The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-18
AFTER SEASON
BASEBALL TALK.
Voices from Various Atlantic League
Cities and Other Notes.
STATE LEAGUE TALK IN NORFOLK
Stock Company fra Reading Next Sea-
son-Paterson Satisfied, But Lost
Money-About Jim Smith-Pre'
sident Young's Bulletin.

There will probably be several changes
| IN the makeup OF the Atlanuc League
| clubs next season, owing partly 10 long
jumps and partly 20 bad business the
| past two years. An effort VIII be, made
TO have the circuit more compact, with
| the various league cities nearer each
| other. and 20 this end it IS likely that
| Richmond. Norfolk and Hartford will
drop out disposing Of their franchises 10
! other cities. Tho last issue OF Sporting
| Life contains several letters from Allan
| tic League cities, portions Of which arc
printed, as follows:
|
The fan OF the curtain on the finish OF
| the Atlantic League season in Norfolk
| last week was anything but an interest
| ing event, scarcely a corporars guard wit
| Messing the closing games This was
| mainly due to the unenvable position in
which the home club finished From
| financial standpoint and otherwise the
| game was a regular frost here this year.
| At this stage of the game 1t is safe
| 10 predict that Norfolk will not be
| member OF the Atlantic organization next
| year. Tho interest is not taken here ia
| this league as was the case when tho
| State League existed, and l would not
| be surprised If the OLD Virginia State
| League would not be revived by next
| hot for it, and other towns can be gotten
| TO make up the league. If the State
| League is not revived ] don't think this
| town will witness professional ball next
| year Captain Cunningham has not said
| he would cut loose from the Atlantic.
but 1t is hardly thought the genial cap
tain cares TO hold on TO a losing invest
ment especially in these hard times.
0orraartopTnrqf ~
following:
We are sadsfed where we landed. as
Manager Jack Newell said when he took
hold last spring as bench manager for
Denny Long. II will not promise The pa
trong TO be first at the end Of the season,
but / viii promise ! will give the leaders
q hustle and also want either third or
fourth place" We got third, but with
two more pitchers to help Garvin and
Fertsch, who had 10 do the majority OF
the twiriing we would have caused Lam
caster to seek our place ana would am
positive been second.
The batting toward tho close 81 tho
season on the part of Reading was very
fierce. and our boys certainly hit the
leather" Bets. Stratton. Slater Cock
man. Novel Spratt and Heydon all had
their batting eyes along on tho trip and
Increased their averages. Belts, our left
fielder. certainly pitched O. fine game at
Richmond, and had them guessing.
From Paterson comes the following:
The past season has been the poorest
no doubt IN the history OF the game
every club Ia the Atlantic League quitting
big loser and disaster several times
was narrowly averted by the cunning
President BarrOws. Right here I'm Pater-
son We have lost some $1,000 but who
will dispute that 1899 promises better re-
suits. The directors of the local club
spared no expense, but try as they wouid
they could not revive the interest. OF
the present team all have been reserved.
Several Of the men are good National
League timber.
TO all of the boys the writer has MOTH
ing but words of praise for them, and
hopes TO see them wearing the gray and
black OF the SILK City in 1850. and 20 Rich
mond and Jake Wells my congratula-
tons. You have played well together
throughout, and the honor Us yours.
Young jim Smith. formerly OF the Fail
Rivers of the New England League, and
the Hartfords OF the Atlantic League,
has joined the Bostons. lie SIS one Of the
"shorties." being small FIN stature and
Weighing about liO or $50 pounds. He is
a ball player for all of that, and his
good work was seen here this season.
lie first attracted Manager Selee's at
tentiOn by his playing in San Bernardino
and san Francisco. CA. Ills wonderful
quickness and his ability as a ground
coverer besides his strong throwing COM
manded the attention of the Boston man
ayers. Mr.. Selee commended him IN warm
terms 20 Manager John Smith. of tho Fall
River team, and the latter secured him,
and was exceedingly well pleased with
his work.
While with the Fan River club he play
ed in SO games, and had a batting per-
centage of .290 with a total OF 3s9, and
a fielding percentage of .S52. I'm one game
he accepted 13 out of 16 chances I'm an
other game he accepted IL chances with
out an error I'm another he had one putt
out, and eight assists. with no errors,
and in another. one put-out. eight assists
and but one error. In his first nine games
with the Fail River team he made is
FITS. with % totals ana IN another stretch
made two hits in each of six consecutive
games. He has done superb work in HART
ford. and has shown improvement stead
fly.
Next seasons team in Reading Il IS
understood from good authority is TO be
a stock company, composed OF eight
wealthy KcdNllE rtllti'lltftts WIN f'AtA ''-t
the franchise from Mr.. Long and have
a manager TO attend TO the team for
them.
President Young has issued the follow-
ing bulletin:
Protection Of minor leagues under the
National Agreement should be renewed
between the 18th and 18th Of September.
as provided in article 10.
On or before September 18th secretar-
les of minor leagues should transmit 70
the secretary OF the National Board or
Arbitration the lists of the players re-
served by the clubs Of their leagues as
provided in article p OF the National
Agreement. n. Z. YOUNG,
Secretary.