Dunlap will lead off for the Unions in tomorrow's game, and Shaeffer, Gleason, Dickerson, Rowe and Taylor will follow him. Here are six of the best batsmen in the country, and just now they are in fine fix. So the leather is sure to fly in to-morrow's game. Dickerson and Shaeffer are the only left-handed batsmen in the team.
Over 1,000 persons visited the Union Grounds yesterday and watched the players of the Union team practice...There will be four entrances to the Union Grounds open to-morrow [for the Maroons' first game]. One of these will be on Cass avenue, one on Twenty-fourth street and two on Jefferson avenue...All day yesterday a horse was kept at work pulling a heavy front roller over the Union grounds. So as to prevent the horse from cutting up the ground, his feet were wrapped in pieces of old carpet.
The Browns are advertising heavier than ever before.
Among the visitors to the Union Grounds yesterday was Joe Carr, who once held a place in the directory of the original Brown Stocking team. "Why," said Mr. Carr, "I heard that these grounds were too small, and I expected to see a very small field, but you have all the room here you want. It's a splendid field and a magnificent stand."The Cass Avenue Line intend putting away their bob-tails and running all double cars to the Union Grounds. Superintendent Cleveland, who visited the Lucas grounds yesterday, said: "We intend making lively times out here. Now we run out from the business portion to the Union Grounds in twenty-five minutes. We will soon reduce that time so that our cars will run out in twenty minutes."
The lovely weather of yesterday afternoon brought a great crowd to the Union Grounds. The players, attired in their dark blue uniforms, were all out practicing...Dan Devinney will umpire Sunday's game between the Unions and Union Reserves...The reporters' stand at the Union Grounds was put up yesterday, and is just large enough to accommodate the working members of the different dailies. Only working reporters need apply...Superintendent Richards was at work all day on the diamond and base lines at the Union Grounds. The lines have been filled with a compost of clay and sand, and present a bounding, smooth and even surface...
Dunlap will captain the Union Club, and will have charge of the nine while on the field. He will appoint his own lieutenants.
The chairs for the grand stand at the new Union Base Ball Park will not arrive here on time to be placed in position by Sunday next, and, consequently, 25 cents all around will be charged on that day, the regular reserved portion being thrown open to the field crowd.
Dunlap, Shaffer and the other deserters who failed to turn up for duty yesterday with their respective clubs are now black listed under the Day resolution. None of the recreants weakened.
The Black Sox of St. Louis, the crack colored club, will be in the field again this season.
Most of the Union Association players who have deserted from the League and American are demanding three years' contracts with ample security from the Union managers. This very clearly indicates that the players have no faith in the Union, and propose to make themselves secure for the next three years at least, trusting that in the meantime something will turn up to give them relief."I know I will be blacklisted," said one of the deserters the other day, "but what do I care for that. I am fixed for three years on a big salary. It is just this: If the Union Association goes through and is a success I am all right; if it fails, why I have three years to work a reinstatement in the League or American, and in that time I have no doubt but that all bitterness will have died out and the deserters, as we are now called, will be welcomed back with outstretched arms to the association that now put us on the black list." That looks well enough for the players but it strikes us as rather rough on the clubs that will have to accede to their demands.-[Philadelphia Item.]
The following is a list of the League and American Association players who jumped the reserve rule and had the good sense and honor to stand by their written contracts with the Union Clubs: Bradley, with the Cincinnatis; Dunlap, Shaeffer and Jack Gleason, St. Louis; Hugh Daily, Chicago; Buck Weaver, Philadelphia, with a strong probability that Gross will also play with the Chicagos. There are only three deserters, Mullane, Mansell and Corcoran. Mansell regrets his perfidy, and told Bill Harbidge, who met him in Pittsburg the other day, that he was sorry he had not lived up to his contract with Mr. Lucas. This is not a bad record for the Union Association, considering the disreputable fight that has been made to induce players to desert.-[Cincinnati Enquirer.]
As the contracts of the St. Louis Browns and the reserve men went into effect yesterday and there was a full gathering of the forces at Sportsmen's Park at 3 p.m. Billy Gleason was on hand with the rest and took more than usual interest in matters. As regards the silly story that Mr. Von der Ahe had forbidden his men to visit the Lucas Park he indignantly denies it, and it is a palpable falsehood, as the men all know. Little Nicol is unreserved in his denial of the statement attributed to him. The men will be in practice every day and will continue to work from this to the close of the season, so that the ball may be said to be in active motion.
A game of base ball was played on Sunday, March 30, at company grounds, Jefferson Barrack, between Troop C base ball nine and a picked nine, composed of men from Troop A and B. The result was in favor of the Troop C nine, by a score of 8 to 5. The principal features of the game was long running catches by Murphy of Company C in right field and Johnson in the left field, and the splendid playing of Howard of Company C, both behind and at the bat. Courey, short stop of the same company, did some excellent playing. The picked nine made but six base hits off Parks' pitching. Brennan, of the picked nine, made a capital showing at second base. Austin, as short stop, and Scott, on first base, also guarded their positions with credit.
President Lucas, of the Unions, was all smiles yesterday, and the occasions of his happiness was the arrival of Fred Dunlap and George Shaffer, the great second baseman and right fielder. "They are here," said he, "just as I knew they would be when I signed them. I never had a doubt about them, notwithstanding all the reports that have been circulated by the enemies of our association. The very first dealings I had with them convinced me that they were honorable men, ,who would honor any contract they signed. Now that they are here I think I can safely boast that I have the best second baseman and the best right fielder in the country. And you may say that as they have acted squarely with me I am going to do the same by them. If Mullane had done right with me he would never have had occasion to regret it, but now that he has jumped his contract, I will endeavor to make him sorry that he did so. Recently I learned he was willing to come here if I would give him a two years' contract at $3,000 a year. I have a prior claim on him and will not break a contract by taking him away from Toledo, so I sent him word that I would agree to his terms. When I got in direct communication with him what do you suppose he wanted? Only $3,000 in advance. Well, I don't think he'll get $3,000 of my money in his hands until he straightens out his record for trustworthiness."Dunlap and Shaffer arrived at 7:30 a.m. on the Vandalia train, having come direct from Philadelphia, which they left on Saturday at 9 p.m. Apartments have been engaged for them on Jefferson avenue, near the Union grounds, and after a brief sojourn down town they repaired to their home for the season. In the afternoon a Globe-Democrat reporter met them at the club-room at the park. In reply to questions Shaffer said, "I came here because I signed to. The reserve rule don't worry me at all. I like Mr. Lucas' ways of doing business, and I am glad to see that he has such good grounds. I hope we will all be able to play good ball here and think we will. There is one thing sure: no other nine has such a nice club-house as we have."Dunlap said he was somewhat tired after his long ride, but was glad he was here. "Our accommodations here," said he, "are the best that any club in the country has and then we have fine grounds, larger than three-fourths of the League grounds, and our grand stand is the finest I have seen anywhere. If the Cleveland Club had treated me right, I wouldn't be here.""What are the circumstances of your engagement?""All there was to it was I named my terms to Mr. Lucas and he accepted them. Then when he was East this last time he came to me and asked me how I felt about being blacklisted by the Cleveland Club. I told him that I expected they would do something with me, and because base ball was my business I would like to play as long as I could, and for that reason would like to make a two-years' engagement with him. He said 'All right, I'll do it,' and did so, and I am here to play. I would have been here anyway to keep my first contract.""Did President Appleton, of the Metropolitans, offer you $5,000 to play in New York?""Yes, but I never agreed to go there, nor even encouraged the offer. He asked me if I would not play in New York if he could get my release. I answered, 'You can't get my release.' He then asked, 'Will you give me the first chance if I get your release?' I answered again: 'You can't get my release.' 'I'll give you $5,000 if you will play in New York if I get your release,' said he. I repeated: 'You can't get my release.' He sent Lew Simmons to Cleveland, and Simmons found out just what I told Appleton, that they would not release me. Al Reach afterwards went to Cleveland without consulting me, and tried to get my release. I didn't know anything about it until Charley Mason told me of it a few days ago. Reach got the same answer that Simmons did.""Did you name terms to Cleveland?""Yes, I asked $2,800 and they offered me $2,100."
The Richmond, Va., Club deny that Ted Sullivan has been released from his promise to manage the team. He has signed with the St. Louis Unions and all his protestations of square dealing are denied by his act.
The St. Louis Buffalos (colored) have reorganized for the season of 1884, with the following players: A. Lewis, c.; P. Harris and C. Thompson, p.; W. Wallace, 1 b.; A. Hall, 2 b.; E. Thompson, 3 b.; J. Alexander, s.s.; D. Brown, r.f.; A. Bailey, c.f.; W. Hudson, Jr., l.f.; C. Churcill, substitute. Address challenges to E. Thompson, 1421 Orange street.
The heavy eight ton roller was used all day yesterday on Sportsman's Park. The diamond is now as level as a table. Superintendent Solari has the base lines in fine condition. They will be covered with tarpaulins in wet weather, as will also the battery and batters' squares. The new growth of grass came up very quickly and the grounds are looking in their handsomest form.
Dunlap and Shaeffer, of the St. Louis Union Club, left Philadelphia last night and will arrive in St. Louis to-morrow morning. Roche leaves Chicago to-night and will be here tomorrow morning. This will complete the Union force. Beginning to-morrow morning, the Union players will report twice daily at Union Park, and in the morning they will practice from 10 to 12, and in the afternoon from 2:30 to 5:30. Manager Sullivan will play this nine in the opening game, the names being given in the regular batting order: Dunlap, second base; Shaeffer, right field; Dickerson, left field; Gleason, third base; Rowe, center field; Taylor, first base; Sullivan, catcher; Roche, short stop, and Werden, pitcher.Next Sunday the Union Base Ball Park will be opened by the regular team playing a strong picked nine, which will include Baker, Whitehead, Hodnett, Quinn and others of the regular team.Season tickets for the games at Union Park are now ready for circulation, and can be obtained at the office of Henry V. Lucas, at the corner of Fourth and Pine streets. The seats in the best part of the grand stand are to be numbered and sold in regular rotation, the first comers being the first served. There will be fifty-six championship games, and the season tickets entitling the holder to admission and reserved seat to all of these will be sold until April 19 at $22. This makes the regular price of the reserved seat 39 1/3 cents, or a reduction on the regular price of reserved seats 20 2/3 per cent. Besides the reserved seats, season tickets for the field and open seats will be sold for $11. This gives the holder fifty six admissions for 19 2/3 cents each. This is the cheapest base ball ever offered local patrons.
The Union Association pays its umpires the magnificent sum of $40 a month and expenses.
As the Lucas grounds are not yet completed, the club have accepted Mr. Kelly's generous offer of Compton Avenue Park to practice on during this week. Among the players practicing there yesterday were: Williamson, of the Chicago Whites; Houtz, of the Bay City nine; Jack Gleason, Rowe, Blong, Taylor, Dickerson, Hodnett, Whitehead, Werden and Manager Sullivan, of the Lucas professionals; Oberbeck, Cross, Bien and Manager Cassilly, of the Lucas Reserves.
The reception room of the Union grounds will contain two billiard tables, which will be specially provided by President Lucas for the use of the ball players.Well-appointed bath-rooms for the use of the members of the ball club and athletes who exercise at the Union grounds, will be one of the features of the place.
The veteran pedestrian, William Richards, was on yesterday engaged by President Lucas to act as Superintendent of the Union Base Ball Park for one year from date. It is safe to say that no better selection could have been made. Besides having hosts of friends, Richards is energetic and capable, and his work will be a labor of love, for it is certainty that no man in the country has a stronger attachment for athletic sports nor a greater desire to promote them. His experience on the English pedestrian parks will be invaluable in directing the construction of the cinder path, work on which will shortly begin, and his knowledge of athletic training will enable him to render excellent service in conditioning the ball players for their work...The path to be constructed at the new grounds will be at least a fifth of a mile, with a straight hundred yard stretch at the finish, and will be adapted for bicycling as well as sprinting. The Thistle Foot-ball Club and very probably the Modoc Rowing Club's athletes will make Union Park their exercising grounds.
Fully 10,000 persons visited the new Lucas Park yesterday. There was an almost continuous stream of people passing in and out of the grounds from 9 o'clock in the morning until dark. Among the visitors were many of the oldest and most enthusiastic patrons of the national game to be found in the city. All agreed that the grounds were not only capacious, but beautiful, and that the appearance of the place indicated the the Union Association had "come to stay." Col John Scott's most ecstatic smile radiated throughout the Club House and beamed graciously on its patrons...If the fine weather of yesterday continues, the Lucas Park grounds will soon be in perfect shape for an early opening. The diamond is finely sodded and work on the outfield will be rapidly pushed.An unusually fine view of the whole enclosure in the Lucas Park can be gained from the reporters' stand at the upper pavilion of the grand stand. It will be very popular as a favorite spot during the season.
The Lucas Park is assuming an air of completion as the elegant grand stand and diamond, smooth as glass, are being rapidly put in a finished shape. A visit to the park yesterday showed an excellent state of affairs, and, if good weather comes this week, a great deal can be quickly done. The grand stand is wonderfully well constructed, and will hold its own with the best of similar structures. Henry Lucas is enthusiastic over the progress and prospects of the Union Association and is determined to spare neither effort nor expense in making his grounds attractive and giving the public first-class base ball. The formal opening of the park will occur on April 6, when the Unions and the Lucas Reserves will be arrayed against each other. On the 13th of April the Brennans, of New Orleans, are expected to tackle the Unions. April 19 will witness the opening of the Union Association schedule, the Chicago Unions, with Daily and Gross as their battery, crossing bats with the home nine.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 23, 1884
Henry Lucas, it is stated, contributed $1,500 toward the support of the Union Club of Boston. He evidently has great faith in the ultimate success of the Union Association, of which he is the father.
The following telegraph dispatch was received Thursday about noon:Silver City, New Mexico, Nov. 8.To Col. H.B. Blood:Poor Graffen died at seven this morning of pneumonia. Will forward his remains to Keokuk to-day.[Signed,] Jno. W. Smith.Poor Graffen-Those who knew him can read between the lines of that message a story of brief but intense suffering and also a positive assurance that though far away from home and friends and all those he held most dear, he was not alone or uncared for. The first notice of his illness was received Wednesday about noon. Later a second message came saying that he was a little better. Then followed the sad announcement as above. No other particulars have been received except that the remains had been forwarded by express and would probably reach Keokuk Monday morning. With this expectation arrangements had been made for the funeral this afternoon, but for some reason the remains did not arrive, and the painful suspense is prolonged at least another day.The Funeral.It is confidently believed that the body will arrive either this evening or to-morrow morning, and the funeral services, unless there is further delay, will be held at the residence Col. H.B. Blood, brother-in-law of the deceased, corner of fifth and Franklin streets, Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock.The pall bearers have been selected from the Boat Club, who kindly desired to pay this last tribute of respect to the memory of their first leader. Both Mr. and Mrs. Graffen are members of St. John's Episcopal church, but owing to the absence of Rev. R.C. McIlwain, the rector, the Rev. Dr. T.H. Cleland, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian church will officiate.The Boat Club Resolutions.The meeting of the Keokuk Rowing Club held last Saturday evening at their club rooms in the U.S. court rooms to pass resolutions of respect to his memory, was one of the largest attended meetings ever held by the club. The building has been draped in mourning ever since the sad news of his death reached the city.
S.M. Graffen died at Silver City, New Mexico, yesterday morning. His last illness was of but a few days duration. The first intelligence of his sickness was received by his wife in this city, by telegraph, Wednesday. The dispatch was in substance that Mr. Graffen was dangerously ill with pneumonia. A second telegram announced that he was better and the third received yesterday told of his death and the forwarding of the remains to Keokuk. The interment will be either here or at Philadelphia. Mrs. Graffen and children have been visiting her sister, Mrs. Col. Blood, for several months, and Mr. Graffen, while in the city on a visit two weeks ago, arranged to spend the winter in Keokuk. He was auditor of the Silver City, Deming & Pacific railway, with headquarters at Silver City. Mr. Graffen lived in Keokuk a number of years and was in the general office of the Keokuk and St. Louis Line, where he filled at different times the position of superintendent's secretary, accountant and purchasing agent and was last in the freight department under J.H. Best. He was thoroughly familiar with and expert in railway office work. The organization of the Keokuk Rowing Club in 1878 was chiefly the work of Mr. Graffen and he trained the first barge crew and saw them come out victorious. The rooms of the rowing club were draped in mourning by the members yesterday, after hearing of the death of their first leader. The family of the deceased have the sympathy of the entire community.-Keokuk Daily Constitution, November 9, 1883
The Olympian Cricket Club reorganized their Association, which was disbanded at the commencement of the war, on Monday last, by the election of the following officers-President, Chas. G. Lister; Vice-President, Horatio H. Walker; Secretary and Treasurer, S. Mason Graffen; Captain of Field, Harry Lex...The grounds are located at Eighth and Cooper streets, Camden.
Lucas has not yet secured the great "battery" that was to startle the base ball world. Millionaires can do many things, but then there are a few things they cannot do, and bribing noted ball players is one of them.-[Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.]
