The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-25
Pertinent Comment
BY Gus Malbert

BY Gus Malbert
| That the action OF the Virginia
league macnatcs in iengthcning the
\ stead OF 1l6. as originally planned.
Was wise cannot be questioned. The
shorter season, which was adopted as
q mpney-savinE device, has proved a
ho"nicranG. since the season was
closed carrier ana opened later. the
resources OF the Nirginit League have
Erhdually decreased. until for the past
money Richmond. True. Petersburg
could have laid by nice ana tidy
sum. bat that city was entirely too
intent on winning Il pennant to care
anything about making money. The
mon in that town didn't care for the
mpncy making powers OF the club.
Thcy We're out to V II championship,
thai only, spent The money which came
in at the box office window just as
iast as ii could be counted.
This is not always a wise policy. but
II small communities. where the base
BAH club is conducted largely for tho
advertising which il brings to the city
in question. the men usually financing
the team have a plenty OF this worlds
goods without hotherinS about bah
games to enlarge their share Un-
fortunately. not another OF the cities
In The circuit collected enough money.
even with the help OF Richmond. to
make il possible for THEM 10 hid 70,
the rag by purchasing players. There
Tore iicinie Rusch vas lucky. How
ever, all of this is aside from the
point,
The enlargement OF the circuit to
eight clubs made 1t absolutely essen
tial. il an equitable distribution OF
lie game was TO lie made to make the
playing season longer The only qucs-
tion al issue last year was whether
he. ~. ~. 81 l..
Saturday after Labor Day. The league
was practically a unit in deciding
against taking such action. and this
was likewis. the exercise Of good bus
mess Judgment But with the season
EXTENDED two weeks longer and with
the proba bility that at least half Of
the eight clubs will b. fighting for
top place, the interest in the race.
instead of tagging toward the close OF
the season will be keyed to the high
est pitch.
Another vital argument offered in
favor of lcnEthenipS the season was
that in the State OF Virginia the very
best weather If the year Is Wit
u. Then. again. tho early spring,
when Interest Is also intense, the
fans appotites having been whcttcd
through six long months of inability
IS well-niEh perfect. Thus. the, league
as a whole. will enjoy the craving
power of this good weather Instead
OF wasting 1t. as has been done for
several years. in trying TO arrange
exhibition games and attempting to
draw the fans to the parks with post
season contests between so-called
picked teams.
incidentally icngthen!ng the season
by moving forward the opening date
10 April is means the cancellation o.
several exhibition games. Troy. OF the
y. Work. 10, * a. "a II lad
70 play in Richmond on April 10 and
20 Montreal, of the International
League. IS due here for two games
on April II and 16 1t Is highly prob
able that both of these dates viii be
cancelled, and 1t is certain that tho
games with Troy will be called off.
Griffin will have some hustling TO do.
His men viii get but one days rest
II the entire schedule OF exhibition
games is carried out. even though Troy
is cancelled.
Phil Hinton, not unknown to the
baseball public OF Richmond, came to
town yesterday. Along in the squad
with Hinton was lack Raley, the first
Flournoy. an outilclder. Ii the wealth
er Is right to-day. the whole crowd
Will be al the park in uniforms To
begin the first preliminary practice.
Hinton is looking Just about as he
did when he left here several years
ago. He has not gained any flesh. nor
mas he lost any HIS wife, will re-
to he back in Richmond. He had
good season last year, but the al
fairs OF the Ohio Pennsylvania Lea que
are SO badly muddled that he accepted
Gr!ft!ns terms Phi battcd .229 In
that league and iiclded $50. Parry
Thackera, who also played in the O.
4 o,d =, N - games hi for 2ai and
in
battcd 295 and neided ass, which is
going some for a nrst baseman
Hinton is stuck on Graft the boy
who Viii try for third base on the
Colts. He says that third base has
never been played in this league, but
that Graf viii show how. Pretty
nearly every player signed will be in
o-day. Griffin expects to start them
10 work at once, as the time IS short
and a great deal must be accomplish
ed.
50 far os Richmond is concerned, the
schedule adppted IS ideal. The To-
cal club will make four trips to
Norfoik. Tire" 10 Portsmouth three
&C. NEWPORT N"wst Tour no Peters
burg and ,h:"e 10 Roanoke.
Noifoik has three Saturdays at Rich
mond Portsmouth. three. Newport
News two, Petersburg four. Danvillc |
iour' Lynchourg three, and Roanoke,
three"
Richmond win inlay according to this
schedule. IS games with Norfolk: is
games with Portsmouth: - rarprs
with Newport News: u rarncs with
petersburg, IS ram"s with Dnnviuc
y games with Lyuchhurg ana is
genes with Roanoke. II
High school Win. tEnIn.