Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-24
RIOTERS WILL HELP.
They Are Getting Into Shape 10 Boost
the Richmond Lads.
WILL he IN THE oRANDsrASD.


Eject II Will Have-wclIs's Pets
TO Arrive To-Morrow-Other "os'
sipy Matter Pertaining to ball.
The members Of the Richmond Baseball
Club will report for duty here tomorrow
morning. and the first practice-game VIII
be played In the afternoon. Wells has
made all arrangements for his boys ana
will board them near the grounds. Inc
park Is not yet completed; the fence Is
far from being finished, and a great zeal
In the way Of improvement is yet to be
done. 1t is probable that the park VIII
not be In condition for any playing be-
fore Wednesday, and Wells Is trying 10
make arrangements with the manager or
the Richmond College Club to practice
his men on the campus during the morn
ing. The Spiders only practice In the
afternoon. and hence there should be but
little trouble in efrecting such an ar
ransement.
While the various clubs are practicing
for the league contest the rooters. who
constitute a most important branch or
the baseball service, are not idle They
are fast organizing for the work before
them, and It is safe to say that II Rich
mOnd fails 10 win the pennant VIII
be through no fault Of its rooters. just
who will be at the h rad Of the rooters
is as yet an open question.
John Small was king last season, and a
mighty good one, by the way. but he, IT Is
understood, Will not aspire TO tnat once
this year.
HE is A GOOD RoOTER.
George Lawson was the prince appar-
ent last year. and rightfully should sue
coed to the throne. but George wasn't
born for leader. He can root beautl-
fully-aye hog couldn't do better-but
George loses his head too quickly. Let
a critical moment arrive, and he goes all
to pieces.
Justice John would probably make a
good leader. but with Judge witt as presi-
dent and John j. as king the judicial
ermlne would predominate to too great an
extent. and hence Little Johnnie VIII have
to content himself with a corner OF the
grandstand, and simply applaud when the
others do.
For want OF good material out of which
to make a crown-head there is some
talk of abolishinS the Office of king and
letting the rooters root TO suit tneDa
selves. This will probably be a gooa
idea, but we will miss those choruses and
then. again, when 1t becomes necessary
for everybody to stretch. who will give
the order? All of these things must be
taken into consideration before the kingly
official Is abolished
BEGINS WEDNESDAY.
Although the season doesn't open up
until the middle of next month the
game in this city practically begins next
Wednesday.
Numbers Of the cranks have already
been out to the grounds, inspected the
new Arrangement of the grandstand, and
have selected their seats. Henry Valen-
tine will undoubtedly find his accus-
toned perch on the topmost row. Colo
mel John S. Harwood will not be far
away, and, in fact. quite a select gath.
ering will be found in the extreme
southeast corner of the stand. Mr.. c.
V. Meredith will be there, that is. If thu
leather-lunged boy is kept away: Pey>
ton Noel will be found hiding behind his
knees in close proximity to the corner,
and near him will be seated Justice
Crutchheld. Genial Charley Ellerson will
not be far off. and will continue to call
out TO the pitcher, as Is his wont, make
him hit it,
UNCLE BILLY, TOO.
Uncle Billy" Cullingworth likes this
corner also. 1t is so cosey, don't you
know. and he can nestle his spirituel,
form between the seats and root as
comfortably as possible. The corner
might be dubbed Official headquarters
for people in search OF a representative
nf ha oil ~
eminent would be about as apt to find
him there as anywhere else. Mayor
Taylor finds a congenial spot there. and
although not so large as some OF his
brother rooters. he succeeds usually in
spreading himself over space which is
usually allotted to two men. Frank
Cunningham usually wanders towards
this corner when he goes out to see the
game. Captain Frank has a most melo-
dous voice for roofing. and when he
turns himself loose the boys play ball
with renewed vigor. Somewhere in the
locality of the southeast corner Of the
stand Major Charles Skinker. one of the
greatest enthusiasts in the country, will
also find a resting place. He Is not
much on the noisy-demonstration order,
but when occasion demands his lungs
will be found in the service of the root
ers.
SHOULD PLAY BALL.
With such a galaxy of rooters to en-
courage them. together with about two
thousand other cranks who can yell, tbs
Richmond ball team ought to feel salts
fed. and nothing but winning ball should
b. played by them during their stays in
this city.
This encouragement the boys from this
city will probably need. for in the othes
Will hav IN
mean competitors. All are getting ih
good shape, and good ball-playing all
around may be expected.
PERSONNEL OF PORTSMOUTHIANS.
All of the Portsmouth players have re.
ported in that city. and ii is an unusu.
ally strong aggregation. Here is what
81 correspondent there mas to say about
them.
Edgar Leach is a right-hand pitcher
He belongs In Washington, ID. c., and
was on last seasons champion team OF
the Virginia State League He says he
is In better form tnan ever, and VIII
pitch the game OF his life this season.
Il. c. Tate c"Pop') belongs in Rich
mond, Va, and captained the Grows
last season. He weighs JOS pounds
stands 5 feet II IL inches, and is we'll
known as one OF the best players in last
years Richmond team.
Phil Vetter, catcher and outfelder,
played on the Brcckton MessD club, of
the New England League. last season.
and was considered fast man. His
home is In Louisville, KY.
John Mullen. Of Philadelphia, is the
smallest man on the team, weighing j
pounds and is feet inches high. He
is a shor;-stop, and played with Macon
In the Southern League. last year.
William Brandt Is right-hand pitcher.
and halls from Hagerstown, Nd. lie
played with the local teams around his
home last year. and won a good name.
John +. Quinn is a lCO-pound catcher
from Cambridge. Mass. He played with
the Norwich Comm team. of the Con-
necticut State League. last season. and
IL was on the record that he made there
that caused his engagement here. He -
8 feet 8 inches in height.
Joseph Muiligan is left-hand pitcher,
G feet / inch tall. He is from Baltimore,
and did good work for the Cylbournes, a
local team of that city, last year.
Harry Fulmer Is an outiielder. and
PLAYED In Dunlap. Ia, last year. His
home Is in Johnstown, Pa. His record Is