The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-23
GOSSIP ABOUT THE
PAST BALL SEASON
MI the Clubs Made Big Money,
With Richmond at the
PORTSMOUTH, MONEY MAKER
Norfolk Won the Pennant Be-
cause She Owned Crew Of
Hard Hitters.

The Virginia League baseball season
Just closed has been one of the most
Interesting from the standpoint OF
popular interest in the result ever
known in Virginia baseball 1t has
teen a SUCCESS Financially. also, for
most Of the clubs, IL not all of them.
Richmond has made large profits for
In fourth place In the pennant race.
NextIto Richmond Portsmouth, a tall
end aggregation. was, perhaps. the best
money -makct, unless Norfols's receipts
in the closing month or six weeks
largely exceeded those OF the earlier
months.
Hst Race,
The pennant race has been a close
and uncertain one. Ten days ago 1t
was not positively known what club
would land the pennant, though Nor
folk had an advantage. At various
stages OF the season every team in the
league has had the lead except Roa.
nokc. Portsmouth was strong COM
retitor up to It's August slump, when
II lost eighteen or twenty straight
games. Up to the middle of July 1T
looked like Jack Grims champions
would again snatch the flag. and the
Lynchburg aggregation was on top at
that time. In barely two weeks later
this splendid bunch of baseball fight
crs had slid Ia the bottom
The tumble was not due to intention
but was chiefly the result of the Injury
OF three star players and the INABILITY
or unWi,lingness of Manager Grim To
secure capable Substitutes. Whatever
the cause. the team dropped like n
shot, and when 1t started hacle UP tho
ladder It found that all the other teams
had greatly strengthened. and that
with an adverse schedule the climb
was too much for them They made a
gallant try. however, and almost landed
III second place,
Isonn0kc Had Chance.
Roanoke also had chance 10 land
the flag in the early stages or the yea.
son, but dissensions developed players
deserted. and internal troubles caused
slump that proved fatal TO their
hopes
Richmond started out like an easy
winner early in the season. taking and
holding the lead for long time, while
Norfolk. chung to the bottom with a
fenacity that made Others fear that
they would throw up the sponge. They
Hone clever pitchers and a fine infield:
but somehow they could not to
get together. When Mcmahon Buesse
md Others were dropped, and Rutland
Alanion. Bertram and Fox were secured.
thesieam began to get together and
climb Later ON Haas was secured
because Grim did not need him after
Earl folt reported and Fender found
him a. star. both on the bag and at
bat
Since then Norfolk, with such pitch
ers as Otey, Fox, Bertram. Jordan and
Loucks. whom panville discarded be-
gan climbing, and. aided by a favorable
schedule. they proved invincible.
Too Many Experiments.
Richmond had a slump which culmi-
mated in a shake-up about July 1st.
Manager Shaffer was not in accoSd
with his men, and when he was drop
ped and a few changes made, the team
began 10 improve. Several times since
then, However. the team has slumped
and shown unsteadiness Experiment
Ing with tirst-base men and third ba &c :
men was eSpeHsiye. and pitchers who
won at first soon began to lose. Look
Ing backward, however. II appears that
mistakes were made In getting rid of
Kirkpatrick at third, and OF Pitchers
Vail and Carter. u is true that Re-
velle has proved star hoxman, and
that Stackpoie. who was borrowed
from New England in the flag end of
tho season, has won every game
he has pitched.
As the team is constituted now, /.
Is about as strong as any In the league
With Gettig on first base If he comes
back, and Kirkpatrick on third, and
with Revelle, Long. Salve CASSIDY and
Howard TODD the box work and Cowau
md Walsh under the mask and the
ri ar out o1A 1T
ought to prove formidable next year
The people want a pennant winner
and IL would pay the owner of the
club handsome returns If lie could land
i n pennanty team.
zs3.I
-. NEIN trIIEIR "A en- q. A AZ