Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-05
NOW FOR BASEBALL.
THE PROSPECTS ARE BRIGHT FOR
ATLANTIC LEAGUE SUCCESS.
MANAGER WELLS BACK AT HOME


In less than three weeks time now the
players who are to constitute the Rich
mond baseball team for 1899 will meet
here and begin practice preparatory 10
the opening of the season.
Manager Wells returned yesterday
morning from the league meeting. which
he attended at Allentown, and on his
way back stopped over for a day I'm New
York. where tho National League mag
mates were in session. He says that
everything points TO a most successful
season for baseball this year, and that
both the owners of National and minor
league clubs are enthusiastic over the
prospects for a successful year. Interest.
which Jagged during the late war, has
revived in the national pastime, and
everybody IS baseball crazy and anxious
to see the gods of the diamond get back
to work.
Certainly there are the brightest pros
poets for the eAtlantic League. BY drop
ping Hartford and Norfolk and substi-
tuting Wilkesbarre and Scranton the cir
cult has not only been made much more
compact. but il has been greatly
strengthened, and there is every -ndica-
ton that faster ball Will lie seen here
this year than at any time since the Klch-
mond club was organized. Captain Wells
saws that great enthusiasm was mani
tested on the part OF all OF the mag
mates at the league meeting, and that
one and all of them united in the belief
that the pennant race OF 1899 would so
down in history as the most exciting in
1f 10
THE CLUBS COMPARED.
In view Of this fact each club owner
is making special effort to secure only the
very best men for his team. and some
exceptionally good men have been signed
on all the clubs. Richmond Will undOubt-
edy hold her own against all comers,
for Manager Wells has been at work du-
ring the entire winter picking out his
players and he has a bunch of youngsters
who will put up pretty race for the
flag. The Newark club is good and s,rong,
and Lancaster is once more out for the
remnant with some excellent material.
Allentown has succeeded in Strengthening
her already strong club. and Deacon Bills
claims that he has a very strong aggfe-
cation in Paterson. Nothing positive Is
known as yet about the Wilkesbarre ana
Scranton teams. but the owners OF those
clubs assert positively that they VIII be
in the race 10 the finish and mat they
Will not be tail-cnders. ReadihS ls sum
an unknown quantity. Denny Long IL is
thought. will sell out to a local company
and If that company secures cohtioi ol
the club, they say they VIII give tne
Reading people a team Of which they
need not feel ashamed.
RICHMOND'S MAKEUP.
So much for generalities concerning the
clubs. If all the teams are able next
month IN show up as many stars as Rich
mond will present, they Will most AS
suredly make good their claims TO oelhs
in good condition TO try for the nag. Man
ager wells now has in his posses
sion contracts with the following players,
who will report here for practice on Wed
pesdav. March 22d: Catehers-Hess, ig-
neux and steelman; Pitchers-Cheshro.
Donovan. Goodwin. Flaherty, Pianmiiler'
and Bishop: First Baseman. carr: Sc
oond Daseman. Calhoun; Shortstop. Wrig-
lev and Third Baseman, Dundon, with
Dolan. the old Lynchburg player OF 1896