San Diego Reader

SEMI-PROFESSIONAL. "Each winter sees more of the big league players coming to San Diego to pass the off season and play in the Winter Leagues," writes the Union. "With three games a week" - sometimes three days in a row - "the professionals find that they are able to keep in good condition."

"It is harder on the players than the average fan would believe," writes the San Diego Sun, "as three games in three days, when a player is not in mid-season form, leaves them sore and stiff for a week."

The big attraction for local fans: Jack "Big Chief" Myers, catcher for the New York Giants, is coming to town in a few days. He'll "play here until the call for spring training."

Born in Riverside, a native American of the Cahuilla tribe, Myers was a finalist for the Chalmers Award - National League M.V.P. - later in 1912. He caught all eight games and hit .357 in the World Series.

The Winter Leagues are semi-professional. Top amateurs join the likes of Myers and pitching phenom Roy Anderson. On New Year's Day, the southpaw tossed a three-hitter against the Benbough & Gillons Clothiers team. Using "an assortment of benders," Anderson struck out four and walked four in a 2 to 1 victory for Shields Transfer Company.

Fan support has been so small, however, that the season could end soon. The pros have begun to gripe about playing three games a week for a measly two dollars.

To generate more interest, commissioner Will Palmer has scheduled another game between Benbough and Shields tomorrow. If the contest is as "classy" as the first one, writes the Sun, Palmer might arrange a series between the two teams.

The reporter hopes that fans turn out in droves at Athletic Park - 26th and Main Streets in East End (now Logan Heights). Otherwise it's likely that "the local baseball season will be closed."

[B&G won 8 to 1. Anderson started for Shields but left in the sixth. "The support accorded each pitcher, writes the Sun, "was not of the best." Though home runs were rare in the "deadball era," Tom Downey of the Clothiers bashed one over the centerfield wall].

Next Sunday the teams will play a "masquerade game" at Athletic Park "behind closed doors." The only persons admitted will be an umpire, scorer, and judges to award prizes for the most unique costume."

HIGH SCHOOL. Russ (San Diego) High's "hill-toppers" will have a practice game today against soldiers from Fort Rosecrans (and Steiger, their ace hurler). New coach Pug Bennett won't have the services of catcher and team captain T. Krames. He's out with a cold. "His place will be taken by Pike," writes the Union, "a classy receiver although lacking in experience."

The team clobbered Coronado in a practice game last week 8 to 2. Many point to the arrival of a new batting cage, at the Russ oval, which "fulfills a long felt want."

[The soldiers won the game, played at Fort Rosecrans, 7 to 5. "Each team made a number of errors," writes the Union, "but the game was not devoid of interest, the difference of two runs leaving the result in doubt until the finish"].