4
THE UNIVERSITY COURIER.
BASE-BALL.
All the base-ball applicants were invited out to take part in a practice game Monday evening. A notice was posted by Captain Mitchell assuring the boys the rumor that the team is already picked is entirely erroneous and urging all interested in the game to report by practice. As a result two full nines were on hand, besides a goodly number of spectators. It is the general verdict that the base-ball team this year will be stronger far than any previous one, and also that the team will be given better patronage than heretofore
This season gives promise of being the greatest base-ball year on record. The wild and enthusiastic spirit of three and four seasons ago, is exerting itself thus early and with renewed vigor. It cannot be contradicted that base-ball is the greatest game that has ever been wrought out. The living popularity of this National sport is nothing short of astounding. It has lived a prosperous life while banks and business houses have fallen on all sides, and now with business actively awakening it promises a still more brilliant future. The reason may be briefly given. Base ball is the most innocent game of any force that has been offered, it involves a minimum degree of danger, it is clearly the most scientific. In the professional ranks no less than twelve leagues are organized for the coming season. The game is being introduced in countries that have never seen a base-ball game. The colleges are developing some phenomenal players, and K.U. will be away up in the list.
These are some of the men who were on the field Monday: Catchers, Hassig, Hester, Squires, Snyder, Himrod, Crebo; pitchers, Gear. Wagner, Jno. Clark, Fred Clark: first base, Mitchell, Stone: second base, Alden, Andy Foster, Mason, Walker, Schriner: third base, Turner, Williamson, Jackson. Agrew: short-stop, Todd, Atterbury. Nott: left field, Seckler, Kelsey, Welsh, Piatt: center field, Blackshire, Wilder, Phillips, Penfield.
We would not attempt a comparison of the relative merits of the players. The management will urge on the practice and give everyone a "fair and impartial trial."
The work of the infield shows up stronger than the out, but with Kelsey and Piatt in
case they will go to the outfield. two of these points will be well taken care of. Todd's work at short is especially commendable. Among the list of catchers honors are easy. Hester backed Gear a part of the time and handles himself well. Besides the mighty Gear, Wagner and John Clark, the colored law student, are strong men. When Jlm Kelsey struck wildly at three consecutive balls from Clark everybody laughed.
NOTES.
Clyde Miller astounded the spectators the other evening by running 100 yards in fifteen seconds.
Ira Motter, the brilliant Athlete of Baker. 194, was in town last week and may enter here.
Frank Sexton, a medical student of Michigan State University, has signed with Boston as pitcher.
If Cornell can raise the necessary $5000 she will send a crew to England to take part in the Henley regatta.
Andy Foster will go to Kansas City during the holidays to gather in the prizes offered by the generous K. C. merchants for our local tournament.
The inter-collegiate tourney is still hanging in the balance. It will be decided in a week whether or not it shall be undertaken. The "Western Sportsmen" of Kansas City heartily indorses the plan.
Cracraft has secured possession oftwo for the best boats at this point, and will supervise their use. He is desirous of having a local regatta if the crews can be trained.
As yet the committee on tennis have made no arrangement about the courts. Hill hopes to get possession of the Adams street courts. The lovers of the tennis game will be glad to learn there is a tennis tournament among the other events.
Mitchell and Means were in Kansas City Wednesday looking after the Athletic interests of K. U. Manager Manning of the K.C. Blues was seen and offers two dates to the K.U. team, April 12 and 13 or 23 and 24. He is willing to have a game at Kansas City and one at Lawrence, or both at Kansas City.
The Harvard-Yale Athletic Contests will be held May 18. The walk will be dropped from the list of events after this year.