jan. 1. Tho New York team, will also cum*

riome at about the same time. The local clubs ottl ;here are not strong enough, to make it interesting or profitable to remain. On or about Jan. 16 all th*

astern clubs will be on their way home.Is OiNoisNATi, at all exhibition gamea In the

spring, the usual rate of admission, 25 cents, will bf charged, except in the Detroit games, when the gen* eral admission will be 50 cents. The same rates will ule in the spring exhibition games at Waahingtot [*ark, in Brooklyn, the half-dollar rate being only

charged In exhibition games with National Leagtu> teams and in the championship contests.

RESIDENT HART, of the New Orleans Club, o* Wednesday received from President Morrow a check Tor $100 to pay for the championship pennant of th* Southern League. Tho flag haa been ordered and will Da-u mammoth affair. It will be unfurled with musia speeches and booming of cannon, and prominent officials will bo invited to join in tho gala occasion. Thtt unfurling will take place on the flrat day of th* regular season in New Orleans.

AT San Francisco Saturday, Dec. 24 the St Lonta Browns boat the Chicagoa, 18 to 5. Mullane was hit lard. On Sunday the 25th the New Torka were beate**or the flrct time in Saa Francisco, the Pioneers win* ning a game from them by 16 to 8. Ewini? pitched fof the Giants, and was hit for 16 bases. His team all* made 12 errors. Too much Christmas celebration. On the same day the St. Louis Browna again defeat** the Chicagos by 6 to 3. Ryan and Carroll and Font* and Busbong were the respective batteries.

EAKT LIVERPOOL, 0., notea: Two of last seaaon'i Cruckery City pitchers, John Darrah and John Orr, have already put their names to contracts with Man** fidld, and the remaining pitcher, Dan Miller, will probably return to Wheeling, with which club h* played a part of last season. Mansfield also want* Dris, giant catcher Turn Pickal, who is a terrific bat* ter. Charlie Ileark, the flue center fielder, Is wanted at Columbus, and also at Davenport, but will not ye| sign, aa he has projects for a much better place and will hold off till it ia settled.

APROPOS of he Caruthers deal, It looks as though the Cincinna* Club has missed gome deals and yet been fortunate in the miss. They are said to havo of* fered at various timos 82,000 for the release of Maul from the Nashville Club, $4,500 for the release of Jl ' aon from the Chicagos, 56,000 for the release of rtey from the Louisvillod, and now 810,000 for th lease of Caruthers. Maul was not a success. Hndw was of no eervice to St. Louia la<-t year. Rarnsey lost tbe use of his arm for a while during the latter part of last season.

THK Cincinnati players may not, after all, wear th* parti-colored uniforms some time ago decided upon by the club. Tha fUnnel from which the old parti-col* ored uniforms of 1882 were made waa manufactured especially for tliat purpose and us*. Now there it none of this flannel left. It will be impossible t* duplicate those suits. But President Stern will thtg week, while in New York, examine some different colored samples of flannel, and, It those samples ctanij tbo test of washing, the uniforms will be ordered and made from the goods. Otherwise they will have to b* made up from ono kind.

"!T is funny to aee men who have been reportln* the ball games setting themselves up aa critics ana placing their judgment agamst that of men who have made tbo game a special study for years. There is no law, however, preventing men from making aaaes of thomsolvos, uud as long as there is a aparsity of bratnj there will bo idiots. Fortunately, these mon find themselves on papers of very limited circulation, so that no special harm ia done. If tbey have prat to t>ray. why, let them worry as few as possible." Phila­ delphia Item, I* this intended as H crack at some of tho would-be opponents of the new Reporters' Asso­ ciation?

HABBY P. KEILV, actor, singer, joumallat and bat* jail Manager, Is in New York without anything d*fi­ nite in view, end ttiinVs of again taking up base ball management, at which ho has had considerable ez» jerience. Mr. Keily was the organizer and manager during the seasons of 1882-83 of tho Leadville Blue* and brought many notable players to the surf«c*( among them Foutz, the j tcher; Roxburgh, catcherj Burch, fielder; Phelan,ae<x jd barman; Hull, catcher,

and several others. Harry is thoroughly conversantHh tha National game, and can get more good work

out of a taiin tiiaa nine-tenths of tbe managers of th* ire-sent day,

'Now that the question of where Oarutltera will play e definitely titiled. aud Hinos must go to Indianapolis, "he controversy not WOOD Pfeffor and Clark»»n and th* Chicago Club will ^n'/toas tho attention of tho b*ac >all fraternity anil r.ho public. Of one thing, how­ ever, all can rest nrtnre 1, and that is neither of th* :wo gentlemen will quit playing Mil to engage hi )ther pursuits. Wby, seven out of every ten men who )1 iy ball profrasioi.uliy would be digging the streets or

driving dut carts for l$»n than fivti hundred dollars per rear instead -,»f oarwrng from fifteen hundred to fo»r ihousand dullaii t-jr y.oven month11 , with about fix i-turs active duty each day.*' Lcbor JfcmJJ. So would >rubabiy a Ko<:d many net or*, editors, preachers, a*4

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