Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-12
SOME DIAMOND DUST.
WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE BASE
BALL WORLD.
PROSPECTS FOR SUCCESSFUL SEASON.
Deacon Ellis Is out of the Game
Richmond VIII De in the Race
Next summer-weIIs VIII Remain
Here-GeneraI Gossip.

Though the baseball season of 1898 &
many months distant still interest 4
being manifested all over the country
a fact that points with certainty to {
most interesting and successful cycle O.
the national game. Wherever the lover,
OF outdoor sport do congregate, tn,
game, its makers, and its patrons are
tho subject of many a discussion
New leagues are springlng up on al
| sides. and, though they are small. the
salary limit generally is large enough tc
insure good playing. With the new ball
| association naturally comes the new
| player, and hundreds OF them are coming
to the front. The new leagues were sue
| cessful last year, remarkable fact, and,
though there was a great cry Of hard
times, baseball was generally a financial
| success. The new players. too. were of
the "cracker-jack" brand, and many who
made their first appearance in profess
sional company stepped right into the
major class.
President N. z. Young, who is really
the great man in baseball, has found it
necessary to resign position he held In
Uncle Sans service in Washington in
order to devote all his time and talents
to the sport, something he would not,
as a good businessman, have done had
he not foreseen brilliant future for the
game. Many Of the managers, too in
stead of following some business through
the fall and winter. have worked on pa
tiently, getting together their teams.
Possibly one of the most successful OF
the new leagues will be the Southern,
composed of Mobile, Atlanta, Charleston,
Birmingham, Savannah, and New Orleans.
There will be q meeting Of this league
held in Atlanta next Sunday. when the
final arrangements will be made Harry
Powers is the president, and it is under
stood that he will look after New Orleans.
Smith. Myers, McCleary. and Pascal
laigne are also interested, and this fact
is significant.
Savannah has not given up the hope
of securing Jake Wells as manager. Those
interested offer to put up the money and
let him take the profits, but Jake Is at
present doing a whole lot Of. hustling for
Richmond, where he proposes to. stay.
Another new league that will be a fac
tor in the business is to be found in the
and is composed of clubs from
Canadian and Michigan towns. The
league will be under national auspices,
and each club has deposited a forfeit in
case 1t fails to comply with the rules or
to continue in existence through the |
season.
INTEREST AT HOME.
At home, within the borders of the sue
cessful Atlantic League, things are red |
hot. Managers are hard at work making |
for next season. Parks |
are being overhauled and the wires are |
warming up a little, while the players
are using quite a lot Of ink asking when |
advance money checks will be forth
coming.
Richmond isn't the only town where
he club has changed owners. Paterson
Ind Norfolk passed into different hands
before the end OF the season, and the
Jersey club and Virginia team stand pat
Is out OF the race, and Allen
own is in the running.
Deacon" George c. Ellis, the man who
lad the league in his fist, is out OF the
,ame. He sold his Newark team to
Tommy p. Burns-known TO the profess
ion as "Goodeye"-and has gone to
irand Rapids. Mich, to engage in an
ther business. Burns is the sole owner,
nd, besides his other duties, will manage
he team, act as captain, and play as
yell. Rasty" Wright is the only man OF
yhom he will not be the absolute boss.
Lancaster, Hartford. and Reading stand
s of old, and the new blood in Richmond,
Iorfolk, Newark, and Paterson. and The
ew club at Allentown, certainly point 20
hot time.
Local interest is warm enough. Mana
err Wells has his hands about as full as
Q cares to have them now. Every day
Is mail tells Of some wonderful young
Ter who is hidden away somewhere. as
ere Elberfeld and Lever. and Jake {
ommences at once to bait his lines. The
opular manager has hundreds of friends
i over the country, who have his in !
rests at heart, and they never fail TO /
1T him next to good things when they {
ear Of them.
Manager Wells has not decided whether
J will play or not. but that makes
ally very little difference. II he hits
, better than he did last season, he will
II play, that is certain, but II he pulls
to 1S94-'95 shape he will be found on
st base. Jake is taking good care Of
mself. He is keeping in shape with his
heel. taking spins into the country, and :.
ing dumb-bells and weights. Stocks :,
lie. Elsey, Schmidt, Foster, Woodruff. D
d Kahn also take daily exercise. and O
II be in good condition. r
GOSSIP OF THE PLAYERS. y
What will West-End Park be used for?
me say that q league will be formed n
play ball while Richmond is on the y
ad. Il
Manager Wells Is an Elk. Heptasoph. n
q an Odd-Fellow. He expects to spend o.
ristmas with his mother In Florida "
larry Schmidt and his wife, who have a
en- here since the close Of the season. "
pect TO go to their home. In Mobile. :.
xt week. a,
,harlie Elsey says he does not wish to OF
" hsra next season, and Will make az In