Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-12
CnANKs ALREADY LOOKING FOR
WARD TO NEXT YEAR.
EXPECT 1 WINNING BALL TEAM.
They Have Confidence in Manager
Wells, and Think He Will Give
Them What They want-Interest-
ing League Gossip.

| IL ID one Oh the pest al THIS country. A
winning team will find abundant sup
porters here, but losing team will have
to shift for itself. a..
This has been the case for several years
past, and 1t will continue without changs
just so long as baseball continues a
popular sport.
LATENT INTEREST REVIVED.
The change In the management of the
Richmond club has, to a very consider
able extent, revived the latent interest
In the national pastime in this city. and
the promises Of the new owners OF a
winning team for next year have given
rise to hopes that had been practically
cast down. Those hopes are greatly
strengthened. too. by the assurance that
popular Jake Wells will continue with
the team in a manageristerial capacity.
The patrons of the game have an abiding
faith in Mr.. Wells's ability to select a
team. and with the assurance that he
! will be given carte blanche In the choice
of his players by the new management,
the enthusiasts are all satisfied, and are
looking forward to great things for the
season of 1898.
| Elberfeld's departure from the team
will be sad loss. but all realize that 1t
| was impossible to retain him here. 1t VIII
| probably be difficult TO keep ono or two
| others for next season, but an EFFORT
will be made TO 90 so. and, II possible,
the present outfield and the pitching de-
partment will be held intact.
WILL STILL HAVE A NUCLEUS.
II, however several .of the remaining
stars are taken by the big league
Manager Wells will then have some ex-
cellent material around which to build
his team for next year. He already has
| several good men in sight, and VIII, as
| soon as the season closes, 60 on trip
in search of others. With his wide ac-
quointsnce among ball players. he viii
hardly have any great trouble in finding
some good ones and his popularity
among the wearers Of the mitten Is so
great that the men are glad Of an OPP
portunity to play under him.
| 1t is hardly to be expected that the
| genial manager will find another Elbsr-
field, though 1T Is possible that he may
do so. Elber. was not known In tho
business until Jake brought him TO
light, and now he Is considered by Ma
tional Leaguers to be the find Of the
year. Lever. too. was a backwards
and certainly no man ever developed
more rapidly than has Professor Sammy
under Jakes careful management.
WILL BE UNTRAMMELLED.
The new owners Of the local team
have every confidence In Wells. and they
have assured him Of their cordial CO.
operation In anything he may do fer
the bctterment OF the club. A lack of
freedom in signing his team has hitherto
been the one great obstacle under which
he labored. and the removal OF this OBJ
stacle means a great deal for nsXt years
results.
Richmond has undoubtedly done well
during this season. To have gone from
Class company directly into Glass A.
and to finish one, two. three. or even
four. in an elght-club race. is great
card In her favor, but now that she has
gotten used to the fast company. ana
has realized her ability to hold her own
In II, she will doubtless be somewhere
in the neighborhood of first place at the
close of next season.
There is little doubt that Richmond
will continue In the Atlantic League. This
is too good a ball town TO be turned
loose and the northern magnates realize
1t. They will therefore consider Rich
mond as part and parcel OF the league
at the annual meeting to be held I'm
Philadelphia on the 10th instant. and are,
from what can now be gathered. pre-
pared TO make concessions to the new
management. who will fight not only for
a better schedule, but for more liberal
basis of membership.
RICHMOND AT A DISADVANTAGE.
1t is not generally known among the
cranks that Richmond gives a larger
guarantee to visiting clubs than any
other organization In the league. In
deed, she gives twice as much as any o.
tho northern CLUBS, and gets only half
of what she gives at home when she Is
on her trip. Messrs. Donau and Boykin,
who will attend the meeting In Phila-
delphia- will make their fight along these
lines and will Insist that Richmond be
put on exactly the same footing as all
other clubs in the league. They will MOI
20 to the meeting asking any fayors, but
they will demand their just dues.
At the next weeks meeting the league
will decide as 10 its membership and
will also elect officers. President Bar
row, though there is fight making on
him in some quarters, will, moro than
likely, be reelected. He has made good |
executive officer, and the southern clubs |
will give him their support. AS TO men, |
bership. there will undoubtedly be some |
changes.
NEW CITIES TO ENTER.
The Athletic franchise has not paid |
In Philadelphia, and It will be placed |
elsewhere, probably, In Camden, N. j., |
or In Jersey City, and there Is some talk |
Of taking 1t to Harrisburg, Pa. 1t will |
pay, il is thought, in any OF these places, |
and in event that IL goes to either Har- |
risburg or Camden, Jersey City will pro-
badly be taken in as an extra city. OF |
course, some other city would also have |
to enter to pair on with the North |
river city, and as Hartford Is anxious |
that she be given company In Connec- |
ticut, New Haven may be taken In to |
complete the ten-club circuit.
STOP THE KICKING.
One of the most interesting things in
connection with next years prospects is
the movement now on loot TO prevent |
the senseless kicking and general rowdy- |
ism which has characterized many games |
this wear. Manager Stallings, OF Phila- |
dejphIa. when here last week, stated that |
II was positively agreed upon that the /
National Board would enact rule where |
Inv a dlsorderiy player shall be put out /
of the game. not alone for one day. but
for one or two weeks. at the option OF the
umpire This, IL is thought, will break |
up the kicking, as no manager Is going |
TO pay a man TO sit on the bench week
or two at time. and no player is going |
10 run the risk Of losing big slice OF
his salary Just for the fun OF making
bimseif obnoxious This Is wise move
on the part of the men who control base
hall. for without something OF the sort
the game must soon lose its respectable
ity and be relegated to the shades OF