Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-29
JAKE WELLS IS HERE.
THE POPULAR MANAGER REACH
ED THE CITY LAST NIGHT.
SAYS He WILL HAVE 4 GOOD TEAM.
Eighteen Players Have Been signed,
and RichmOndcrs VIII Have Good
Bnli-P,nying-Thc New PariS--ro
Take n Southern Tour.

Take Southern Tour.
Manager Jake Wells, Of the Richmond
Baseball Club. who has been spending
his winter in Florida. arrived here last
night on the Z o'clock train direct from
his southern home, and registered at the
Lexington Captain Jake is looking as
handsome as eYer and says he is in the
pink of condition. He is full Of baseball
talk. and while he was never one to boast
Of what he would do. ne says. and says
it with confidence, too, that notwithstand-
ing the fact that Richmond has been pro-
NOTED into higher company, he will be
right in the game with his team, and viii
be able to hold his own with any other
club in the Atlantic League.
"Will you land the pennant here?' ven
tured the reporter by way of drawing the
popular manager out.
I'd rather not answer that just now"
replied Jake with a little laugh. Lets
wait until the season gets fairly under
way before We talk of pennants and such
things. / will have team. though. that
Richmond cronks will have no cause 10
feel ashamed Of
THE TEAM OF 1891.
"Who will comprise your team?' was
the next query propounded by the re-
porter.
That has already been published in the
Dispatch" replied Mr.. Wells. "but / sup
pose the people would Ike to hear some
thing about the men from my lips, so
here goes:
First Of all. I have signed Reddy Fos-
ter and Schahel to catch. In that com
bir"-!on / have two exceptionally good
men, not only as catchers. but as hitters
ana base-runners / have six pitchers
signed and have practically closed with
another. and expect that | will start the
season with hrst-class staff OF tWirlers.
Those I have absolutely signed are Null
larkey. Stultz. Stimnhel, Chesbrough. Nc
Cord and Lindsey | you'd rather not
give the name Of the other twirier just
yet. but suffice it 10 say that he is only
a youngster. and 1 expect him TO develop
into n good man.
Il will 90 10 Washington In a day or 50
to see President Young with reference to
Nlullarkey. whom Syracuse claims. / don
think that they viii be able to get him
away from me. / certainly have just
claim for him. and l shah 90 armed with
ailidavits which I think Will insure my
success before tho arbitrating board. The
Dispatch has already told who the pitch
ers are. with the exception Of Stimmel.
He ought 10 be- remembered mere. He
signed with Roanoke In the season or
1895. but owing 20 a question of salary,
never played with the team. He Is a ma
tive Of Maryland. and played with Fort
Worth in the Texas League last year he
made a good record and ! expect him TO
develop into a good man.
THE FIELDERS.
MY inheld viii be composed Of Pender
Berte Elberfeld. and your humble SER
want. and / think we will be able TO hold
IT against all cOmers. I need not COM
mont on Berte. Pender. and myself. but
70 will not be amiss for me 10 say that IL
Elberfeld comes up 20 what / have right
70 expect Of him. he will prove star
man and n great acquisition 20 the CLUB.
I expect TO start the season with eighteen
men ON my team. and 1 viii have as out
folders Mari Sholta Harsrove, Kahn and
Elsey.
"Elsey is the only unknown man in the
lot and he is. / think. q good one He
had brief career I'm this league i'm 1894,
when be- played with Lynchburg. lie has
lately been playing at first base. but he
can play the outheld equally as well as
the infeid and h. has a record both as
a batsman and a base-runnor. ! have no
fears as TO my team, and / feel some-
thing like l was sitting on easy street.
THE NEW PARK.
"What about the change OF park?' was
asked by the news-gatherer
"Well. ] hardly know what 70 say in
response TO that question" was the re-
ioindor. II have been here such a short
time that / haven't been able 10 see Mr..
Bradley and. of course. don't know
what the status OF the case is. | am
not opposed 10 moving the ground
though. If better park can be gotten.
I know that there are arguments that
can bee advanced against such a move.
but then there are numerous arguments
I'm favor of it. We certainly need bet
ter park. and the game can, ] think, be
played with much more satisfaction %
the spectators in larger grounds. II may
be that we WlI lose some patronage uY
moving TO Broad street as there are
some who might object 10 walking over
10 the strcct-car lines from downtown,
but | believe thar those matters will
finally adjust themselves and that IL will
be- a very short time after the park is
opened before il will be easily accessible
from all parts of this city and Manches-
ter.
Again. 7 might say in favor Of a move
that there are those who do not attend
the game now who would be induced to
10 80 I'm the future If better accommota-
tions were afforded them. Another very
important point 20 be- considered IS the
lease Of the grounds. As 1t IS. Mr.. Brad
lev cannot now secure more than one
wear lease on the West-End Park and he
has therefore no assurance that De VIII
be able 10 keep it longer. II he goes
10 Broad street he has tye-year lease
ON the park Suppose We remain on
Main street. and az the expiration Of one
wear we are forced 10 move: it may be
that We cannot then secure the Broad
street site and We would be In bad
hole"
THE SOUTHERN TRIP.
"What have you decided about your
southern trip next spring." asked the
scribe.
Il think we will take It. have about
made arrangements 10 carry the team 20
Charleston. Atlanta. Macon, Savannah.
Augusta. and Columbia; ana. IN the
event that ] do. why. ! will order the
bows TO assemble in Charleston on the
10Th Of March Otherwise. they Will
come here on the 1st OF April. 1t would
really be- ii very good thing for the team
10 take this trip. and | hope I will be
able 10 carry them In the first place
they VIII have had time TO get them
selves into condition before they come
TO Richmond and the little fellows with
their hammers will poe deprived OF their
opportunity 10 knock them
TT IS always disheartcnng 10 set
Of men 10 land I'm The town In which they
are 10 play during the season. and re-
ceive adverse criticism before they have
had time TO get their muscles In condl-
49,. 80 ,.t,,. Tb.,- lon'f mind criticism