Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-09
HAS A STAR PITCHER.
MANAGER WELLS HAS LANDED A
WONDERFUL TwIRLER.
LEVER, OF MAYSYILLE, Is The MAN
National League Clubs Were After
Him, But Captain Jake Secured
him-At the Same Time Another
Pitcher Was Picked Up.

Manager Jake Wells. the enterprisIns
base-ballist, who has worked so indefa-
tgably to give Richmond team Of
ball-players that would represent her
and give her good fighting chance for
the Atlantic League pennant. has az
last completed his team. and on yester-
day received contract from Sam.
Lever. Of Goshen. o., late OF the Ken
lucky Blue-Grass League, who is said
to be the greatest minor-league pitcher
now on the market. At the same time
he secured Henry Schmidt, who, through
the disbandment OF the Southern League,
was rendered available.
Schmidt is said to be hrst-class
pitcher in every respect, but Lever is
the star of the organization. He is not
unknown among baseball magnates. as
IS evidenced by the fact that the manage
ment OF both the Cincinnati and Louis
vile National League clubs were after
him.
OFFERED LIBERAL INDUCEMENTS.
They offered Lever liberal terms and
tried to sign him. The matter rested
entirely I'm his hands. as he was not
on any clubs reserve list Wells was
after him at the same time that tho
big-league fellows began casting their
nets. Jake saw him I'm Maysville last
fall. when the Richmond team went
West, and with his practiced eye, at
once saw I'm him a great pitcher He
began at once TO offer him inducements
to play In Richmond during the season
of 1897, but as Richmond team then had
Mullarkey. Wells didn't offer as much as
Lever wanted.
When Syracuse's gold-brick game
robbed us Of "Mull " ii became a ground
hog case with us. and the genial manager
OF the Bluebird aggregation realized
that he must secure from somewhere
a star twirler. His thoughts instantly
reverted TO Lever, and correspondence
with him was resumed. In the mean
time, the National Leaguers had
awakened to Levers virtues, and they
began putting in their claims for his
services.
WANTED TO COME HERE.
They offered big money but so did
Wells, and Lever, preferring to stay In
minor league company for another
season. turned down the Cincinnati and
Louisville offers and accepted terms with
Richmond.
Captain Jake met Lever In Cincinnati
recently. and says he is a great twirler
in every sense OF the word. He is a
strapping big fellow, with quick. clean
delivery, lots Of speed, and clear. cool
head. He IL q years OF age. stands
feet 10 inches in his stocking feet,
and weighs 1S5 pounds. He is school
teacher by profession. and is at present
engaged in teaching the young idea how
10 shoot. at Newtonville, o. He plays
ball for the love OF the sport, and Incl
dentally for the money there II In IL.
He Is a good fielder and an excellent
hitter, and Is, I'm fact. a first-class, ALL
around man. He will prove valuable
acquisition to the Richmond club.
SCHMIDT A GOOD MAN. TC0--
Schmidt Is an old Knoxville player. re
was discovered on the same trip that made
IL possible 10 secure Lever. lie Is
great man I'm the box. He twirled three
games against Richmond In Knoxville
and only gave them eighteen hits alto
gether-seven I'm the first game, five In
the second. and six in the third. In view
og the fact that the Bluebirds did some
great stick work toward the close OF
last season, this Is an exceptionally
good record when It Is considered also
that Schmidt had an inferior team be-
hind him.
Schmidt Is a young man. but has lots
Of confidence. He has a tirst-clasS. curved
ball. and is ever watchful OF the bases,
making the runners hug their bags close
ly. In fact he has a delivery very much
like that OF Mularkey, and wins the
confidence and respect of the men play
ing behind him.
PLAYERS TO ASSEMBLE HERE SOON
The men will all assemble In this city
on the 22d of this month. and will at
once 20 into practice on Boschen's old
park. Just across the track from the new
grounds, which will be completed In time
for the opening OF the exhibition games,
on April 3D. Work on the grandstand,
is now being done. and large forces OF
men are engaged in rolling the ground,
which. with fair weather, will be I'm good
condition for the laying of Of the dia-
mond.
A STRONG TEAM.
As soon as this is completed the men
will practice on the new diamond. and
they will doubtless please even the croak-
ers. Certainly, they ought. as. with
three catchers, seven pitchers, four In
neders. and five outnelders, all or whom
are men OF ability. the Richmond team
will be stronger than ever before. Espe-
cially will the pitchers department be
strong. The seven men engaged to twirl
the sphere are skilled In the manipula-
ton OF the horsehide. and, with Lever
as the central figure. they VIII make a
formidable aggregation.