The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1909-01-14
Gloomy Prospects Here.


step has yet been taken to insure pro-
fessional baseball in Vicksburg dur
ing the coming season. The old ball
park has been converted into building
lots, the grandstand has been abo1-
| ished, and no new site for the park
has yet been secured. Something may
take place later on, but at present the
outlook for the professional does not
look very bright.
G. G. Mas is the most active di-
rector booming the sport, and he has
put the matter up to the property
owners, stating they will have to con-
| tribute to the fund or else the fran
chise in the Cotton States League will
be dropped. Some hackers of the
game who have been liberal in the
past have definitely decided that they
will cut loose from the association.
No manager has yet been signed
and no effort made to look for new
| players or for building of team
| It has been suggested that Forrest
Plass would make good head for
| the team, and communication has
| been had with this fast youngster.
Plass would be anxious to come here
if the sport is to flourish.
The raising of funds, selection of
grand stand site and other matters
will have to be attended to before
steps are taken to get the ball club.
L l.
it would be we'll to cut ont profess
sional ball for a couple of seasons in
order to whet the appetite of fans.
Mr. Mas has been desirous that
holders of real estate donate a tract
to be used for a ball park, fair
grounds and amusement park. His
idea is to have the park decided over
to the city and make it a place for
the masses. This idea is popular
one, but thus far real estate owners
have not smiled on the porject.
There was some earnestness be-
hind the suggestion that ball park
be placed on DeSoto Island, just op-
posite the city. 1t is here that the
celebrated saloon was established just
beyond the ssissippi-Louisiana line.
The island is low and fat and sub
iect to overflow when the Mississippi
river is high, but all obstacles might
be removed if the question of speedy
transportation could be arranged. If
this project amounts to anything, the
unique result might follow that the
ball park would be located in two
States, Mississippi and Louisiana, and
that might lead to any number Of un-
usual conditions.
1t is possible that if all other
sources fail, the street railway COM
pany may come to the rescue, but
thus far the officials have declared
they are ready to give but limited aid.
Some interest has been manifested
in the recent release of Guy Sample,
former versatile player with Vicks,
burg, who goes to GAINESVILLE to play
under Roy Montgomery, who will
manage that club during 1909. Mont |
gomery made a mighty good record /
in Cotton States circles, and every
one gave him credit for getting every |
ounce of work out of all his men and |
retaining their good will. These
brainy Cotton States players should |
prove a good pair to draw in their |
new zone.
A proposition has been made that |
If the Cotton States League continues |
tba+ r1ar+ of &be. D1ovorS ho rooruifod
from semi-professional ranks. This
suggestion has not met with favor.
A. Lewis, the hustling Jackson direc-
tor, declares such an arrangement
would speedily kill the sport, and
that il would be much wiser to cut
baseball out altogether than to give
the game this kind of handicap.
So far as known, none of the big
league teams will train in Vicksburg
Dr. any Mississippi town this year.
route North. Recently some of the
sporting writer's hereabouts were re-
nembered with season passes to the
home of the Cubs on the South Side
n Chicago, President Murphy being
he donor.
Bob Murch, the fast infielder, who
las worked with Gulfport, has reach
ID his home here. and will remain
Until the season opens. He is work
ng out with Leonard Flood, who ex-
,ects to go in the minor company
his spring.
No meeting of the Vicks5urg Base
,all Association has been called as |