Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1890-05-04
1T IS Assn R. G D
ROANOKE TO HAVE A GREAT
BALL CLUB.
MEB?lNG OF DIRECTORS LAST NIGHT
Other baseball Gossip. What Local
Pla, ers are Doing. The Prospects
arc Very Bright. The New Uniforms
Will be Dandics.

ball club held meeting last
night in the office of the Poca-
hontas Coal Company, and sat around
Il big table to talk over the prospects
of the coming season.
There was n full quorum present
and the meeting was satisfactory in
every way. The club is now an assured
fact. Nearly all of the stock has been
subscribed and arrangcmentsare rap
idly being made to put the boys in
the field at the earliest date possible.
it will be a great club and n decided
Improvement over that of last season.
1t is intended that it shall he run on
strict business principles, and the
rules of the game will be strictly i'd
hered to- The management intend
that the usual squabbling, which is
characteristic of the average club, will
find no place this summer and the
boys will have to walk the chalk line
1t is proposed to hire and pay three
professionals, the remainder OF the
members being selected from the
Roanoke players But these latter
will be paid for the time spent in play
ing ball and while they are absent
from the city. They will receive the
amount deducted from their wages for
lost time.
The uniforms of the club will he
ordered ut once. 1t is expected that
the uniforms will he of Yale gray, with
black trimmings, cap and stockings.
They will be the best that can be
bought and the regulation shoes will
be used The word "Roanokes," in
black letters. will be worked in the
breasts of the jackets Altogether the
boys will be handsomely fitted out.
1t was decided to write 70 Irwin
Rrodie, the pitcher of last year, and
try TO get him to return here and re-
sumo his old position in the box.
Keefer is here and will take in the
balls hot over the plate. Kirby, who
is now in Warrenton will also be
asked to join the club.
There was quite an exciting discus
sion last night over the question of
grounds. Some of the members were
in favor of using the old grounds.
while others thought it better to use
Melrose Driving Park. The question
has yet 10 be decided.
MOTHS.
Hart, last seasons first baseman,
and he is good one too, says that he
won't play ball this year, but it is
more than probable that he viii
change lis mind after the season
opens.
Fatty" Davis, who did the double
and twisted for the Juniors last sea-
son, is back again and will probably
sign with the same club.
Although Ford had 'sworn OFF, he
is coming into baseball again this
year. He is an excellent right field
bat that the Roauokes had last year.
Steve Wigmore. who covered third
bag last year, was out at Riverside
park yesterday and exercised a little.
If the old grounds of last year are
used again the boys will be ready to
begin the season in two weeks.
Leftfielder Sproul is in daily prac-
tice and will soon be in good condi
ton. He can throw ball with as
great accuracy now as when the sea-
son closed last year.
Ned Dolin, who held down center
field, is getting in shape once more
One hundred and twenty yards is his
record for throwing.
No one has improved as much as
keefer, who gets better every game.
He is a youngster yet and bids fair to
occupy high rank in the baseball
profession He is as certain to throw
his man out at second as was Widgins
last year. Woe to the man that trYs
to steal base on him.
of his life and will greatly strengthen
the team at short, which position he
will hold. He gets ball up clean
and puts it over to first in a twink
ling.
Sanders, of Warrenton, is to be sent
for and can probably be secured. He
didn't play last year, but has been in
the Ohio league and Walter Brodie
says he is first-class man.
Hayes, last years captain is in Con-
necticut. He tried to get on the
Knoxvilles, but got left.
Desmond has signed to play with
the Binghamton, y. Y, club.
Widgins played the first of the pre-
sent season with the Richmonds, but
was released on account of inability.
1t will be remembered that his play
ing was not as good at the end of the
season as when he first started in.
When the season closed last year
the management had money in the
treasury Every series of games play
ed here was interrupted by rain and
on this account over 5000 was lost to
them. The next thing for the board
of directors to do is to open negotia
tions with the weather bureau for
good weather. Either offer them a
bonus or give a percent of the gross
receipts. Good weather is an impor-
tant feature in baseball.
The best pianos and organs on the