Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-07-16
Has Many Admirers Here But
Very Few Patrons.
IS NOT A SUCCESS FINANCIALLY
Manager of WiImington's Club
: Losing Money.
The Average Attendance per Game Only
Three Hundred--A More Liberal Patron
age Necessary to Meet the Expenses-The
Women to be Admitted Free Except on
Saturdays and Holidays.

Interested in baseball. and large
proportion Ct local baseball en-
thusiasts admire the Wilmington At
iantic League Club, but aside from
reading the newspaper accounts of the
games many of them do not materially
Interest themselves by visiting the
League grounds, so as to render 1t pos
eible for the management to make the
club q permanent fixture. They APP
parently do not realize that it takes
money to keep up the club. But IL
does take money, nevertheless and SO
far Manager Long has been going be-
hind financially to keep up his salaries
and expenses. So far the venture has
cost him about 81, 800, but he hopes that
the public will realize what good
thing they have in the way Of legiti-
mate sport and that they will show
their appreciation Of his efforts by
attending the games in larger num-
bers throughout the remainder Of the
season.
The average attendance has only
been about 800 per game, which is not
snough to pay expenses. The average
ehould be J00 which would pay ex-
penses and give small margin. This
s would be entirely satisfactory to the
management and would give the
players more heart.
Manager Long, who is one Of the
most gentlemanly persons in the bust
ness, is endeavoring to give Whining
ton frst-class, clean base ball, and in
this respect be has been eminently sue
cessful, as can. be attested by several
hundred OF the best men abd women
in the city. Mr.. Long has been making
7|I..v< .rf of ~ "a a l..
season to raise the standard of his
clubs playing, and now his men are
second to none in the A tlantic League.
The original team was, Of course,
something OF an experiment, but one
by one the defects became apparent,
and the remedy was applied as soon as
an opportunity was offered. The regu.
lar attendants at the games-t there are
200 OF them-can testify to this fact
and they are thoroughly pleased with
the result. Now the team is the best
that ever represented Wilmington in
any baseball association. 1t is probably
the best in the Atlantic League, and
the equal of many of the clubs in the
National League. This may seem like
exHggeration to those people who have
not seen the games within the last two
weeks, but nevertheless it is fact,
and visit to any of the games will
prove the assertion.
I492Ams people have been under the
impression that the Atlantic League
is minor league in every sense of the
word. But such, is not the case. Az
far as playing goes 1t ia major
league. Every one of the clubs has
been strengthened and each is now
capable Of putting up genuine National
League ball, and each contest is charac.
terized by fast playing. Another splsn.
did feature Is that the clubs ARE 81
evenly matched that there 10 no cor.
faInty concerning the resnlt Of an,
gams. People who appreciate fast bal
playing can be satisfied by freouentl,
visiting the local ballpark.
Manager Long has, In the face O.
adverse circumstances, strengthened
his team at Considerable additiona
cost, as he was determined to Civ,
Wilmington first class base ball, as b,
I bad promiSed, but no is actually he
ginning 70 feel that his efforts hav,
been 10 vain. It is thought, however,
that hany do not realize the abilities
~2t the club at present, but they proba
,e vi will ih the near future and tn,
dyupport will be better.
one Better amusement cannot be fount
The games are played OIL
y the grounds at Front and UnioI
streete, which. with the exception o
the Polo grounds, in New York City
are the best in the league. Thre,
lines Of street railway run to the gate
and after each game there are enough
cars on hand to carry the crowd ava,
inside of a few minutes. Regular car
run at short intervals In all directions
and it is matter of but few minute
to reach Market street. The encloeur,
has good seating capacity, and severa
policemen are on hand at each game I,
suppress any semblance of disorder
Ladies are seen at every game, an,
some are constant attendants, whicI
proves that the sport is clean and tina
there are no Questionable features.
The club plays at home nearly hal
of the time, and while it is here all O
the admirers 81, should support it as bes
they can. The games arc Gale,
promptly at 4 O'Clock and usually en-,
about 6, which gives everybody ampl
time to reach home at a seasonabl
supper .hour. The admission is but 2
cents, and the pleasure afforded in th
two hours is we'll worth the outlay.
The present club is in the nature o
an experiment for Wilmington. Shoult
it pay expenses this year it will be
come fixture. Should it not pay ex
penses there is little probability tina
there will be professional club her
for several years.
There are many people here who ar
anxious to see the club remain, and i
this one should be withdrawn vii
mington will receive a black ey
among baseball magnates.
Manager Long, although a strange
at the beginning of the season, no,
has host of personal friends VIII
would be exceedingly sorry to see hin
leave the city. The players, too, bav
many personal friends. They conduc
themselves in a gentlemanly niaune
both on and off the field, and thei
conduct has been favorably commente
on at the hotels where they hav
stopped in other cities. They ar
sober. industrious young men and de
serve the good will of the community
Let US show them that they are we
come among us.
If proper support is not given here
is probable that the games will b
transferred to the other cities in th
circuit, Wilmingtonians would b
extremely sorry to see this; therefore
it is hoped that those admirers VIII
can do so will become regular patron
and demonstrate to Manager Long tha
they desire to have the club renal
here permanently.
In the future ladies will he ainittn