Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-08
HAS BECOME.A MANIA
Hearty RYSly Family In Richmond Aflict-
ID With Baseball PeYeP.
PATRONS SOON BECOME RIOTERS.
The Governor Quite Fond Of the Gamc-
PROMINENT Men who Always Attend
and Mingie with the Cranks.

Richmond last spring was more malignant
than Il was ut first thought 30 be. snd
the germs Of the disease. which are e1-
ceedinxly insiduous, have taken root In
almost every family in the community.
In some families only one person Is aiiect-
ed, but in many every male member 10
suffering from the disease. which has as
serted itself In the nature OF mama
and many female members are similarly
afflicted
The interest which has been manifested
IN the national game this season mas
surpassed the most sanguine expectations
of those who thought anything at all
about II early In the year. and now. Mt
all hours Of the day, groups OF men.
prominent in business circles, may be seen
on almost every corner discussing me
relative merits and dement's OF the clubs.
and in many instances Offering TO wager
anything from juiep TO new nat that
their particular favorite will win the
afternoon game.
CROWDS AT THE GAMES.
Everybody who can attends the games
here and those who stay at home. or
III lutI IidNtS VI bN''''~''
thinking about the contest and wondering
who is ahead.
II is wonderful sight to witness the
crowds that throng the street-cars on the
afternoons on which league contests are
played at West-End Park and note the
prominence OF the gentlemen Who are
vending their way toward the setting
sun- Merchants, lawyers, doctors. polid-
clans, professional men OF all kinds mnsie
with the laboring men and clerks. and
appear 10 find a common ground OF fell
lowshlp in discussing the game and the
probable results thereof.
Arriving Mt the grounds a most hetero-
geneous crowd IS always to be found.
The banker VIII sit next to the laborer,
and merging his identity into that Of an
ordinary baseball crank. will engage in
conversation. and possibly in heated
discussion with him. and soon the two
will be for the nonce. boon companions.
But then "a fellow feeling makes us Won
nrous kind"
HOW CRANKS DEVELOP.
A Dispatch man, who daily visits the
ball park, has been silently taking OBJ
seryatlons of the various situations that
are ordinarily to be seen there. and has
also watched with interest the manner in
which many who first visited the park,
and witnessed the game, with half
bored expression on their faces, have
gradually contracted the disease, until
they have become cranks of the most
pronounced type. and their countenances
throughout the game are suffused with "a
flush, indicative of the malignancy of the
plague which has taken hold of their
system.
His Excellency. Governor O'Ferrall. Of
course knew something OF the game be-
fore this sea son. but he seemed to take
ho especial interest in the games here
until, yielding 10 the inducements OF his
private secretary, he visited one Of the
games. Now he Is n regular attendant
at the park. and is as great an enthusiast
Ms the dignity Of Lis position VIII permit.
IL does not root, as SO some OF the other
ly7biic-men who attend. but when the
tNing and other demonstrations are in
Togress. he smiles blaudly, as though he
jntoyed II immensely, md lOnged for the
liberty of unofficial life to give one long.
loud boot
UNCLE BILLY ALWAYS THERE.
"Uncle Billy" Cullingworth is another
enthusiast. He never misses game. no
matter what the weather. and when Tim
Vests pets are COursins on to victory
(Which. by the way. is awfully seldom),
hls gelati1ous c0rpOrosity shakes with evil
ueEt delight. and many man has been
Inspired to skilfl roofing by simply
the less evident. enjoyment
"Justlc. John" is one Of the most
regular customers whom Gatekeeper
Cordle has lie has his own private chair
built for his own private use. and each
afternoon he seats himself In the eastern
enl OF the grand stand, and from the
time the game is called until the finish
he never removes his eyes from the
diamond. lest it be to perpetrate joke
at some ones expense.
HIS Honor IS wcll up on the points Of
the game. and can tell a base-hit from
Il strike just as readily as he can tell
IA nogrO who has been before him on
previous occasion from one who has not.
Ills powers Of disccnment are wonderful.
THE JUDGE AS \ ROOTER
Mr.. "Cretchhell" is not the only judicial
tersonage VINO frequeats the park; nor
81 "Cncle Billy" Culingworth the only
man who has to come into the grounds
through the carriage-Rate. Judge Samuel
s. Witt is quite regular i'm his attendance
on the ball games. lie invariably occu-
pies seat on the bleacheries, preferrins
10 be among the boys. where he can
iolIer and root with them. 10 the re.
straints OF the grand stand
John Small ia one Of the most pro-
nounced rooters TO be seen on the grounds.
He is always on hand. and he ii is VINO
originated the striking calls which so
oftei, break forth from the threats Of his
cohofts lie has erected two Signs on
the outleld fence. and guarantees to give
$3.50 any member Of the home team
who places the bail over the boundary
between those two signs. Several times
has he been made to quake In his boots
when Pop" Tate sent the sphere sailing
,n the direction of the designated section,
but thus far he has not had to go down
into his clothes. But look out Mr.. Small.
the time will come.
Harry NJ Smith, whose agile form now
occupies the Commonwealth Attorney -
chair vacates that position every after
,yoon and HES himself TO the ball park.
With llsty voice he roots ana bluffs until
lie gets ell around him in jolly good
hurfior, and has as good a time as one
s~-sld possibly expect
JUST A QUIET OBSERVER.
~asnry Valentine is the happy posscssor
of q season ticket to the grounds. and.
although he il not given 10 roofing, he ~
a great enthusiast He watches every
point OF the game closely, and the press
representatives are often indebted 10
him for suggestions as 10 who 10 roast
and who to compliment.
Teddy Haas is q combination OF q
baseball player and rooter. In the
former role, wearing the uniform OF "a
star ne Is q scintillating gem of grace.
He Ia the acme of perfection as rooter'
too. but there is one thing sadly lacking
in Teddy's education as baseball rootei.
He should confine his criticisms 10 the
players and let the scorers judge as TO
errors and hits
''Dick" woodall, tho popular secretary
and treasurer of the league. IS a pro
bounced rooter. but unfortunately he has
no opportunity Of displaying his ability
u this direction. as II would be exceed
fnSyfy bad taste for him TO show par
tality. occupying the position he does.
The Governors private secretary IL n
great crank, and nothing pleases him
hetcer than 10 be allowed 10 sit in the
SCORERS box and white sticks and eat
peanuts. and in his mind, conjure up
one days OF yorc when he was a news
payer scribe and had the pleasure 90
each night OF telling the public just how