The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-15
MANAGER BOYER NOW NEGOTIAT-
ING WITH M'GRAw TO THIS END.
LEASE MAY BE SIGNED
FOR FIVE YEARS.
MUCH MONEY NEEDED To PUT THE
PARK IN GOOD SHAPE FOR
BALL SEASON.

Owner Boyer, of the Savannah Fran
chise Is Now BusiIy Engaged in
Making Arrangements for the
Opening of the SeasOn-He Is Anx-
ious TO Sign Wayman Harmon on
she Pitching STAFF of the Savannah
Team-SOuthern League Managers
watching the Development of the
New League with Considerable In
terest.
Owner Boyer of the Savannah franchise
in the South Atlantic Baseball League
is now negotiating with j. ]. McGraw
of the New York National baseball
team for assistance in putting the Boil
ton Street Ball Park in good condition
and making arrangements for a lease
of five years.
When Manager McGraw of the New
York team made application for
grounds in Savannah. he stated that
he was willing to sign a lease for six
years if he could be assured that his
team would have a suitable practice
ground every spring. In making this
offer McGraw offered to pay good
sum for each year.
Mr.. Boyer's idea now is to get Nc
Graw to enter into the contract joint
ly with him, and bear a part of the
expense of putting the grounds in
shape. AS soon as arrangements are
completed the work of erecting a new
grandstand, resurfacing the grounds
and putting the fence in shape will be
commenced.
Under the protection provided by
the National Board of Control. the
New York and Philadelphia will not
be allowed to play exhibition games
here without the consent of the holder
of the Savannah franchise. 1t will be
TO the interest of the managers of
these two teams to cooperate with the
owner of the Savannah franchise in
providing grounds, and making per-
manent spring practice station.
Anxious to Get Harmon.
In a letter written to a friend in
Savannah Manager Boyer says he is
anxious to sign Wayman Harmon of
Savannah on the pitching staff of the
Savannah team. 1t is hardly prob
able, however, that Harmon will con-
sent to enter the professional ranks.
though his success is assured, and it
while before he would be drawing a
salary equal to that paid to any of
the big star slabmen in the East,
some of which run as high as $4,000
for the season, which is over $f,200
per month.
Harmon has had numerous flatter-
ing offers, but has persistently refused
to accept any. He has engaged i'll
baseball and football purely for the
love of the sport and the reputation
that he has made as an amateur is
widespread. Left-handed pitchers are
especially in demand now, and with
the wonderful ability of Savannah's
premier pitcher there is little doubt
that he would be able to keep the
team in front if he were to sign with
Manager Boyer.
VIII play Exhibition Games.
Manager Boyer is now making prep
arations to play exhibition games with
some of the college teams that are
coming South for their spring prac-
tice Cornell will go to Atlanta and
Macon, and if possible they will be
persuaded to come to Savannah and
have a try with the blue and white.
1t is also understood that Harvard
will send her nine down into Dixie for
preliminary practice. In addition to
these two teams, Manager Boyer will
have his team appear here in time to
play two or three games with the Phil
adelphia team.
AS soon as he retS-ns to Savannah
Manager Boyer will make arrange
ments with the street railway for the
improvement of the transportation IA
cilities to the ball park, and the incon-
venience suffered in former years will
not be experienced during the coming
season.
Managers in the Southern League are
watching with interest the development
of the South Atlantic League. They
will be able to draw on this league for
material during the coming year, and
being situated close by can keep their
eyes on the development of players.
This will also he great benefit to the
South Atlantic League, as much will
be derived from the sale of players at
the end of the season.