The Savannah morning news., 1904-04-24
SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE SEASON
OPENS AUSPICIOUSLY TUESDAY
MAKES APPEAL
FOR CLEAN BALL
PETITION TO MANAGERS.
BOYER SAYS THIS is ONLY WAY
BASEBALL CAN LIVE HERE.

WIN tue OpCn1nS OF the Cham ptOn-
ship Season But Two Days on
President Boyer Issues "a Ringing
Letter to the Several Managers.
Wants no ROvvdyism and VIII In
struct Umpires to Strictly Enforce
Their Authority While Engaged
in Discharge of Their Duties.
President Boyer of the South Allan
tic League yesterday mailed to the six
of the various clubs, the following let
ter, asking their cooperation in maxi
ing the present season one that will
attract the liberal patronage of all low
ers of clean sport:
AS the championship season of the
South Atlantic League is about to
open, I feel it my duty, as president
of the league, to make a few remarks
to you relative to the approaching
campaign on the diamond. 1t is hard
has been a difficult task to organize
this league.
THE task has been accomplished
only after months of interchangeable la
Dor. Gross misbehavior on the part
Of some of the players, both on and
off the ball field, has disguised a great
many of the baseball patrons and
driven them from the game. The con-
scientious and well-behaved players
have suffered for the misdeeds of the
eliminate rowdyism from the ball field
and place the national game on a high
er plane, so as to command the respect
and patronage of the lovers of the
game, as we'll as the respect of the
public at large.
VIII Have no ROwdyism.
I'VE have asked for and received
the financial assistance of the baseball
enthusiasts, to carry out our project.
We also want their moral support and
liberal patronage. To secure this we
must present good and clean exhibit
tons of the game, free from rowdy-
ism or Unnecessary kicking"
Nothing disgusts a baseball audience
so much as ceaseless wrangling and
kicking. Senseless kicking and i'm
proper language on the part of the
players will drive the spectators from
the game. The game cannot exist
without liberal patronage. We cannot
afford to lose any patron. The players
should control their tempers and con-
duct themselves properly at all times.
"As the executive of this league, 1
shall do my utmost to establish base
ball in this section on a respectable
footing. To accomplish this object 1
need the cooperation Of each team
of lao Au
you have control of your players, both
on and off the field.
Must BE Gentlemen.
ut is to your interest, as we'll as
mine, that the players deport them
selves as gentlemen at all times. BY
enforcing strict discipline from the
very outset you will nip the evil in
the bud You undoubtedly have real
lied what great harm has been done
the national game by gross misbe-
havior and rowdy tactics on the part
of ball players, both on and off the
field. 1t is true, ball players are not
angels. They are human, and are liza
able to err.
"They sometimes think they are get
ting the short end OF a close decision,
and make an unnecessary howl. They
should be taught to curb their tenn
pers. There is no excuse for any
player to use indecent or improper lam
guage, or to resort to rowdy tactics
whether on. or off the ball field.
shall hold you accountable for the ac-
tions of your players during the en-
suing playing season. We have prom
ised the baseball patrons clean ball,
free from rowdyism, and we must
keep our promise.
Curb Their Tempers.
IT intend to keep an eye on the ball
players off the field. Any manager or
player guilty in public Of gross mis-
behavior, including intoxication, fight
ing, quarreling, indecency, or other
scandalous conduct, during the playing
season, I will fine from $40 to $50, and
suspend him from one to two weeks
for each offense, as the case may war
rant.
please call the attention of your
players to this section. and impress
on them the importance OF deporting
themselves as gentlemen at all times.
Nothing succeeds like success. BY
working in harmony and enforcing
strict discipline, and giving the base
ball patrons clean, snappy ball, we can
restore In this section the lost pres
tige of the national game. BY fol-
lowing the advice above given you will
save yourself and the club you rep
resent a great deal Of inconvenience.
with best wishes for the success OF
your club and our league, / am, very
trulv.
"CbarIes w Rover nresident