The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-19
BY r. .. BONNEVILLE.

6y u ~
Richmond Is now assured of a grass
diamond and next season VIII see no
more lakes in the middle of the play
bag following sucf, down-pour as
that Of Thursday. When Owner Brad
ley's plans are fulfilled the diamond
viii be in such shape that game can
be played Immediately following a
regular eioudburst and there will be
less necessity for rain checks IN sub
sequent seasons.
Scout Arthur Irwin of the New York
American League club, is in Richmond,
and he and Owner Bradley had a long
talk Thursday about grass diamonds
The scout stated that Richmond should
have the regulation diamond by all
means. He said further that II would
be no trouble TO make one, as 1t could
be done In about ten days.
Irwin offered to send the keeper OF
the New York American League
grounds here TO do the work and said
that he would guarantee that Rich
nlond would have "A diamond second to
few in the country when the Yankees
man was through his work.
Owner Bradley has been taking the
matter over with Manager Lawlor all
summer and has been undecided only
the best way TO get IT done, He is
yet undecided whether il is better 10
do the work Immediately following the
football season or TO start IL early next
spring and have 1t completed before the
training season starts.
At any rate, the grass diamond is
coming as sure thing. and the offer
Of Scout irwin shows Owner Bradley
the way to get II done quickly and
properly.
Scout Irwin Is here on Visit and LIS
not looking around for promising ma
teriai, as usual. He states that he is
tired looking them over and Is now
here for rest. He IL on his way to
Ocean View, where he can enjoy the
salt sea breezes and take a dip in the
inviting surf at the seaside resort
In speaking Of his Finds" OF the sea
son, Irwin declares that none of them
look any better than Priest of the Dan
vile club, He says that Priest and
Litehf. shortstop OF the Lancaster club,
of the Tri-state League. are far ahead
Of all others and that they have a
bright future before them.
The fortunate feature about Priest lis
that he Is capable of playing other po-
sitions besides shortstop and may be
tried out In several positions. Irwin
says that the youngster would make
fine third basernaD and great out
fielder Priest is deadly on ny balls
and ii is this that makes Irwin believe
that ne could be developed into an
outfielder OF more than ordinary abiii-
~.
OF course, everything depends on
Priests batting ability in big company
II he Is able to hit the big twirIers
he will develop into one of the great
= EFT players IN the game. this Is the
opinion OF Scout Irwin. II he falls to
hit he will not get the opportunity for
development in big company and thus
will never be a great star.
Ii fs believed. however. that Priest
will ciout the ball, and. as experience
H comes, will be one of the greatest
players In the game.
Something was done by Secretary
Gregory Thursday that racified the ar
biters and caused them to suddenly
agree TO get back to work They We're
not joking about the matter, and had
they not had "a settlement several
players would have been working as
arbiters around the circuit.
Umpire Mace had not shown any
signs of mutiny. as has some OF the
others. but 1t is said that he had a
goodly sum coming to him and that
he would probably have been willing
to stick by the others.
III liz said that the arbiters have been
very much embarrassed on account of
lack of funds and have been forced to
borrow from hotel keepers around the
circuit 10 replenish their purses.
They have the coin now, though.
That is, they say they have it-and
this ts very likely straight They need
ed the money and in coming here they
made plain their intentions. Unless
something had been forthcoming I'm
rirs Davis would not have been on the
field Thursday. When the arbiter did
appear he was in a joviai mood. and
when asked II he had any money re-
piled that he had his.
Umpire Fred westervelt is sill con-
fined TO his room at the Park hotel,
81 but he Is much relieved in mind and
also In body Or. w. r. Mathews,
the club physician. called on Wester-
Welt Tuesday and after making a thor
ough examination OF the arbiter, stat
"a that he was not threatened with
typhoid and that he would be able to
get back to work in q few DAYS.
The report OF Westarvelts illness
came as quite q shock to his many
friends in Richmond and the news
that he Ia not to be I'll will be re-
\ reived with relief. The umpire was
able 70 get UP and around Friday and
4 IL still feeling Esakr he In much
better. He will not 70 to Petersburg
FrfdAy but may go over 10 work Sat-