The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-03
FIRST PLAYER rs SIGNED.
Fast westerner Secured for Scranton
by Manager Lawson.

The old-time base ball fans of Scran-
ton have received A. w. Lawson. the
new manager of the Scranton club, with
great cordiality since his arrival In this
city. and 1t begins to look as IL the old
time interest in the national game is
about to revive,
I'VE don't care what league we are
connected with" said one enthusiast
yesterday, "as long as we are repre-
sented by good lively~team of play
ers, who will win majority of their
games and give us clean, honest sport.
And that is just what Manager Lawson
intends dolng-securing n team or
young, hustling, ambitious players, who
have their regulations yet to make and
capable of making them right here in
Scranton. A team of gentlemanly ball
players, who will be credit, as well as
an advertisement, to the city.
AS Mr.. Lawson has had ten years
experience as n minor league manager
and several years as a player, 1t Is safe
to say that he knows n ball player
when he secs one, and where to go to
secure them. over fifty star players of
the National. American and Eastern
leagues have graduated from teams
the past.
The Pennsylvania league, as now
composed, takes in six cties-Scranton,
Wilkes-Barre, Reading, Lancaster, Leb-
anon and Hazleton. but at the next
meeting, which is TO be held at Read
ing, February 90 it may be decided to
increase the membership to eight cities,
as there arn several other good ball
towns OF the state which are anxious to
get into the circuit. There seems no
good reason why Pennsylvania should
not support n good strong state base
ball league permanently, as we'll as New
York and other states, which witness
championship struggles every year.
Manager Lawson has already begun
the Wo:k of selecting and signing his
players for the coming season. The first
man to send in his signed contract is
Roger Gorton. of Bancroft Mich. Cor
ton is an outfielder and q good one, IL
his record goes for anything. He be-
gan his professional career in 1895 with
the champion Kalamazoo club of the
Michigan State league, and jumped
right into prominence by leading his
team in batting and base-running and
the league in fielding. In 1896 he was
a member of the Birmingham, Ala,
club OF the Southern league, again lead
ing the league in fielding and base-run-
ming and standing sixth in batting. In
1897 he played with the Mansfield, Ohio,
club of the Interstate league, standing
second in fielding and fourth in battings
In 1899 he played with AL. Lawsons
Anderson, Ind, club of the Central
league. He stood first in fielding and
base-running and third in batting. In
1900 he again played under AL. Law
sons management at Peoria, ILL.,, Gen.
trail league Last season he played with
the Toledo, Ohio, club of the Western
association.
"Gorton is one of the fastest outfield
ers and base-runners in the country"
said Manager Lawson, land l expect
him to do good work for the Scranton
team this season. Furthermore, he is Il
gentlemanly fellow and perfectly re-
liable at all times"
The old Athletic grounds, which will
be used this season for the league
games. We're inspected by Manager
Lawson Saturday. A great many re-
pairs to the fence and grandstand are
needed, also new bleachers will have to
be constructed. He says that about
$500 will put the park in good shape
again,