Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-02-03
INTERSTATE GOSSIP.
Torreyson Still Wrestling With the
Ground Question,
plications--Go About League
Matters Generally - Results of
Bowling Contests Last Night.
News Of the Boxers-Other Sport
ing Matters.
Another day passed and the base ball


Another day passed and the base ball
ground question is still open.
Frank Torreyson and his partners,
Messrs. Armor and Youngman, came
Town from Pittsburg Tuesday with the
understanding that everything was sat
isfactorily arranged for ball park
They found, yesterday, however, that
there is some sort of hitch between
he street railway company and other
stockholders in Belle Isle Park, which
m some unexplained manner affected
she base ball question. Messrs. Young
man and Armor left for Mckeesport
yesterday in no enviable frame OF
mind.
They have. an offer of $4,000 cash
. from Grand Rapids for the Wheeling
franchise, and are afraid the delay III
Wheeling will result in their loss OF
this sum as we'll as final inability 10
secure park. They cannot be blamed
for looking at the matter from nm
ancial, rather than a sporting stand
point and there is no very good realo On
. why they should throw away an OPP
portunity to gather in the cold cash
which awaits them.
The street railway company appears
anxious to settle the ground question,
and to provide park for Mr.. Torrey-
son. ct al, or to lend substantial en-
couragement to them in their plans.
Manager Torreyson is now IN communl-
. cation with the absent GILES heir, VINO
has consented to lease his porlon OF
the ground desired. Mr.. Torreyson
submitted a proposition by mall and
awaits his answer. Ii 1t is favorable
it is not likely that he Will walt any
longer for anything definite from the
Belle Isle Park projectors, but ne VIII
probably draw up lease for the Cliles
property. as all the resident heirs have
already signified their consent TO lease
the ground for bail park.
If both schemes fail the FRANCHISE
will certainly go to Grand Rapids or
elsewhere, and Wheeling Will be lett
in the cold.
If Wheeling Is crowded out of the
Interstate there will be at least one
manager in the league who Will be
happy. Reference is made TO one
Charles J. Strobel, owner OF the Ioledo
franchise, who is saturated with the
idea that he is the whole show, ana
that She success, even the very eXls-
tence of the Interstate League, depends
upcn Strobel and Toledo. In letter
which the sporting editor OF the Reg
lister was permitted to read, Stropei
refers to Wheeling as an "eye-sore,
and expresses the wish that the fran
chise be transferred to Grand Rapids.
StrObel presents the best example Oh
the evil effects of a swelled head to be
found in the base ball business. - p
Strobe, also falls occasionally into
the very foolish habit Of talking too
much. In a recent interview he had
a great deal to say in connection with
the report that Toledo was to be a
Cleveland farm. He denies the report,
but admits that a deal was made with
Cleveland by which that club was to
secure all his crack players, retain
them at high price until the opening
of the season, and then pass them back
to Cholly-wise Cholly Strobel. In con-
sideration of it's services, the Cleveland
club is to secure the services of Pitcher
"Pugger" Kelb. 1t is further agreed,
according to Strobel that Second Base
man Beck is to be given trial by
Cleveland. and to be retained if he
shows up strong enough. Cholly is
strategist, in addition to his many 9TH
er accomplishments and his personal
charms
One reason why it is necessary to
act quickly in the matter of grounds IN
Wheeling is the fact that Grand Rapids
parties are also negotiating for the
transfer of the Fort Wayne franchise
to that city, if indeed, an agreement
to that effect has not already been
made. Grand Rapids, although not
properly located, is good city, but 1t
is not likely that the fans there,
after several seasons in the Western
League. will be satisfied with the In
terstate quality of base ball. If the
Fort Wayne franchise has been sold
the owners Of the Wheeling franchise
may find themselves in a very deep
hole.
While silver threads are making
their appearance in the hair OF Man
ager Torreyson, because of the unset
tied and unsatisfactory condition or
affairs in Wheeling, and his conse-
quent worry, he has not been idle IN
the matter OF securing team to repre-
sent this or some other city. He has
signed almost a full team. and will
make their names public as soon as ne
secures a place for them to exhibit
their abilities. Torreyson thinks he
has a winning team, and Torreyson
certainly knows ball player wnen
he sees one.
BOWLING.