Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-16
NOW LET'S PLAY BALL
League Season Viii Begin at kSO
6Clock This Afternoon.
The Goats Came In Sesterdsy-
umpire Belts Talked 50 HIS um-
plres-wm Brock No Foolish
ness.

The season OF the Virginia State League
for 1896 begins to-day. and promptly a,
$50 o'clock this afternoon the Richmond
and Roanoke teams will make their APP
pearance On the diamond at West-End
Park. and Umpire Cline. OF Mr.. Betts's
staff. will caii "play ball." thereby in
augurating what bids fair q be most
successful and exciting season OF ball
PLAYING.
The Goats got here yesterday from
Lynchburg, and went out TO West-End
Park in the afternoon and practiced Tor
couple OF hours with the Biuebirds-
They are O fne lot of ball-players, and
seem to be in the pink Of condition. Their
defeat by the Lynchburg team on Tues
day is no criterion by which TO judge
their ability, as Bruner. one OF Lynch
burg's pitchers, umpired the game. and
naturally he leaned TO the Hill-Cllmbers.
The game. this afternoon viii be for
blood. and viii. no doubt, prove exciting.
1t win undoubtedly attract a very large
crowd.
CONFER WITH THE UMPIRES.
Umpire Belts assembled his stan in
Petersburg yesterday morning, and they
were Joined there by Manager Wells, OF
Richmond; Manager Breen, Of Peters
burg; Manager McFarlan. of Norfolk, and
Captain Sullivan, of the Roanoke club
BY general consent, the meeting was
adjourned 10 this city. and at / o'clock
all assembled at the Lexington. and Mr.
Belts outlined his plans for the season,
and gave his Interpretation OF the play
ing rules 20 the umpires and club repre-
sentatlves. These interpretations will be
strictly adhered 10. In his talk to the
club representatives Mr.. Belts was very
emphatic IN regard TO how umpires should
be treated, and said that any player, no
matter who he was. or how important
ne was to the game. who used abusive
language would be fined and removed
from the game, and he would, II neces-
sary, have him removed from the grounds
by an officer.
FINES MUST BE PAID.
II was agreed that no fine should exceed
$40. and none should be for less sum
than s.. and in every case where fine
was imposed 1t should be promptly paid
and for default Of five days the player
thus in default shall be disbarred from
playing until the fine is paid.
This seems on its face rather harsh ana
severe, but. in view OF the bad behavior
which characterized some of the games
during last season and the season pre-
ceding II, II is not at all too severe. but
IS Just what is necessary and essential 10
the welfare of baseball in the State.
All of the club representatives present
expressed their hearty approval OF MI.
Betts's proposed course. and pledged them
selves 10 stand by him and assist him
in putting his plans into execution.
Captain Wells will put Tannehill In the
box to-day, and Boland will catch him.
Jake viii himself play first. and Fender
will go back to third.
PERSONNEL OF THE GOATS.
The Goats are captained by James Sui
Ivan, first base. Sullivan played last
season with Lincoln. Neb.. and played his
position to perfection.
NJ c. Whitehall. the second-baseman,
played with oil City, III the'lron and OIL
League. last season He has the best
recommendations. and comes from ball
family. He mas been sick. and during his
Illness the bag has been protected py
Gochenow. of Altoona.
Short-Stop George Wrlgley played his
first season with Carlisle. OF the Cumber-
land-Valley League. He has favorably
impressed all who have seen him as a
frst-class man.
Third base will be guarded by james
Cockman. He is a Canadian, and came
well recommended. In the game against
baltimore the little hitter took home
run from Pond.
Jimmy Grove will play left field. He. too,
played with the Oil-City team last season,
and was pronounced an excellent man.
Harry Tate. OF the Cumberland-Valley
League, win play In centre. He is hard
hitter. and a clever base-runner. Right
field will be looked after by one Of the
catchers.
l.. ID. williams and o. II. Sheenan,
both men with good ball-piaying records,
will catch. and the pitchers, whom the
management, of course. claim to be the
best. are Perry Coons. Fred. McFall, John
Cheesbro'. Thomas Lipp, and South-Paw
willis.
The team uniform is Yale green with
nayy-bue trimmings.
Averages for the Practice Game.
During tho practice games played by the
Richmond team during the past two weeks
the Bluebirds have played a very gooc
game and have shown UP In an excellent
manner.
Their Individual averages will compare
favorably with those of any league play
FRS Following are the individual averages
for the entire season OF practice games NJ
20 last Saturday