The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-08
y /. Il ~ f. !
MORT ok CLUB
CHANGES HANDS
Corporation VIII Be Organized
to Take Over the
Franchise.
WILLIAMS CLOSES DEAL
Question Of Enlarging the Cir
cult Is Up to the League
Directors.
WILLIAMS CLOSES DEA
lspeeial 10 The Times- piapa,eh. !

Especial 10 The Times Dispatch,l
Norfolk, Va, January THE Nor
folk franchise in the Virginia League
has changed hands. The deal was
pulled OF to-day by President Williams.
and except that he has control of the
club until it is turned over to a cor
poration that is 10 be organized, tho
new ownership is problcmatic. Al
present Mr.. Williams declines to state
who are the interested local parties,
except to stute that Woodward Allen
has been Put in charge as business
manager, and that Charles l3abb, of last
years Memphis. Tenn. Southern League
club, has been selected as the leader
of the Tars for next season.
Mr. Williams. while declining to re
quoted as TO whether or not the Vir-
Ginia League will be composed of six
or eight-club circuit, does not cvade
tho fact that he thinks the admission
OF Portsmouth and Newport News "A
doubtful proposition. II is conceded
here that the purchase OF tho club by
Mr. Williams means rrat tho league
circuit Will remain unchanged during
the 1911 season. 1t is believed here
that he negotiated the deal in order
10 eight clubs.
1t develops to-day that Mir. Williams,
in his endcnvors to secure control of
the situation by negotiating Il sale of
The club. and being blocked by the price
asked, $4,000. and which he finally
paid tried to secure n site FOR ii new
park. intending to forfeit the franchise
held by the old owners and transfer
Il 10 other parties. Ills inability TO
Ct tn tn, II I ,F. ~
blocked this, and he was finally forced
10 buy out the present owners Local
people We're loath to antaGonize the
old owners.
Local Wen VIII Control.
Mr.. Williams declares that tile Nor
tolk club will be controlled bv Il local
president and business manager and
that the club will he absolutely opcr-
ated in the interest of the random OF
the city. AS an evidence OF this inten@
zion he points 10 the fact that he had
he assurance of the good will OF the
retiring owners. and that a man of the
Caiibrc OF Charles Tabb, we'll known
throughout the baseball world rs n
player mud manager. has been secured
TO direct the club from the players
standpoint.
MY negotiation of the sulc of the
Norfolk club was aciuated by my in
terest in the league" said MI Williams
The Norfolk owners were dissa listed
and wished to get ont In lieu OF get
ting ont. they made demands that rec
ognized would meet with vigorous OPP
position III the league and would prob
ably lead TO a rupture. II was to the
hest interests OF the league 10 yet the
franchisc into the hands OF new blood
believed could do this. and sue
cceded.'
Mr.. Williams said the question of en-
lerging the circuit was UP TO the league
directors and that he would have moth
ing Ia SAY. denying that he had ever
been committed 10 the proposition
THAT lie viii oppose II, lie admits on
the ground that II is a doubtful prop
osiuon. ct best
Practice Dates.
Business Manager Allen last night
announced that the Montreal team. Of
the Eastern League would probably
use the local park during March as n
training field. lie also announced the
following schedule of exhibition games:
March so. 81 and April |. New York
Americans; April !, New York Giants;
April .. Boston Nationals: April and
s, Altoona April -, Toronto; April
- Yale. Dates are vet to he selected
for the Trenton club, of the Easter,
League