[chucksabr]

The 1889 Baseball League Season Is About To Commence!

Derby County, Burnley Seek to Fend Off Rivals and Pass By The Other

Future Bright For Bolton Wanderers, Aston Villa Villans

The cold rains of April give way to the only slightly less cold rains of May as the best base ball teams in the north and midlands, and indeed the country, seek to replicate the successes of last year and prove once and for all that base ball is ready to take its rightful place as the summer sport of Britons.

The very best that the game has to offer are lined up at the starting line, awaiting the blast of the gun, and away they will fly, towards the finish line with bats in hand, the prize of the league championship beckoning as their fitting reward.

Both Derby County and Burnley figure to be in the mix from the very beginning. With some of the best talent in the league, the Rams figure to array Vivian 'Mad Dash' Sharp, Theophilus Hurley and venerable old man Fred Holmes, still a sprightly tit in centre field, at the plate to inflict maximum damage to opponents, whilst the pitcher staff headed up by Boy Wonder Brendan Phillips figure to keep opposing batsmen in right check. The cupboard looks a little bare for the Rams, though, so this is the year they need to strike the iron hot and hard on the unwitting foe.

The Clarets, last year's co-champions with a stupendous end of season rush to the line, return the three Freds to their squad. Freds Britton and James lead the pitcher staff, and Stanley leads the batsmen's charge into the fray. Not to be outdone, yet another Fred, the young Harrison, seeks to pick up the mantle to lead the Clarets into the Nineties and beyond.

Waiting in the wings are two clubs from opposite ends of the league's land seeking to insinuate themselves into the top of the proceedings. The Rovers of Blackburn were on the outside looking in on the co-champions' feast last year, but they return a stronger side with Richard Jarvis, Victor Evans and the unfortunately malnamed Ebenezer Ironmonger leading from the plate, with Augustus Perowne and the young Edmund Parker leading the moundsmen. But don't overlook the Wolves of Wolverhampton! Despite a paltry 48% winning record in '88, they look to be much stronger this year with perhaps the best young pitcher for to-day and to-morrow on the mound, 21 year old Kinnard O'Donnel, he of stout Irish stock and with the strong hands of an expert miner. Do not be surprised to see them making a run for glory.

The future is not now for Aston Villa and Bolton. They may surprise all and steal victory at the finish line, but that is doubtful. However, return to these pages two years hence and we may be crowning either one of the champions, as they have the best young stock of future talent in Charles Boyce, Ernest Spinks and Doug Birkett for the Villans, as well as Edward Janes, William Ratcliffe and Gareth Cowan for the Wanderers.

On the other side of the ledger, pity the poor Blues of Everton. They may not be long for this league, and indeed may not make it out of 1889 alive. Don't be surprised to see the club wind up entirely and take their football side down with them.
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