Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-04
TO HAVE GOOD TEAM.
RICHMOND WILL HAVE SOME STAR
PLAYERS THIS SEASON.
CAPTAIN WELLS HAS SIGNED HIS EEh.
he Has Received Contracts from All
of Them. and is Now Preparing TO
Go to His Florida Home for the
Winter-Who the New Men Are.

Manager Jake Wells, who has charge of
the Richmond baseball team, has COM
pleted his winters work of signing his
team. and he has gotten together some
of the best players to be found in minor
league company. He has had to spend
money to get some of them, but he has
not hesitated to do this, and the result
will be gratifying to the cranks who love
good bail, but, above all, love to see the
home team win.
OF the old team. Captain Jake has on
his reserve list Foster. Hargrove, Kain,
Stimmell, Chesbro. and Schmidt. Foster
will. however, be released TO Allentown
but all the others will be retained, to-
gether with Stocksdale, to play With Rich
nond. A number Of excellent players
have been signed in addition to those
named. and the makeup of the club will
be as follows: Catchers, Hess and Wig
neux; Pitchers. Sparks. Schmidt, Slim
nell, Chesbro. Bishop, Commit, and
stocksdale: infeld-Lutenberg first base;
Hempleman, second base; Klopt, third
base; Leahy, shortstop; outfeld-Har-
grove, Seybold, and Kain.
WHO THE MEN ARE.
Hess. Sparks, and Klopt come from the
Texas League, where they were purchased
at a cost of $3.50 TO the local club. They
all have good records. Tom Hess Is
GREAT catcher and an excellent thrower,
and has a batting average OF 80. lie
ranked as a star in the Lone Star State.
pitcher Sparks is considered by all VINO
know him TO have been the best pitcher
q
and bids fair TO do even better work this
wear. He can hit up to 20O, which is
excellent work for a pitcher.
Gus Klopt Is said to have been the best
all-aronnd ball player in the Texas
League. and he hit last year above the
ESQ mark He is a great find.
THE greatest pickup Captain Jake has
made. however, is in Ralph Seybold, the
man who did such great work for Lam
caster last year. Seybold was the star
hitter OF the Atlantic League during last
season. and is one of the best oUtfielders
en- the business. He was considered 70
be such a star that Washington gobbled
MIN M during the first part Of the draft
ING season, paying 500 for him. When
The baltimore Washington deals were
,nade however, II was found that there
was no room for Ralph on the Capital
city Club. and Jake being on the alert.
was able 10 capture him AT cost of $40
He will greatly strengthen the outfield.
yigneux. who will catch. is a youngster,
who played last year with the Canadian
League. He Is said 10 be not unlike Dan
Boiand IN appearance. He is a stocky
little fellow, and does splendid work.
He Is said to be a good hitter and excel
lent thrower. having great arm.
Norman Bishop. the acquisition to the
pltching department is Cracker jack"
He comes from Sam Levers home. is
south-paw twirler, and Sam. who recon-
,nended him to Jake. says he is the great
est twirler he knows OF among the young
aters Great things are expected of
him.
Ed Commit. another Of the pitchers. is
native OF East Birmingham, Ala. He
also. Is a south-paw twirler. and while
\ only a youngster. Is said 10 be conner.
,Waehington claims him. but Manager
%Jaxe has his signed contract, and says
Ear Wagner can whistle for him.
A NEW IN-FIELD.
On the iu-neld not a single old man re-
yains Thornton. Stuart. and Mcdonald
have all been given their release and
/ jake says he has gotten his corners filed
now with men who will be HE a stone