The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-25
Pertinent Comment
BY GUS MALBERT.

The palpable acknowledgement of the
Richmond baseball team during the
season just closed is forcibly Npre-
scented by the complete official aver
ages published yesterday. Leading
the league in run getting and in hit
ting. as well as in stolen bases. :he
club nevertheless finished in an inse-
cure fourth place. Argument or ex-
cuses will avail nothing in the face
of these figures. In addition the team
helded second only to Petersburg,
which show concluslvely that there
was every reason for the oft repeated
statement that the club. both often
sively and defensively, was as good
as any in the league. 1t requires 40
student to reach this conclusion. The
figures tell the story and carry their
own message.
Likewise, it must be source of
satisfaction TO those who put their
finger on the sore spot at the very
When team is fielding as good as did
the Richmond team there is no eN
cuse for the pitching department OF
the team. The defeats charged against
good. clean bingling. No defense can
stem the tide under these conditions.
1t is simply case of taking the
medicine being handed out. But this
throughout the season and man
agement and ownership which was
willing to accept the shekels of the
populace without attempt to give that
same populace run for its money, Of
Tered instead of a correction of .he
evil, continued excuses and rebellcd
when there were some whose sense If
fairness would not allow them to con-
attempt to becloud the mind of the
public with series OF wordy az
plantations in lieu of good baseball
. fpr eiy
gle person Interested in the sport in
Richmond. Half-heartedness marked
the work OF the men who were en-
ployed TO play the game. There was
small reason to wonder at this half
heartcdness when the men themselves
saw that no effort was being made
to help out. What was the use. SAID
these men. in trying and trying when
practically worthless pitching stam
offered no resistance to the onslaughts
of the opposing team? And IL was Il
fair question. Ballplaycrs are human
beings and being human are prone
10 be affected just as are other hu-
mans. Talk with the players told the
trouble. There never was any dis
position on the part OF the team to
work together as a team. When It
was pointed out that Dobson was u
disturbing element and that he was
sore because he was not the manager
hear none OF it, claiming that his
popularity with the fans would not
admit OF his being let go. and not
realizing that what the fans wanted
was bascbaH. The best proof that he
was Il disturbing element is that the
team improved Immediately after his
departure. But il was not until the
coming of steve Griffin that the team
really reached it's real playing
The past season is past and SO
should bury it's troubles and disap-
IL e
showing "A disposition TO do better
things next season. the main cry now
is directed against the chief eXecu-
1--WE of the league, Something must
pitiful exhibitions given, and, so, why
not hide ii all in AN interclub tight,
with the president as the butt? Be
fore going further ii should be stated
disposed toward e. Il. Williams. the
present head of the league. This
1ricndlineSs has been created through
tile following circumstances: He has
known Williams for number OF years
and has always known him TO bc on
the level He has found him man
Of integrity and honesty. whose word
could be relied upon He has found
him man of convictions. but willing
TO he convinced that he was wrong.
As head OF the league, ne has done
his duty as he saw II, even though
doing that duty cost him the support
Of several of the maSnates.
The cry of Richmond that Williams
has been unfair TO this city is not
horne out by the facts Richmond was
fined during the season total Of APP
proXimately $3.50. Petersburg was next
with about $3.50. Yet there are those
who say that Petersburg is friendly 10
Williams because of favors to that
town. Those who have opposed Will
liams declare that lie had an interest
IN the Norfolk club, yet. despite the
fact That the people of Norfolk OBJ
iectcd, he fined and suspended Jack
Law. because he believed it for the
lest interest of the league. In I'll
OF the troubles which have arisen this
year IT has been Williams to the front,
and he has stood for criticism from
quarters which should have been his
main support He came into the
league as president after regime
during which the league had practi-
cally no head. Jake Wells was ou.
of the city nearly all of the time and
Richmond practically ran the organi-
zation Some talk is being raised as
To his travelling expenses Where thei {
are as many petty quarrels and
wranGles as obtained in the Virginia
League last season 1t was compulsory