The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-29
BRADLEY HAS NO
FEAR OF new TEAM.
Owner Of State League
Club Don't Take Union
League Seriously.
MANAGER L1PE
SIGNING NEW MEN
Three Pennsylvanians Arc to Be
Given Try-Out With Colts in
Spring, and Retained If
They Measure Up to
Standard-Basc-
ball Briefs.

Owner w. B. Bradley, OF the Rich
mond baseball club OF the Virginia
State League, Ia not worried over the
prospect OF the location OF team OF
Inc IN, proposed ,. Union League Of Base
ball Clubs In this city. In the first
p ace. he regards the establishment OF
the league as more than doubtful, and
refers to the skcpticism OF baseball
nien all over the East as to the outlook
Tor the Lawson venture in support OF
his own confidence that the new outlaw
Organization VIII be not floated. Even
II 1t should be organized and should
decide to locate club in Richmond.
sir. Bradley is ready for the fight that
would ensue for the patronage OF the
PEOPLE,. and. having given the people
good baseball. he is not fearful of los
ing patronage in such competition.
Tie announces that in the event OF
competition he Will fight 1t to the
finish.
In connection with the prospective
outlaw league team, there Is little time
left within which to build park and
grandstand and equip 1t and to sign
players for the 1908 season. Most Of
the better class OF players are already
signed up with the major leagues or
with the Class A or Glass minor
leagues. Furthermore. experience has
demonstrated that ia, outlaw leagues
are ephemeral, their purpose usually
being to force recognition from the
national commission
Practically all of the major leaguers
who have deserted their teams for the
outlaws have done SO: as the result OF
personal grievances, and usually these
have returned to the fold of organized
baseball as soon as opportunity APP
peared. The outlaw league would
hardly be able TO pay salaries suff-
cient to attract the highest class OF
baseball talent, though few men OF
wide reputation might be secured.
Lipe Signing New Men.
Meanwhile Manager Perry Lipe, OF
the Rich mond State League team, is
signing men with which to strengthen
the local club for 1903, and Is going
after the pennant. The rule recently
adopted fixing salary limit will not
permit a long string OF players to be
carried, but In the early experimental
stage OF the season some new talent
will be given tryout In competition
with the old players carried over. 1t
Is reliably reported that Manager Lipe
has signed Pitcher Sam Smith, OF Penn
sylvania. to I'LL the vacancy in his
twirling corps caused by the drafting
of Stackpole. He has also signed
Catcher Sweeney and Outfielder Law
ellie, OF Philadelphia, who are we'll rec
commended.
With Revelle again signed up. Long.
Salve. Cassidy and Smith and possibly
one or two more to be signad for a
tryout, the pitching department already
looks strong.
In the infeld efforts are being made
to sign a good -baseman and a
flrst-sacker who can play the bag we'll
and Is good hitter. kirkpatrick,
who played with Lynchburg last sea-
son, was merely loaned to Manager
Grim. and may be recalled to the Colts.
II desired.
Outfielder Wallace, who is spending
the winter in this city, was not re-
served at the close OF the season, hav-
ing q non-reserve contract; but his
friends expect that he will again play
with the locals. II he does not sign
the new outfielder will probably re-
place him. Catcher Cowan is also in
Richmond. and will probably be re-
tanned, being valuable utility man as
we'll. The signing OF new catcher.
however, indicates that either Walsh
or Cowan will probably be let out, II
the new backstop makes good.