Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-13
BASEBALL GOSSIP.
ASkeTch OF THE RICHMOND PLAY
ERS AND THE CRkNks."
North Carolina Next season--Other
Tips from the Diamon

Inc average Englishmau who has never
been TO America a somewhat inclined to
compare the natives Of this mighty coun-
try to its Aborigires. and the sons OF
"Cncle Sam" could never tell exactly tho
reason why, bu, perhaps it mag be owing
10 their behavior when they amuse them
selves with that seductive sport the
national game. which causes men to
become veritablo cranks." as the lovers
of ball have been designated.
Take the average citizen Of this mighty
land, let him sec = frst-class contest on
the diamond, and If he isn't Yelling in ave
minutes il ia because be suffers from some
vocal impcdiment. The true crank"
when he sees a bali game. iyes ins tins
alone. and TO him all the world "a te'apoe-
raI,ly compressed into tho backgrounds
while tho contest is gong Oh. IL hSe-
wise true. however. that bis attention IA
never so thoroughly rivetcd on the Tent
that he hasn't got time TO ars 1e over hi'
shoulder with the man sitting behind him.
or grind his teeth when tho umMre tan
20 concur in his opinions. Thee are good
humored cranks' aud Ill -humored
"cranks." short "cranSs" and long
"cranks." and all OF these are forever
looking for dispute, "a no two persons
have ever been known TO agree exactly on
base ball technique.
LOVERS or TnE DoSATI GIANTS.
l; IL Just such a crowd as this VINO have
lately made Island Park their resting
place on sunny afternoons when the DO
natl Giants prepared for war against visit
ing teams. and the more games the SPEC
tators see the more they want TO see. The
infstuation grows upon ono. and ne II al
fords infinite pleasure and satisfaction II
Is never discouraged. but cherished until
e the victim finally throws his whole soul
into the sport. but after all despite tire
Quarrels, the disputes. the angry words.
and the occasional anathcmaS. what can
be more harmless Few men see bail
game for aay pecuniary am. ana cOnsia-
ering the amount 81 enthusiasm less
money exchanges hands on baseball than
on any other sport IN the world. The game
OF baseball is indeed purely American.
bat after all il does not bring out the bad
yide Of an Amer ans nature. for II shows
that OCCASIONAL the almighty dollar Ia
forgotten and that there ia enthusiasm for
something else besides personal gam.
vIRGrIA AND NORTH CAROLINA LEAGUE.
The Donatl Giants whom they first made
their appearance on the diamond this
epring in Their tattercd suits were re
ceiyed as culdlv as "a wet bon III barn
yard. but now that the season Is about 10
close O laurel wrca,h adOrns the sun
burned brows of nearly every PLAYER and
"craDks" have sprung up everywhere
like shad-fiies IN the vernsl season TO dis
cuss the minuig OF the game and assert
their knowledge of baseball.
The love for tho national sport in Rich
mond has revived, and the spectre Of the
once powerful Virginia nino has revived.
and now, hko Hamiet's fathers ghost,
walks abroad looking after its own IN
teres's and asking retTibutiOn for the bad
treatment il received. Next season Rich
mond will once more pose as o base ball
centre. and already steps have been taken
which may possibly result in the formation
Of Virginia and North Carolina League.
it is proposed 10 have teams IN tins CITY:
Norfolk, Roanoke, and Lynchburg. and
also III Winston, Charlotte, and Whining
ton, and these WI doubtless 90 into
al association or league and fight Tor the
pennsnt. OF course tine proposed scheme
IL not vet an assured fact. but II Is very
likely 10 mater!alizc. The grounds at
Island Park may possibly he deserted and
another iyed ~ III tho West End, but
these are things OF the future, and for the
present II cannot be SAID exactly what Will
be done.
InE TITASs ARE ALL vIEGISI,St.
A singular feature about the Donat
Nr'aNls IL inc lAfi llhl ufsllN al "a liAf
PLAYERS were born and bred N Richmond,
which has ever been prolific of good hall
players.
1a'o is native Of this city. and has been
known III sporting circles for wears. lie
first commenced PLAYING with o Danvllie
niIe, and afterwards cssthi fortunes with
the NortolSs. Next the Nirginins signed
hlm, and afterwards he went with the BOs-
tons. From the Hub CITY he went TO Bal
tlmore. ami TINS year signed with the Leb
anans, OF Pennsylvania. but OWING to a
sore arm he practically retired from the dla-
mond. lie J. here mainly for the purpose
of rccupcratInc, TN; las played an excel
lent frs,-base tLr ,ughOut tie season, and
has a er.cnild batting record. he - cap
tain o. the IItaus. and looks aftcrtheir III
teresis not only with hands and feet but
with mouth winch has fluent vocabu-
lary and beautiful flow 4 "hulldOZiye -
words. IS an umpire h ia excellent, and
being something of u" heavyweight nome
dare dispute hi- views. Nei l. really the
hcsi-humort fellow IN the world, but
when he puts on hl3 war-paint ho looks "a
formidable az Il Shau-h al rooster.
Nh. MICHAEL o'RoUAsr.
Mike O'hourko, despite his fibernian
name. was reared on the sacred soil of
VIRGINIA and IN this city. He used 10 plDy
OF tho old Boschen nine. and frst attra ed
attention - "A contest With the betrOtt>. OF
the National Icague. IN which ms nlne won
bv score OF 3 g. /. lie was next signed
with TIE Baltimore, and went through q
Season witt them. his wear h. fir {
piaved with Albany and then came L.
Richmond. whore he has established TIE
reuutation OF "a thunGcrbOlt pitcher. Mike
Is an excellent batter. ari has also won
distinction by the generous manner III
which he leans his pants 10 Luck when he
does not participate IN the game. Inc
latter looks like he Is about TO fall through
them when he gets excited, but Micnaci
wears the garments III an exceedingly Dig
nifed manner, and the spectators look
uuon them a. q sor, OF barometer which
always gives an idea when he Is gong 10
make "a two-Dagger.
I'D. LUCK, TIVE rORROwRD-rANTs MAN.
After O'ROurke comes his trousers
sharer, Ed Luck, who smiles on life and
drewns bis sorrows Ia the merry huIa OF
tie electrician Che Is IA mOtOr-manl when
he is not on tho diamond. Everyone likes
Luck and Luck likes himself. and 80 re Is
always cood-humOrcd and always plays
superb ball. HIS record this season has
really been magnificent and few balls have
escaped his clutches. Luck ~ another
Richmond boy and has never played away
from Richmond except when ne caught
Mcclure on the University nine. lie seems
70 improve every day.
West. kain. and Leitwich are all relics
Of that famous Richmond nine. the Virgil
MIA Brights, and al play skilful ball.
West, though very small, Is Al excellent
pitcher and has an established reputation.
BEIok-ToP" FOSTER.
Foster, the owner and proud possessor of
the rosy tinted head, was formerly mem
Der of the old Fulton team. and while on
thu; nine he seems TO have learned au i'm
mense lot about bail-playing. tie Is per
baps the cleyeres' basc-runuet OF the
Iitans. has splendid batting record. and
II considered one OF the finest outholdcrs
III the city. lie is likewise catcher OF
considerable merit.
Ennght is also an cx-mcm Der of the
Fulton team, aud whether on second OF
third or as shoTt-stop. he Is always man
- be relied upon.
NAPIER and Wells, who have attracted
gcueral attention 10y then fine batting aud
clever all-rOund PLAYING. are making their
FIRST attempts at professional ball this sea
son, anc they have hne prospects before
them.
Ford first commenced his career with the
Boschen nine ana then played on the Viz
glnias and afterwsrd with the Philsdel.
pLiax. At one time he WAS captain and
manager of Lyuchbur. team. he knows
how 10 catch fy whom 1t comes III hls