The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-23
Question Of Base Ball
Grounds Hangs in
the Balance.
DECISION COMES THIS WEEK.
Henry Brothers and Bur-
kett Will Buy an
Interest.

Frank G. Selee, principal owner Of
the Worcester base ball club, is being
eagerly looked for by several Worces-
ter men these days. He is expected in
this city in a day or two to settle up
the affairs of the club which are in
somewhat of chaotic condition over
the question of grounds.
A decided change of sentiment to-
ward the club has come over Worces-
ter men relative to furnishing financial
support for the club Last summer,
qeven when the management was able
ito show the club had cleared several
hundred dollars, no Worcester men
could be found willing to take any con-
Siderable amount of stock in it, al
s9though 1t was on the market for sever
sal days.
= It's different now. There are men in
Worcester willing to buy the club out
fright if they can get it at fair price.
THE Henry Brothers and Jesse C.
fBurkett of the St Louis National
league team would give Mr.. Selee a
reasonable sum for the club. They
would purchase a half interest either,
on. condition that the club would go
.sto some expense fitting up grounds
somewhere near the city.
The option on the Maher- Bigelow lot
lapses Saturday and Mr.. Selee is eX-
pected in this city before that day to
give his final decision in regard to those
grounds. Before he reaches that decis-
ion he win have conference with the
Henry Brothers, the result of which
may change every plan thus far made.
The present management of the club
is anxious to dispose of half the stock
IN WnPNeGter DaOpla balipVjner suph a
move would insure a greater local in
terest in the club. There is no doubt
it would Worcester patrons of the
game would feel greater pride in the
club knowing that a considerable por-
ton of the stock is owned in this city.
1t would appeal to them more strong
ly as a local enterprise.
With the management wishing to sell
and men of undoubted financial standing
willing to purchase, it seems as if
bargain might be easily concluded. The
only question would be on the value
which the management places on the
club. At present the management seems
to think $4,000 represents the value of
the club Some Of the Worcester men
who have the proposition under censid
Grafton, think the price is rather high.
If the team owned all the men whom
Manager Selee can bring to the club
tate at $4,000. But if they purchased
Manager Selee's interest and he should
}ssever his connection with the club, such
men as Kuhns, Frisbee Rickert and
even Bransfield would not be under the
authority of the new management.
Without these players Worcester men
think the value placed on the club is
excessive. The franchise is worth some
thing, of course, but the present man
agement didn't pay more than few
hundred dollars FOR it. The players
whom Manager Selee could hold if he
continued his connection with the club
increase its value greatly so that the
club is much more valuable with him
in it than if he was not.
The proposition of the Henry Broth
ers seems as fair as anybody could
make They are willing to purchase a
half interest in the club if the club
will then move to the grounds on
Shrewsbury street known as the Henry
MCGUIRE Buckingham lots. The new
half owners would then have the stands
on their own land, and at the expira-
ton of the lease they could do some
thing with the stands which they could
not do If the stands were on somebody
elses land.
A question that is troubling patrons
of the game is what decision Mr. Selee
will arrive at if the Henry Brothers
refuse to take any interest in the club
If the Maher-Bigelow lots are selected
for the base ball park. Manager Sc
lees proposition to them was that they
build the grounds. That, in the opin-
ion of Worcester men, means the pres
(ent management of the club does not
Intend to build new grounds without
help from Worcester people Such a
decision would of course mean the
playing of next seasons games at the
oval After all the talk that has been
made about new grounds and the plain
ly expressed sentiment of people and
management alike that new grounds
should be built to give the people bet
ter accommodation, the selection of the
oval would be a serious injury to the
team. Lovers of base ball have been
persuading themselves they wouldn't be
called on to go as far away as the
oval next season, and if they are, the
disappointment will hurt. 1t looks as
If public sentiment will influence the
management to come uptown with it's
grounds or else take chances of a sue
cessful season at the far-away oval.