Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-17
WILL MOVE THE PARK
DasE-BALI TO DE PLAYED HENCE-
FORTH on BROAD STREET.
GROUNDS NEAR RICHMOND COLLEGE.
The Wood FIover-Gnrden to Dc con-
yerted Into n Home for the Bine-
h,ra.-Roster of the Team of 1897
Who the New Men Are.

MAY ball again at West-End Park. When
the season Of 1897 opens. on Monday the
26th Of April next, the boys Will meet
their competitors in new park on
Broad street Just west of Richmond Col
iege
For long time Mr.. W. b. Bradley, the
president Of the Richmond Baseball
and Athletic Association. has been seek
ing to secure larger park, in an acces-
sible spot. and his efforts have at last
been rewarded. The Richmond Trac-
ton Company, realizing the benefit that
would accrue from. having the base-bal
park situated on their line. have go,tel
control of the large lot known as Woods
flower garden, on the north side OF Broad
street between Lombardy and Vine, and
have entered into a contract with Mr.
Bradley, whereby they will level the
ground. construct fence around the
park. and build situable grandstand and
bleacheries. and give IL to the assocla-
ton. rent free. for five years.
The grounds are considerably larger
than those embraced in West-End Park.
They have a frontage Of 800 feet on Broad
street. running back to the Richmond
Fredericksburg, and Potomac railroad. a
depth of 40 feet on the east, and GO feet
on the west side. They will be leveled
during the winter and thoroughly rolled
Until they will be as hard and smooth as
a ballroom floor. The diamond will not
be skinned as at West-End Park. but
will be sown with grass, as are those
used by National League clubs.
ri. mill hn
grounds. either in the infeld or outfeld,
and there will be sufficient slant for rain
10 run off quickly so as not to interfere
with the games.
EXTRA-LARGE GRANDSTAND.
The grandstand is to be erected on the
8road-street side. and is to have seat
ing capacity of not less than 1.J0O. 1t
will be furnished with opera-chairs and,
while a good view of the entire field will
be afforded from all portions of it, it will
be enclosed sufficiently 10 protect the
occupants from rain or sun. The bleach
cries will be constructed around three
sides of the park. and they will all be
covered with "A roof that will protect the
spectators seated on them from the
weather The bleacheries will have a
seating capacity of 500.
In rear of the outfeld and on the north
side Of the park will be a rallied enclosure,
set apart for carriages. This will be
sufficiently far from the players not TO
interfere with the game, or to admit Of
the horses being struck by ball, but
| close enough for the occupants of the
carriages to see the game well.
The park being located on Broad street,
will be easily accessible from all por-
| tions of the city, either by the Traction
| Company. which goes through the heart
of Richmond and will. by the lst Of
April. have feeders running through other
| thickly- settled portions Of the city; or
| by the Richmond Railway and Electric
! Company, whose lines enter ali portions
| Of Richmond ard Manchester. The Trac-
| ton Company's line will pass the gates
Of the park and the Richmond Railway
and Electric Company will pass within
| three blocks Of the main gate, its Clay
street-cars turning off at Harrison and
| Broad streets.
A BICYCLE-TRACK, TOO.
Mr.. Bradley. who will supervise the i'm
provements 10 be made at the new park,
| purposes constructing a bicycle track
| around the park for the accommodation
of wheelmen. 1t will be built of asphalt
and will run on the outside OF the
bleacheries. Mr. Bradiey's idea is TO have
the park made a general rendezvous by
wheelmen, and to have races there at
times when the Blhebirds are absent
from the city.
Bv the way. the Bluebirds will be wing
! ing their way back here i'm very few
months now, and they will, by their clever
work next season, uphold the honor OF
/ Richmond. even though they invade
| YankeedOm.
While there will be many familiar faces
on the team OF 1897, there will be some
new men too. and the indications are thai
the team will be very greatly strengthened
by them.
PERSONNEL OF THE TEAM.
"Reddy" Foster will catch, but will not
DO all the work. Schabel, formerly o
Lynchburg. will alternate with him IL
wearing the liver pad Mullarkey viii
twirl for US and will share honOrs will
Stultz. the ex-Lynchburger; Chesbrough
late Of Roanoke; McCord and Lindsay. o
the Bluegrass League. StultZ and Ches
brough are well known here as exlr'
good twirlers. and McCord and Llndsa!
come with extra good records. McCOr
ls a south-paw tWirler and Will be tn
only left-hander on the team. Wells vii
,,lav first bag. and will manage the team
from there as usual; Pender. the same oil
Bob. except for his increased popularity
will hold down Bag No. .; Berte, III
clever infelder, will play short-stop, an
third base will be held down by Eber
feldt. a mar Of great record, who mad
his advent in the Texas League. an
plaved last year with the Souther
League.
The outfield will be composed OF Sholta
| Hardsroye. and Mari Kahn will be re
tanned as a substitute to play the variou
positions. when 1t becom5s necessary
Sholta and Mari are both good out
aelders. and are good hitters. and Hard
grove is a star player. He was bougt
bv Mr.. Bradley from the Portsmout
team. and will work in centre garden.
TO PLAY BIG LEAGUERS.
The team will assemble here during tn
k Grst week in April They may make
tour OF the South for practice before III
,eague season commences. but il is mor
than likely that they will remain her
In any event they will play a series {
games with National League clubs an
win meet on the new diamond the Pitt
burg Philadelphia, New York, Baltimor
: Rrool,Iyn. ana Boston clubs. The Pitt
3 burgers will be the first to come her
and will have Tannehill with them.
The schedule Of the Atlantic League hs
r not vet been made up. The league
| comnosed of clubs I'm Hartford, Conn
Newark and Paterson. n. j.; Lancaste
Reading. and Philadelphia, Pa, and RE
mond and Norfolk, Va. 1t is undeEstoo
or In fact decided. that Richmond sha
onon M here on the 10Th of April and tn
, one of the northern clubs will open Wi