The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-24
BASE BALL FOR SAVANNAH.
EDWARD HANLON WANTS TO BRING
A NATIONAL LEAGUE TEAM HERE.

Condition of the Park the Obstacle
in the Way-Five Inches of Water
Now Cover the GFOund-The Grand
stand and BIeachers in Ruins-A
A Newly Opened street Cuts on 90
Feet of the FfeId-A Project for a
Local League Team.
Edward Hanlon, president of the
Baltimore Base Ban Club and manager
this season of the Brooklyn Club, was in
the city yesterday. The purpose of
his visit was TO arrange to bring
one of the teams in which he is interested
to Savannah, for the spring practice. If
satisfactory arrangements are perfected,
either the Baltimore or Brooklyn club will
be here for about two weeks the latter
part of March and the first part of April.
Mr.. Hanlon had a conference
with Mr. Murray Stewart, who was at the
head Of the Savannah Club last season,
relative to Savannah as a training ground
for one of his teams The difficulty in
the way is the wretehed condition of the
ball park, which is now submerged in
about five inches of water. A street has
been run through the eastern side of the
park, which cuts off about sixty feet of
the available area, never any too large.
/ ne grandstand and bleachers are in
dilapidated condition, and the whole place
has gone to seed. If a possible sixty feet
on the western side of the park can be Sc
cured, the diamond moved to correspond
with this addition to the field, the ground
drained and the seating arrangements put
in good shape Savannah will have
two weeks of professional base
bah this spring. Mr.. Stewart promised
that he would interest himself in the mat
ter, and if possible have the necessary
changes made.
Mr.. Hanlon was asked the pros
poets for a successful season In the
National League. He answered that they
were never brighter, and that the fans in
the big Giles are enthusiastic over the
chances. For the spring practice the New
York team will be at Charleston, the
Louisville team at Townsville, either the
Baltimore or Brooklyn team at Augusta
and the other of these at Savannah. The
Brooklyns win be strengthened this year
by the addition of several of the Baltimore
players, and Mr.. Hanlon thinks will. be
close to the top in the race for the pen
nant. The team is going in to win, and its
manager thinks it will do it.
The local fans hope that the scheme to
bring one of the National League teams 10
Savannah will go through. For some rea-
son the interest in the game here seems
to be on the wane, and it is hoped that
a season of professional base ball. even
though il be a short one, viii impart
new vitality 10 the sport. There was
time when Savannah supported ball team
of her own and supported it well; the
fans look forward confidently TO renewal
of these good old times, before the war"
Mr.. Stewart cherishes a scheme which
he thinks will result in a Savannah
team for the coming season.
This is to form four
club league, made up from the cities of
Savannah, Atlanta, Macon, Augusta,
Charleston and Columbus. With cities
thus close together long Jumps will be
avoided and an item of expense that has
proved fatal to the success of other lea
CUES in the South thus dispensed with.
The league membership having been made
up from these cities, Mr.. Stewards idea
is to form the clubs mainly of local play
ers in the several cities, strengthening
them when necessary by the addition of
professional battery. He believes that
league managed in this way, will result
in success financially and viii give the
people of the South an opportunity to see
good base ball The necessary expense
would be small and il is thought could be
readily secured.
In the summer months the cities in the
South are filled with college ball players
who would be glad of an opportunity to
play the game, without other Involvement
than the payment of their expenses.
Enough players to fill up the teams could
be secured by a small outlay, and pro-
fessional battery would give the necessary
strength. With such a team the local in
terest would be enhanced by the addition
OF personal acquaintance with the players.
the admission to the games could be fixed
at reasonable rate and it is believed that
crowds would turn out
Mr.. Hanlon left in the afternoon for
Baltimore. He is anxious to bring a team
to Savannah. and the only thing necessary
is some little interest among the lovers
of the game.