The Washington herald., 1907-09-29

Special 10 The Washington Herald.
Richmond. Va. Sept. 8-The Virginia
League baseball season just closed has
been one Of the most interesting from the
standpoint Of popular interest IN the re-
suit ever known in Virginia baseball It
has been success financially also for
most OF the clubs. If not all Of them.
Richmond has made large profit for its
owner, despite the fact that II lands IN
fourth place in the pennant race. Next
70 Richmond, Portsmouth, a tail-end ag-
gregauOn, was, perhaps, the best money
maker unless the receipts at Norfolk
for the closing month or six weeks large
ly exceeded those Of the earlier months
The pennant race has been a close and
uncertain one. Ten days ago it was not
positively known what club would land
the pennant, although Norfolk had an
advantage. At various stages Of the sea-
son every team in the league has had
the advantage with the exception Of Roa-
noke- Portsmouth was a strong COM
petitor Up 10 its August slump, when it
lost eighteen or twenty straight games.
Up 10 the middle OF July it looked Ike
Jack Grims champions would again
snatch the flag, the Lynchburg aggre-
cation being on top at that time. In
barely two weeks this splendid bunch OF
baseballists had slid To the very bottom.
Dissension Hurt Roanoke.
The tumble was chiefly due TO the
injury TO several star players and the
inability OF unWiulngness OF the manager
10 secure competent substitutes. When
the team started back up the ladder II
found that all the other teams in the
meantime 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
in second place.
Roanoke also had & chance 10 land the
flag in the early stages Of the season.
but dissensions developed. players de-
serted. and internal troubles caused a
slump that proved fatal 10 their hopes
Richmond also 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 te-
nacity that made others fear thar they
the heaviest hitters in the league some
clever pitchers, and a fine infeld, but
somehow they could not get together.
When Mcmahon. Beusse. and others
were dropped, and Rutland Mani0n.
Bertrand, and Fox were obtained, the
team began 10 get together and climb.
Later on Haas was secured because
Grim did not need him after Earl
Holt reported. and Pender found IN him
a star. both on the bag and al bat
Since then Norfolk. with such pitch
ers as Fox. Otey, Bertram Jordan. and
Loucks. from Danville. discarded, began
climbing, and aided by favorable sched-
ule, they proved invincible.
RfchmOnd's slump Fatal
Richmond had q slump which cul-
minated in shake-Up about July ].
Manager Shafer was not in accord with
his men. and when he was dropped and
a few changes made the team began 10
improve Several times since then. how
ever. the team has slUmped and shown
unsteadiness. Experimenting with first
basemen and third basemen was expen-
sive. Pitchers who won az first soon be-
gan 10 lose Looking backward. however.
II appears that a mistake was made in
getting rid Of Kirkpatrick, at third and
OF pitchers Vail and Carter. Il is true
that ReveIle has proved a star boNmar.
and that Stackpole. who was borrowed
from New England in the fag end Of the
season, has won every same he has
pitched. As the team is constituted now,
II is about as strong rs any in the
league. With Gottig on first base. if he
comes back, and kirkpatrick on third.
and with Reyelle, Long. Salve. Cassidy.
and Howard 20 do the box work. and
COwan and Walsh under the mask. and
the clever inheld Of this year. Richmond
ought TO prove formidable next year.
The people want a pennant winner, and
IL would pay the owner Of the club hand
some returns if he can land a pennant