The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-28
THE ATHLETIC CLUB.
Gives Its Position in the Pen
nant Series Matter.
Says That lis Only Purpose Was to Have Will
ming.on Club Fulfill Its Signed
Contrsc'.


ports as to the failure Of the Whining
ton and Raleigh ball clubs to finish the
eleven games Of the Pennant Series, the
Raleigh Athletic Association, which has
charge Of the Raleigh baseball team, has
sent to the papers of Wilmington and
Raleigh the following:
Raleigh N. c., Aug. 26, 1901.
Statement of facts concerning Whining
ton forfeiting the Pennant games to
Raleigh
The following was the contract between
the Wilmington and the Raleigh club re-
garding Pennant games.
This agreement entered into between
the Wilmington Athletic Association and
the Raleigh Athletic Association, this
August 10th, 1901.
First-As the Wilmington club was the
winner of the first series and the Raleigh
club was the winner of the second series,
it is agreed by both parties that they are
to play series of eleven games with
each other for the Championship of the
Virginia North Carolina League. The
first club winning six games shall be de-
clared Champion.
Secondhand the home team will guar
antee the visiting team forty dollars per
game for five games with option OF 30
per cent of gate receipts.
Third.-The first five games to be play
ed in Raleigh, the sixth game to be play
ed where the managers shall decide to
be the best interest. The last five to be
played in Wilmington.
Fourth-That all bames and clubs
shall be under rules, and regulations of
this League, as heretofore All fines inn
posed upon players by the umpire must
be paid before the player can participate
in another game.
Fifth-That all matters pertaining to
the success of this series OF games must
be brought to the attention of the Presi-
dent of the League, and disputes must be
referred to him also, who must decide at
once.
Sixth.-Admission TO games same as
League rules, except that only six free
tickets to the Press, and employees of the
grounds are to be allowed free.
(Signed) For Raleigh Club, VIM. j.
Andrews, President Raleigh Athletic As
sociation. (Signcd) For Wilmington
Club Jas. II. Cowan.
Approved SHERWOOD HIGGS, Prest.
1t was the third clause of this contract,
1.-THE first five games to be played in
Raleigh" that the directors of the Raj
eigh Athletic Associa ton claim should be
fulfilled before having games in other
.iaces.
There was no time or date specified
when these games should be played that
the game Raleigh won from Wilmington
on Wednesday 21st, was protested by Will
mington and ordered to be played over
again. and on Thursday 22nd, on account
of rain, there was no game. Therefore
Raleigh having only played three games,
and Monday, August 26th being an open
date, the Raleigh management demanded
that the two games due Raleigh to be
played off as a double header at Raleigh
instead of going to Newbern, as it was
decidedly to the best interest of both
clubs to have played in Raleigh instead
of going to Newborn, as the attendance
of a double header in Raleigh would have
drawn 1,5C0 people being the last game
kora.
The Raleigh club in their claim stated
that owing to rain every day this past
week, the receipts were considerable less
than was expected and expenses were
large. 1t was as little as the Wilmington
club could have done to have stayed over
and played the Monday games, after the
interest showed by the Raleigh manage
ment OH last Monday night, August 18th,
in keeping the Wilmington club here to
play these series, after their own local
association had quit cold on their club.
The expense of railroad ticket to New
bern, hotel bill one day, and as we had
no guarantee in Newbern we stood big
chance of losing if we played there, and
we think this would have been agreeable
to the manager of the Wilmington club,
but his men not being under salary, he
had no control over them and no argu-
ment could convince them of the business
side of the question-they simply wanted
to quit and go home. The club was
thoroughly demoralized. Having lost ten
straight games to Raleigh, they did not
wish to play again, in fact we believe it
was their intention as soon as they
reached Wilmington to play one game and
then disband and leave the Raleigh club
and the umpire to get their money as
best they could. OF course no one that
understands the situation would think for
moment that the Wilmington team
games as we believe it was the intention
of several of the players to leave the
Wilmington club as soon as they arrived
home. But as Wilmington has never full
filled her contract to play the first five
games in Raleigh, and the fact Of her
club quitting cold and returning home,
does not in any way release Raleigh from
paying to the Wilmington players SO per
cent of the gate receipts, therefore a
check is ordered to be sent to them to-
night, covering this amount. The Raj
eigh management is willing to rest this
case with the public as to the manner it
has always treated the visiting team,
managers and umpires, and we beg to
take exception to Mr.. Cowan's dispatch
in which he says, Raleigh would keep
the money which the Wilmington team
had earned" as it never was the inten-
tion of the directors to keep the money
from the Wilmington club. but to compel
the Wilmington team to stay over and
fulfill their contract.
We trust that this statement of facts is
satisfactory explanation to all parties
concerned.
(Signed) VIM. j. ANDREWS,
President Raleigh Athletic Association.