History In The Making

[OmahaReynolds]

Mr. Jude Condon's office was a dingy, dimly-lit oversized closet on the second floor of a decaying walk-up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The smoke from the old man's tobacco pipe had a hint of cherry, and Jack Monte wondered at the smell while he stood in front of the desk, going unnoticed, for what seemed like an eternity. Jack didn't know the exact reason he was sent to see the owner of the newly formed Brooklyn Admirals, but he could guess. After all, he was the most successful sports bettor in the state of New York. Finally, Mr. Condon looked up from his paperwork and fixed his eyes on Jack.

"Mr. Monte, you're late," he said, in a voice made of pure gravel. "I thought I said four o'clock."

"Sir, I've been standing here for over ten minutes."

"Possibly," the old man said, drawing from his pipe. "I'll get right down to business. You've got a great mind for baseball."

Jack waited for him to continue. "I know how to pick the winners," he said finally.

"Right, right, the winners. I'll be honest with you, Monte. Or Jack. What should I call you, anyway? It doesn't matter. Let me cut to the chase here. You're a baseball genius, Jack. Don't be modest. I've heard about you. Jesus, everybody's heard about you. I'd be stupid not to take you in. Do you see what I'm getting at?"

"I think so-"

"I don't know baseball from apple picking. What I am is a business man. And being used to success I don't want my little baseball project to fail, and I'm willing to pay for the best. I want you to manage this team."

"Mr. Condon, I'm a gambler. I don't know how to run a team."

"Who said you'd run the team? I have coaches. I don't need you to run the games. I need someone with an eye for talent. I want you for the front office work. Making trades. I want a team that's going to win. I want to laugh in that bastard Krieger's face across the river when his Kings are sitting at the bottom of the standings."

"I just don't think I'm the right man for the job," Jack said, squinting in the smoke.

"Let me ask you something, Mr. Monte," Old Condon said, leaning over his desk, "how long do you plan on spending your days up in Yonkers, throwing dollars around betting on teams of scrubs that are often too drunk to catch a ball? What happens when you finally lose that big bet? How do you explain that to your family? I'm giving you a job here, Jack. A darn good one. Let's make history, what do you say?"

"Where do I sign?"

[OmahaReynolds]

Sunday, April 2nd, 1871
Kings Trounce Syracuse In Historic Season Opener
First baseman Matt Cullins belts 4 hits, 3 RBI

by Theodore Binkley
Critics say that the newly formed New York Baseball Association is bound to fail. They claim that baseball will never be a professional sport. Kevin Krieger's Kings put on a grand show at Monroe Field in Syracuse Saturday evening, leaving the Lions scoreless for eight innings and punishing them with thirteen hits and six runs.

Pitcher Charlie Stewart was in top form, allowing only three hits and one run over the course of nine innings. In addition to his remarkable adeptness on the mound, Mr. Stewart showed Syracuse spectators that he also knows how to hit, with a two-out, two-run double in the top of the fourth inning.

Speaking to the Daily Post after the game, Stewart commented on the performance.

Charlie Stewart
9.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

"Everything felt natural," he said. "We just went out and played like we always do. We've all grown up with this game. Now's our chance to make a living doing what we love to do. I believe that gave us extra motivation to acheive a greater effort."

Mike Cullins was impressive as well, hitting four times in four plate appearances, batting in three runs and crossing the plate once. Jim Vissner, right field, added a tremendous amount of momentum to the game by getting on base three times and scoring twice.

Syracuse was scorless with one hit until a small but hopeless rally in the bottom of the ninth.

If the athleticism remains this impressive, professional baseball may indeed be more than just a pipe dream.

[OmahaReynolds]

Sunday, April 2nd, 1871
At Stuyvesant Field, The Crowds Are Cheering For The Admirals
Brooklyn beats Rochester 4-1 while "Doidge-ing" wild pitches

by Herman Sharpe

Brooklynites witnessed their first every professional baseball game yesterday afternoon at Stuyvesant Park, as the Admirals won their first game of the season. It was a fine display of the talent put together by owner Mr. Jude Condon and General Manager Jack Monte. Defensive play was top-notch, holding the Grays at one run after the sixth inning.

Leadoff hitter, center fielder Jeff Ruscoe started the bottom of the first inning with a one-ball, two-strike single followed shortly by the second baseman, Brian Dornian, grounding out into a double play. Later in the game, Roscoe was taken out of the field with a concussion. He is expected to miss five weeks

In the bottom of the third, third baseman Ed Ingram walked to first after being hit by a pitch from Rochester hurler Harley Doidge. The outfielder Mike Bean followed up with a single, sending Ingram to second and on to third just barely beating the throw. Ingram later scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Ruscoe.

Rochester tied up the game in the six in a rally starting with a one-out double from center fielder Dave Walker. A two-out double from third baseman Jerry Jobling sent Walker across the plate. Brooklyn hurler Randy Young kept his head under pressure and finished out the inning strong.

Mike Bean started a final rally for the Admirals in the bottom of the eighth, leading to a string of impressive hits and speedy baserunning, giving the home team a three run lead going into the ninth.

Randy Young
8.0 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K