The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-11
SAVANNAH IN LEAGUE
PRESIDENT BOYER WILL PUT
TEAM IN FOR THIS CITY.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING
FINAL DETAILS EOR OPENING OF
SEASON ARRANGED.

Selected and Savannah Players
Will Wear the Royal Blue and
White-League Headquarters win
he Established Here.
For the first time in seven years,
the swat of the willow in the hands of
professional ball players, and the calls
of the festive umpire VIII be heard in
that section of Dixie embraced by the
South Atlantic Baseball League on
April %, when the championship season
will commence in this baseball league
fiedgling.
Final details for the opening of the
season in the South Atlantic League
were made yesterday afternoon at an
enthusiastic meeting held at the Pu-
lash House, and every city in the
league was represented by baseball
men of years of experience, and with
plenty of financial backing to make
the South Atlantic League equal to the
Southern League, which enjoyed such
prosperous season last year.
The meeting was called to order at
3 o'clock by President Charles w.
the following gentlemen answered for
their respective cities: Augusta, Con
Strothers of national repute, who will
handle the Augusta aggregation; Ma
| con, Felix Kohler, owner of the fran
chise, who appeared in the absence of
his manager, w. A. Smith; Charleston,
Happy" Ed Ashenback; Columbia, ].
]. Grim, last year with the Western
National League; Jacksonville, Col w.
E. West and J. F. Dozier; Savannah
was not represented officially, as those
who had been interested in the fran
| chise agreed to turn II back to the
league for disposition.
The constitution adopted at the meet
/ ing held in November was read for the
| benefit of those who were not present
| at that time, and a number of amend
ment were made, relating principally
to minor details.
Boyer Took Franchise.
The first matter considered by the
| members present was that of the Sa
Vannah franchise. Mr.. w. e. Reeves,
| who was awarded the Savannah fran
chise at the meeting held in November,
made a statement to the effect that he
| had found that his other business en-
! gagements were of such a nature that
he would not be able to carry out his
original idea. as he had found it diff
cult to get the ready assistance that he
had expected The franchise was then
| turned back to the league, it's dispo-
Sition to be considered later.
| When the matter again came up after
supper last night Mr.. Felix Kohler
made a motion that the franchise be
offered to President Charles w. Boyer
and that in the event of his acceptance
that his salary as president of the
league be cut down from $1,000 per sea-
son to $500. 1t was shown that there
| were a large number of baseball men
that were anxious to come to Savannah
and put a club in here, but that the
time was limited, and as Mr.. Boyer
| was known to all and the matter Of
disposing of the franchise had devolved
en- the board of directors of the league,
a vote was taken and it was unani-
mously decided to offer the franchise to
Mr.. Boyer.
With the settlement of the Savannah
end of the league all breathed a sigh
| of relief, for in every city a large sum
of money has already been expended.
Col. West of Jacksonville stated that
they had purchased outright a site for
a baseball park, paying S4,5OO for the
ground alone, and had already opl-
gated themselves for nearly $1,000 IN
getting ready for the opening OF the
| season.
Signing the Players.
Con Strothers, of the Augusta club,
stated that he had already bought his
! lease for grounds and had gone to
! considerable expense. The same was
| reported by Charleston, Columbia and
| Macon representatives, and with so
much depending on Savannah it is lit
| tie wonder that there was general re-
| 1oicng when Mr.. Boyer stated that
| he would be glad to put the club in
| Savannah.
President Boyer reported that he had
| already signed two umpires, and had
| two on the reserve list. He also re-
ported that he still held an option
| from the National Board Of Control on
| Columbus.
There were a large number of de-
| tail matters to be arranged, and the
session was adjourned at Z O'Clock for
a recess until $50. The matter of uni
form colors for the different teams
came up and selections were made as
| follows: Savannah, royal blue and
white; Jacksonville, orange and black;
Macon, cerese and white; Augusta,
blue and gray; Charleston, navy blue;
Columbia, gray and maroon.
The season will open on April &c,
Memorial Day, in the three Georgia
cities. Charleston will play in Sa-
vannah, Jacksonville in Macon and
| Columbia in Augusta. This day is a
| holiday in all of the Georgia cities,
and as Memorial Day is not observed
until later in the summer in the other
towns of the league it was decided
that the best idea was to follow that
! arrangement.
1t was decided that the receipts
would be pooled on the two holidays,
July 4 and Labor Day, Sept. Z.
No double headers will be played I'M
| til after July, and one ladies' day will
be observed in all cities of the league.
On that day the ladies VIII be admit
ted to the grounds and grandstand
| free of charge.
Col. West of Jacksonville was ap-
! pointed trustee for the guarantee
fund. and will select a depository at
| Jacksonville.
Savannah VIII BE Headquarters.
! President Boyer will establish league
| headquarters at Savannah about
! March l. 1t was the unanimous opin-
ion of those present that in view of
the location of this city that it was
the most desirable for headquarters.
! This Will also be a great convenience
to President Boyer in looking after the
| affairs of the Savannah club.
| Mr.. Boyer viii at once commence the
work of getting the Savannah team to-
gether. Il have several good managers
in mind he said. and / believe that
within ten days 1 will have all OF my
team signed, l have had enough ex-
| DerienCe in baseball 10 knOxx, tbot tba