The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-28
THE CHERUBS PROTEST.
THEY DO NOT THINK THE PETERS
BUR0 FARMERS HAVE A"CIyCH."
They intend Playing the yirginias To-Day
League Game at Island Park on the
Wet and Muddy Diamond.

Now that the public have accepted the
matter as settled. and concluded that the
Petersburg Farmers are pennant-winners
in a league that allowed all sorts Of In
Engagements upon the usual rules that
obtain In baseball organizations. the For
est Hill team comes to the front with
a smile that is childlike and bland, ana
proclaims that they do not believe mat
the team from the grass-grown streets
of the Cockade City have such "cinch'
after all. They come from the by-ways
OF Manchester, and declare that they'
too, could be probable pennant-winners
II the season was continued, ana
now they petition that the series
Of games yet TO be played be contested
at Island Park. They are dissatisfied with
the verdict of public opinion that there
has been baseball enough for one sea-
son, and they wish to again appear anu
make fight for victory.
This is all very well, and the laudable
desire of the Cherubs 20 appear again
before the public I'm a few more con-
tests. is 10 be commended. so far as
they are concerned, but in all serious
ness. what possible difference does 1t
make as 20 who the pennant-wnners
now are or Will be?
Take the season as season,
and what does It amount to other than
series Of EXHIBITION games2 v Rat possible
interest could be manifested by admirers
Of the national sport in the "ri-Ctty
League contests when the teams that
composed that League were constantly
changing their players, and the in-felder
Of one day would be IN the same position
for another team Tomorrow How could
any one be interested In the average or
per cent. Of any team that was forced
to play with umpires that were chosen
from the spectators a moment before the
games began? What does per cent.
amount to when those umpires prove be-
fore the games are half through that
they are totally unfamiliar with rules
governing such contests and are tho
roughly incompetent 10 give those decis-
ions which have so much 20 do with
the winning Of a game2 What pride can
an admirer take in the work Of his team
when that organization is constantly
changing the players, and importing
men from other places who should never
be allowed TO rank with the semi-pro-
fessional players OF the Tri-City League?
one had Just as well say that the Vir-
ginias are pennant winners II during the
latter part Of the contest they imported
Nash as their thlrd-baseman, put a Full
Ter as shortstop, and employed Rusie to
occupy their pitchers box. The College
team could just as well claim the flag
Of victory by playing one set Of men at
one time during the summer and depend
ing upon an almost entirely different
team at another stage Of the proceedings
The Forest Hills could aver with truth
and justice that the pennant is as much
theirs as any one else's for the umpiring
has been unsatisfactory. and citizens
who did not know what they We're doing
had had the temerity 10 go on the field
and occupy that important position until
cried down by the assembled spectators.
But from another standpoint some Of
the games were as well played as any
ever executed i'm Virginia, and the man
ayers OF the Tri-City League, fighting
most of the time against odds. deserve
considerable credit To be employed in
business ard manage a baseball team
at the same time Is no easy matter, ard
TO be forced 10 depend on an employers
caprice as 20 whether Smith could pitch
or Brown could he on the first bag f.
a difficulty fraught with anxiety, and
creates sensations far from pleasant.
To the Virglnias. who famed 10 flames
the few sparks of interest I'm baseball
that remained over from the summer OF
1892 considerable credit IS due. and to
Mr.. W. III. Lumsden, who was the prime
mover I'm that organization, belongs a
just need Of praise from a public who
have enjoyed HIS more or less successful
undertakings. To the College team. COM
posed OF men who have matrlculated at
the Richmond College and men who never
saw the builcng. credit can be given
without much stint. for they, Ike the
Il.
obstacles sometimes almost insurmount-
able To the Forest Hills, who had mis-
management and frequently no manage
ment; who had players that were not the
most controllable creatures on this earth,
praise is but Justly due them. and lastly,
10 the Petersburgs with a fat bank ac-
count at their beck and call. and with a
team OF professional players, the thanks
Of the Richmond public are rendered for
keeping very much alive the interest I'm
the national sport I'm the three cities.
But now, instead OF letting II all stop
and gracefully ringing down the curtain,
the Forest Hill team pops up like the
little individual in the box, and cries out
from the housetops that they wish 20
play ball; that they are sure that the
patrons Of baseball want 10 see them
march off the field with the pcnnants folds
enveloped ia n halo Of victory; that they
are positive that the petersburg team
cannot play ball in comparison with them;
and they are sure that they Will be a
delight to the ''rooters" and "cranks,"
who perch themselves on the cold, windy
bleachery seats. With this Idea COM
pletey ground in the gray matter Of
their brains, they have arranged 70 play
the Vlrglnas a game this afternoon at
Ais o'clock at Island Park. To-mor-
row afternoon the same teams VIII play
on the Chesterfield diamond. and next
Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday the
Chariestons, Of West Virginia, play the