Picking Up The Pieces

The St. Louis Herald thus discusses the prospects in its city:

Some papers keep on insisting that there will be no base-ball in St. Louis during the season of 1878.  If these gentry would take the pains to make proper inquiries, they would find out there will be a great sufficiency of it-enough indeed to satisfy the most ardent admirer of the national game.  The St. Louis Reds will, in the first place, be reorganized and put on a footing; so soon as the weather permits, the Compton avenue grounds will be put in splendid condition.  The nine will be entirely local, and the talent we have before mentioned would suffice to make it a first-class team in all respects.  The new nine to be organized by Messrs. McManus and McGeary will be a strong force, and so many players are to be procured at low figures that they have determined to bide their time, and make their engagements close to the opening of the season.  If they secured Bradley-who was, perhaps, the most popular player who ever held forth in St. Louis-it would do much toward putting their team on a good basis.  The plot of ground on Grand avenue has been secured by Supt. Solari, with the exception of the small space at the southern end.  Seats will be erected to accommodate some 1500 persons, and it will be amply large for all intents and purposes.  Sunday games between the this team and the Reds would draw large crowds, and the two could combine to play visiting clubs.

-Chicago Daily Tribune, February 24, 1878

The Browns have adopted last year's uniform and are certain to retain it next year, for it has already leaked out that about a dozen wealthy gentlemen, who are ardent lovers of the national game, are perfecting plans by which they will place a League team in the field in 1879 strong enough to win the championship, and even stronger than the one they had engaged for this season, when the Louisville expose broke them up for the time being.  The play of the present season will demonstrate who are to constitute the team, and no stone will be left unturned to attain the object aimed at-the championship pennant.  This news, which will be gratifying to the many friends of base-ball in this city, having been obtained from a semi-official source, can be relied on.  The gentlemen referred to lack neither funds nor experience, and have entered heart and soul into the enterprise.

-Chicago Daily Tribune, April 21, 1878 (quoting the St. Louis Globe-Democrat)