The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-23
LETTER RECEIVED YESTERDAY
THOUGHT TO MEAN HE is THE MAN.
BOYER COULD NOT BE
REACHED BY WIRE.
LAROCQUE is AN OLD TIMER, WELL
KNOWN IN SAVANNAH.

Played Here in 1894 With Some of
the Southern League Stars-Was
Selected by Ted sullivan for All
American Team-Has Been Playing
in the West for the Past Few
Years-CharIeston VIII Open Sea-
son Here, AS in 1891, When SaVan-
nah Won Two Out of Three.
From a letter received in Savannah
yesterday it is believed that Sam La
ROGUE has been signed by owner
Charles Boyer of the Savannah fran
chise to manage the team here during
the coming season. This is not Off
cial, however. MIR. Boyer could not be
reached by a telegram last night.
The letter from which it is Judged
that LaRocque is the man signed by
Boyer was received by Weyman Har-
mon. LaRocque asked him if he would
not sign with the Savannah team. 1t
is known that LaRocque was one of
the men that Mr.. Boyer had in mind,
but he feared that he would not be
able to get him for the Savannah club.
If LaRocque is the man Savannah
fans will be satisfied that as far as is
possible the pennant winners will be
located in the Forest City. LaRocque
is known to the older fans. He played
on the team here in "a, covering sec
ond bag. He captained the pennant-
winning Birmingham team in the
Southern League in 1891. After leav-
ing Savannah he went West, where
he was one of the moving spirits in
the Western National League.
LaRocque has nearly always batted
over 300, and though one of the old
timers, he is still fast on his feet. He
was selected by Ted Sullivan at one
time for the all-American team, being
| assigned to second base. OF latter
years, however, he has lost some of his
speed, but is still foxy, and will be
able to gather team about him that
will make the youngsters in other cities
hustle
LaRocque is expected to arrive in
Savannah some time next week, &C
! Cording to Mr.. Boyers plans. His first
work will be to look to the improve
| ment of the ball park, and the inn
provement of street car facilities to the
grounds.
A Dit of Interesting History.
In 1894 when Savannah was in the
Southern League, the league opened
with Charleston playing Savannah, in
| Savannah, Charleston winning the
| game by the score of II to 6. The
| battery for Savannah was pepper and
Clark, and that for the Sea Gulls, as
they were called, Blackburn and
| Field. However, on the second day
| with Ramsey in the box, Savannah
| turned the tables winning by the
score of Az.
| With the teams tied the interest in
| the final game was intense. A large
crowd turned out to witness it.
| Charleston put her star battery, Black
burn and Field in. The locals fell or
| to Blackburn's delivery early in the
game and pounded out a total of fif-
| teen hits for ten runs. Charleston could
not solve the delivery of Duke anC
made but three runs. Jantzen, whC
caught for Savannah, set the fans
wild by knocking two homers.
Savannah's Old Team.
1t will be interesting to note the
lineup of the Savannah and Charles
| ton aggregations. Pat WEIGH covered
| first for Savannah and LaRocque, who
| will manage Savannah the coming sea-
| son, covered second. At third bag
| was Hutchinson and at short stop
Peoples officiated. In the outer gar
| dens were Fred Clarke. now manager
| of Pittsburg; Honest John McClosky
and Mccain. Behind the bat was Jant-
zan, and in the box Cain, Peoples,
| Ramsey and Duke.
For the Sea Gulls. Sieble played first,
Weintz second, Behne third and Bean
erd short stop. In the outfeld was
| Klopp, Hill and Polhams. Blackburn
| and Mcfarland were the twirlers, and
| Field did the catching. For certain
reasons, when Savannah and Charles
| ton were in the same league, Charles
] ton always opened VI IN Savannah.
| and this custom will be followed this
year. The fans here hope Savannah
will repeat the same dose to Charles
| ton in 1904 that they did in far back
'94.