The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-23
FOR SAVANNAH
PROPOSITION TO PLACE CITY IN
NEW SOUTHEASTERN LEAGUE.
FANS ARE INTERESTED.
e. Nj. AsHENBACK HERE IN THE IN.
TEREsT OF THE MOVEMENT.

The Virginia and North Carolina
League Has Been Dissolved and
the EGort Is Being Made to Organ
+ ize an Eight-Club League in the
Two CaroIinas and GeOrgia-Ral-
eigh, Charlotte and Wilmington
Will Have Teams md 1t Is Pro-
posed to Complete the League by
the Addition of Savannah, Angus
TIA, Columbia, Charleston and One
other Cfty in One of the CaroIinas.
There is a strong probability that
Savannah will have professional base
ball next season. The effort now be-
ing made is not of the iridescent va
riety that has dazzled the eyes of the
local fans in years past, but gives
every indication of being based on a
solid foundation of sense and fact.
All that is needed is the encourage
ment and support of the lovers of the
national game in this city.
The Virginia and North Carolina
League has been dissolved and it's more
active spirits are endeavoring to form
a Southeastern league, composed OF
clubs in the two Carolinas and Georgia.
Prominent among those who are under
taking the organization of the new
league is Mr.. E. M. Ashenback, who
last year managed the Newport News
club of the Virginia and North Caro-
lima League, and who is now on a
visit to Savannah in the interest of the
project.
Mr.. Ashenback reached the city from
Raleigh, N. c., yesterday morning and
began at once to talk over his plan of
organization with those likely to be-
come interested in the organization and
financial backing of a team to repre-
sent Savannah. He said yesterday that
he had received every encouragement
and that he believed there would be no
serious difficulty in placing a franchise
| here. He was a member of the Atlanta
| team when that city and Savannah
were members of the old Southern
| League, in 1894, and he remembers his
| trips to Savannah with pleasure. He
| has no doubt that a good team, in a
| good league, would receive here a gen.
| erous share of support-a view of the
situation in which most Savannah peo-
| pie will join.
| Raleigh, Charlotte and Wilmington
will have clubs in the new league"
purpose to complete an eight-club cir
cult by placing teams in Savannah,
| Augusta. Charleston, Columbia and one
| other city in North or South Carolina
1--WE are going to make the league
a success. The strictest economy will
| be practiced. a salary limit of $500 per
month will be adopted, and each club
| will be required to post forfeit to
| complete the season. The distances to
H. 4.,ax lAI H. CTaaa a
| with those that obtained in the old
Southern League. The longest jump
| will be from Savannah to Raleigh,
while in former years, when Savannah
| had a club in the Southern League,
| jumps were made from this point to
New Orleans and Memphis, and heavy
| inroads into the profits of the game
were the result.
THE Virginia and North Carolina
League last season and during former
| seasons. was one of the strongest
minor leagues in the country. Numer-
| Gus stars now playing in the National
and American leagues graduated from
| one or another of its clubs, prominent
| among them being Mathcwson, now
with New York, Tannehill, Jimmie Nc
| James. Chesbro, Leach. McGann, Sey-
bold. Malarkey and many others.
Last season New Orleans began the
season with very weak team. Abner
Powell, its manager, started in to
strengthen it in July and purchased
eleven players from clubs in the Vir-
einia and North Carolina League.
These players proved to be a tower of
strength for New Orleans, as they
brought the team from d hopeless last
position into fourth place, making the
remarkable record of winning forty
eight out of fifty-three games played"
Mr.. Ashenback will be in Savannah
for the next day or two and will en-
deavor while here to complete arrange
ments for the representation Of the city
| in the new league. There are num-
Der of good players right here in Sa-
vannah, who would doubtless jump at
the opportunity of playing on a team
| that would represent their home city.
| AEEENnERS SEMI TO THE GANG.