The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-07-09
4 Card to the Base Baupubuc

The management of the Wilmington
base ball team, feeling that the public
are more or less mystified at the sudden
desertion of several members Of the
team, 5ess TO lay before them the
facts in connection Herewith.
In the case OF Stafford; more. than six
weeks ago Manager Powell Of the New
Orleans club, made an offer TO purchase
him from the Wilmington team.
which. was not considered. Later,
Powell went TO Newport News, where
the Wilmington team was playing, and
made Stafford an offer to so with his
team, if he could secure his release
from the Wilmington team, which was
of such q flattering I'll as TO dis
satisfy Stafford. after he had applied
for his release and had been refused il.
Soon afte rthis, as the public are
aware, Powell came to Wilmington for
n purpose of further trying to secure
the release of Stafford, when the mat
ter was brought to a head by Stafford's
refusing 20 longer play with the Will
mingtOn team. on account of their re-
fusal to grant him release. This then
forced the Wilmington management to
treat with Powell on the best terms
possible, which resulted in their selling
Stafford for the sum of $4,000. On the
same visit Of Powell he endeavored to
buy from the Wilmington team Pitch
erS Stewart and Voorhees,, and short
stop Clayton, making fiattering offers
for them, all of which were fatty re-
fused.
AS to Pitcher Voorhees,, it now seems
he deserted the team to play ball with
the Atlantic City independent team, so
hat the Wilmington team have no
means OF receiving redress under ma
tional league protection in his case.
And now as to Crockett, u latest
loss. His desertion came like a thun-
der-clap out of a clear sky. He had
never shown any signs of dissatisfac-
ton, nor had he ever intimated that he
was receiving offers from other people.
On the 3rd inst we received an offer
from the manager of the Philadelphia
American League team by telegram for
his release. but as the National League
enjoinS those under its protection TO
abstain from trading in any way with
American League teams for players, nc
attention was paid to the commun1ca-
ton. Aside from this the sale OF
Crockett's release at this time to any
one would not nave been considered
The news now comes that ne mas
jumped to the Detroit team, another
American League team, without notice
and Wilmington's only redress in the
matter is 10 nave the matter published
through the president of the Natlona
League who has been notified OF the
facts. which will have the effect of de
barring Crockett's playing in the future
with any team under National League
protection.
From the above it will be seen that i
has been from no lack of effort on thu
part of the management to prevent 1t
that these men have left US; rather i
would seem that the Wilmington team
has beer composed of so many stars
a compliment at his time somewhat e
he deplored-that it would not holt
them out of the fastest company in tn
base ball world, with all its efforts Il
the contrary. 49,.
We would, therefore. ask the puoil'
to stand by the management n tn
brave remnant of the pennant winner
in their brief spell of distress. If thu!
he done. we can assure them that TN
! team will finish the second series d
strong as they finished first. 10
with Devlin succeeding Stafford, Eros
Crockett. and Willig voorhees,, all o
whom will be IN hand at the openlni
game at Charlotte tomorrow, and VIII
negotiations pending for the signing o
another strong pitcher, in a snort tim
the team will be in its old time TORN
and the deserving idols will be forgO'
except What we may see of their orll
liant playing ir the Big