The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-18
BY JAY LEWIS.


League Ia not going to lack interest
during the off season. tSaid before
and rePeated.l
In the off season fans do not care
much TO talk baseball although most
of them care to read baseball. SO
when winter goes and the swallows
homeward ny and the ball players are
hitting to the training grounds Mr..
Fan wakes up and begins to ask:
Well, what sort of team are we
going to have this year, anyhow"
In the wintertime he may fret and
growl, but when the springtime comes,
gentle Annie. there's a difference.
Where the Fan IL.
In the off season he may howl about
syndicate ball and declare the whole
thing is nothing more than a business
proposition. but with the crack of the
bat and ball--oh. where is Mr.. FAM
Right In the grandstand or in the
bleachers. teacher. roofing like mad
and getting sore when the home team
loses, but the same old boy, just the
same.
All over the land in the winter
time come sa cry. and the cry lis syn
dictate balr'--from the big leagues
down to the littlest one
In the American League. in the good
old days before Walter johnson came
To gladden. the hearts Of the Washing
ton rooters. how they did yell about
syndicate ball in that fair city.
Some Syndicate Hal.
Why, the American League wasn't
Johnson. Anything was good enough
for Washington. The best players on
the team were taken away TO strength
en- some other part OF the organiza-
ton.
And there was some reason TO howl
in Washington those days for fact.
In the National League II was told
ali around the circuit that Barney
prevfuss had obtained hold of the
Boston team and John Dewey was
nothing but part of the syndicate
game.
The royal rooters chorused that
dictate bali when Horace FoEel found
mysterious money to buy the phils-
deiphia National team.
Talk about syndicate ball,
That's an old, old story. and II
really doesn't matter after all
The same goes for outside own
ership."
Outside Ownership.
1t is common talk that c. T. Taft.
OF Cincinnati, owns the Chicago Cubs
and his money paid for the Phiiiies:
that c. w. Murphy and Horace Fogei
are only his hirelings. Yet a good
many folks would like to be those
seIf-same hireiings or own stock in
either of the two clubs.
Pittsburg money was invested in the
Boston club and In now.
c. W. Somers, an outsider. started
the Boston Red Sox on their way
John T. Brush was In many cities
Indianapolis and Cincinnati among
them. IL memory is correct-before
he landed In little old Moo York"
Ned Hsnlon has been manager. part
owner. full owner and the big boss In
Detroit, Baltimore ana Brooklyn. and
Is now looking for a new field tits
said
But what's the use.
True Of All leagues.
What is true of the big leagues is
true of all leagues. even the Virginia
League. where more franchises are
owned at home than in any other
league, perhaps.
So the cry from Norfolk need no,
distress the friends OF the Virginia
League. They need not go around
weeping and wringing their hands be-
cause Norfolk 10 peevtsh and wants to
know its parents--poor little orphan
That Norfolk club IL quite a lusty
child and this talk OF its being a poor.
iliegitimate offspring need not cause
any bushes to appear on the fair
Sifeek ii ftNorfelk--if Norfolk can
blush.
1t really has been adopted and its
parents perfectly respectable. accord
ing to its late lawful guardians. the
Taagne ofNraru
Norfolk All Right.
Norfolk is all right. even II some
one should become indignant, over
the suggestion that Norfolk can't
blush. II IL need not blush for the
playing Of the team when the sea-
son starts. that will be enough for
the fans
All the talk OF Norfolk forming one
of. an independent league Is not dis
turbing the main organization. Even
II some person did suggest for nice
lot Of little teams to form q league.
and they really did get together. what
harm is there In tt
who controls the only real ball park
In Norfolk, anyway?
DO not the owners of the franchise
lately purchased from c. III. Consolvo
control 1t?
Let the little fellows so ahead and
play. The fans really will go to see
the big fellows. 1t is they who get
the coin everywhere.
independent HALL.
Lots of independent clubs made
good money, but they are like side
shows to the main top OF the three
ring circusA
hut. anyway. 1t seems to be an un-
prejudiced person here that the
scheme Of independent bali In the
Tidewater cities died early In the win
ter. Likewise, that the death was
duly published when the announce
ment was made that MIR. Consolvo
had sold his franchise to President
Williams. Of the Virginia League.
That proposition appears to be as
dead a. Mrs. Murphy's COW. that kick
ed over the lamp. or lantern. that
started the big Chicago fire.
And, lest we forget: has any one
any idea whether Mrs, Murphy was
an ancestor OF Charles Webb MUIR
ply?
He appears to be something OF a
miikman--gets the cream In Chicago,
at least.