The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-01
yrRGT,it BtsE-BfIL IEaGrE.
History Of the Organization and How u
Has Been Conducted.

History of the Organization and How u
Has Been Conducted.
Unauestionably the Virginia state
League has been n success from the be-
ginning. both as an investment, and as
2 source Of pleasure TO the many patrons
OF baseball in this city glance NJ
the average attendance during lN'
two seasons Of its existence Will esiap-
lsh tho fact without further evidence.
The virginia League was organized ia
the early spring Of 1884, For several
years the Richmond people had been oe-
prived of ball games worth a snap OK
your finger and there had been a great
deal Of talk about establishing a state
league. Previously the Tri-City League.
composed of team each from Rlch-
mond. Manchester. and Petersburg, hah
been I'm operation. but the games were
decidedly amateur. and no great interest
had been aroused. The attendance sell
dom exceeded so. and the baseball PARK
at Forest Hin was quite Inaccessible.
Messrs West and Bradley became IN
tcrested IN a new scheme, and decided
10 give the Richmond people better base
ball than they had enjoyed for years. TX
occurred 20 these gentlemen chat a state
league with half . dozen clubs would
be good thing, and so they decided 70
push IL along.
THE LEAGUE oEGANIZED.
To erect grand-stand. construct bleach
cries lay out and g~ade suitable GROUNDS,
secure players and umpires. and prop
erly equip the clubs would require quite
a considerable Investment; but nothi?g
dared nothing done. was their motto, ana
they decided 10 risk H. Accordingly
communication with number OF base
ball men In various Virginia cities was
opened and a meeting was held at the
Lexington Hotel TO organize the Leaeue.
Ted Sullivan was In the city at the time
TO organize an opposition movement. His
scheme fell through. however and the
other movement was pushed forward.
Mr. S0mmers, Of Norfolk. was made
president OF the League. and Mr.. T. ;.
Woodall, OF Manchester. WAS chosen Sec
rotary The latter was also made Sec
rotary of the Richmond club, and tho
cities OF Petersburg Norfolk, stanton,
Roanoke, Lynchburg, aud Richmond
were admitted. The stanton team was
afterwards transferred 10 Newport News
with view 70 increasing the patronage.
Mr. Sommers sold out his interest IN
the Norfolk club this season, and resign
ed as President Of the League. Judge
s. b. witt. OF the Hastings Court Of this
city, was chosen as President OF the
League and still occupies that position.
A month or so ago Mr. WOOdall resigned
as Secretary OF the League, and was
succeeded by Mr.. John @. Small OF this
city. Mr. Woodan stll retains his po-
sition as Secretary of the Richmond
club.
THE SEASON OPENED.
Tho League season was opened on
April p. lssi. In this city. with a series
or three games between Richmond and
stauntOn At first the attendance was
small number OF good players were
secured boy the several clubs IN the STATE.
and very goods exhibitions of ball-play-
irg offered the public From time 10
tt-le changes in the personnel OF the
clubs were made. and Improvements ral-
idly followed. soon the gtt,ndanC' n
the several cities increased. and the suc-
cess of the League was assured.
Richmond had the largest average at.
tendance. with Norfolk close behind. ava
the Petersburg. Eynchburg, Roanoke. ala
stanton clubs following in ,he orls-
mentioned The Richmond and Norfolk
clubs proved "a good financial inyestm0
before the season closed. petershl.s
made little money aud - other ihi'e
clubs came out about over0
The players In the Virginia Lea
this year were superior 20 those or st
year, as a general rule. Most OF He
players were secured from the Southrl
League. the Pennsylvania State Lea ID
the New York State League. and o.H'r
minor organizations. and there is s,e
excellent material in the Virginia l'afHo
this year for the National L,ague %
draw upon next season.
Jake Wells was appointed manager
and CAPTAIN Of The Richmond team MS
year with power 20 sign and dismis my
or all players. and 20 manage the .ub.
lie played on the Richmond team lst
year during a part Of the season. and
proved himself q capable man iu very
respect Wells secured a number or
tho present players from the Wet ana
some few from the Southern league.
lie laborel under many disai altages,
but secured hrst-rate team which gave
the Richmond patrons Of baseball the
best games seen i'm this city since Rich
mond Withdrew from the National League
many years ago. Four or five players
Of the fourteen who We're first signeL
have been released from time 10 time
during the season. and their places sup
piled by superior men.
The personnel OF the Richmond team
is with perhaps one or two exceptions.
Of a higher standard than that OF any
team IN the ls.uEA'. NtllS observes u
great deal OF credit for his most excel
lent management Of the team, ana every
rooter in Richmond has nothing bu.
words Of praise for him.
NIX. YEARS PROSPECTS.
The prospects for next scason are
quite encouraging. The attendance THIS
season has been altogether gratifying
In Richmond, Norfolk, and Portsmouth.
and. indeed. IN every one OF the cities
belonging 10 the League. much Interest
has been manifested by the baseball
people, and 1t may be safely said that at
least four OF the clubs out OF the six
have made money. Tho attendance ~
Richmond has been larger than else
where. and the owners or the kichmouf
team will realize snug sum when every
thing Is settled up at the end or the sea
son. The expenses have been puii'
heavy this year. however. and the pro-
fits for some OF the teams will be- small
After two years OF successful Operation
Il may be safely stated that the Virsimt
League IS an assured success. II ""
be continued next year. and II is under
stood that the same cities Will be ~
esented. There Is also some talk aioi'