The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-19
Very Confident Of the Richmond BLUE
Birds" Winning the Pennant This Year.
BALDWIAlSM NOT HIS ACCOMPLISHMENT
He Thinks Because They Did II Last
Year They IRE Necessarily Com
PEELED To IL Again This Season
with Him the other Clubs Are Not
An II For the Championship.


rived IN the city late Monday night,
ana yesterday and the day be-,
iore were at the park, indulg-
ing Ill practice with the rest of the men
VINO are to wear a Portsmouth uniform.
Halman has gained about eight pounds
condition than he ever was, and, contin-
uins, he said he had put in the winter
under the tutorship of his uncle, learn
ing new tricks Of the profession.
Vought is tall. spare built young
man, VINO looks as II was built for speed
ana endurance. He is also in good
shape, but the weather was so chilly
ana windy the last two DAYS that he did
NOT nave an opportunity to show what
he could do, therefore the rooters did
not nave u chance to get Il line on him,
so as TO eXtol his merits, or vice versa,
as the case might be.
All OF the "Grangers' are here now
anu they will proceed shortly to try
10 Plant the hopes and aspirations of
some of the teams in the league, who
TOOK With longing eye 10 the cham
pionship of the season coming their
way. Looking with u longing eye don't
cover 1t. for some of them have actually
got nerve enough to say. and that too.
without knowing whereof they speak,
mat they are going to win the pen
nant. They seem II think there is but
one club in the league this season.
Especially is this true of my friend. Joe
Wheat. the baseball editor of the
Richmond Times. for that I'M
usually bright young man he
came so thoroughly enthused the other
Gay that he actually forgot that there
were hve other clubs. and five good ones,
100. in the league who would cut some
nsnre in the pennant race. and gave il
Out In the most positive manner that
Richmond would win the remnant again
inns year, and goes on To say how hard
Ut will be for the writer of this article
to bear it. if such should come to pass
Why, he actually los. his dear. lit
Tie head and talked through his hat"
10 such an extent that The Nirginan
can almost imagine that il can hear
our mutual friend, Hiden. counselng
Nsn to go little slow in his predlc-
lions That is all right. Joe, YOU know
something. but YOU don't know enough
70 pick the winners in this seasons race
The Nirginian VIII agree with you tina.
you have what they call in baseball
pailance crack Jack team. but
there are Others" The Richmond team
IS a good one, well managed and well
selected, but wait; Just wait until you
run up against such snags as lie in your
pathway this year rs the aggregation
OF "Grangers," Gardeners" planters"
or Truckers" that Lef.y Mari has
gotten together for Richmonds special
benefit, and then you will want to put
Dashboard in the sweat band of Your
hat to make II feel comforta BILE You
must remember. my rash friend, that
all OF our people down this way know
thing or two about ba seball, and last
years experience was as q graduating
college TO than. Lefty Mari sends kind
regards and says he VIII see you in
Richmond when he hopes that you will
have fully recovered from that violent
attack of prediction"
Then. brother Joe, only half of the
story is told when call your attention
10 the Portsmouth team. Why my boy,
what do you think Claud McFarlan's
fast company OF ball PLAYERS. who will
wear a Norfolk uniform. will be doing
while the Richmond team is engaged in
doing all the dread things YOU hint at?
DO YOU think they will all be asleep
with a bail in their hands. or do YOU
fondly imagine that as soon as the
Blue Birds" march on the field that
the Norfolk Club WIFI bow down in
meek humility, and sing in chorus.
with orchestral Accomplishments. See
The conquerlng heroes Gomez" oh. no.
dear Joseph, these boys are not built
that way. but on the contrary The
Nirginian is inclined TO think, and does
tHlllh, Vel ulaReS no prediction, that
when the season closes that the high
limbs upon which the Blue Birds"
roasted at the end of last season Will
have grown considerably closer TO the
ground.
And, too, brother Wheat, you have
noticed that nothing has been said
about Lynchburg. Roanoke and Peters
burg Why, my dear kind but misguid-
ed friend all three Of these
rities have better clubs than they
had last year. And, old fellow.
you very we'll remember, without
amy jogging Of your memory. what
the former club did for the "Hustlcrs /"
Well l know you have not forgot en-,
hut whether they will do as well this
Year remains TO be seen. The Rich
mond team is. ] am frank to admit.
probably stronger this year, and Will
no doubt prove credit to the grand
old city of Richmond and her magniti-
cent people But when n friend of mine.
such MS consider you to be. Joe Wheat.
dries to wrest q reputation so well earn
who are known the world over as mind
the power Of telling what Is to be in
the future. l can't help but give him n
little advice-lt is a cheap articlc-an6
ten Nun that for people who show n
disposition to talk Mt random, that there
as a place not far distant from his city
where advice and treatment can be ha d
nj q very low rate.
CHARLES n. BLAND.