The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-28
MANAGER GRIFFIN
HAS new PITCHER
RALPH DAVE. LATEST RECRUIT
FOR RICHMOND CLUB, SIGNS
CONTRACT.
lake WELLS TALKS
GLAD TO SEE TROUBLE IN LEAGUE
Is OVER, HE SAYS, IN PRAIs-
ING EIGHT-CLUB
CIRCUIT.
JAKE WELLS TALKS

Another long distance letter from
Steve Griffin, manager OF the Kich-
mon baseball club. states that he mas
signed pitcher named Ralph DAVE
whose past performances are not men
toned in Who's Who who looks good
to Steve.
Mr.. Griffin says that he is snow
bound in Toledo. which is In ohio.
For thirty hours previous to writing
he had been shoveiing snow. he de-
cIared. which Is some fact or pair
Of them Either Mr.. Griffin must own
considerable real estate in Toledo or
he lives on the outskirts Of that fair
village. Shoveling paths for the cat
tie and breaking ROADS is marveiousiy
fine exercise for hall PLAYERS in win
ter time Cy Young Is an illustration
of the efficiency of this sort of winter
training.
No doubt with such an opportunity
asthe heavy fall of snow mas given him
Manager Griffin has developed into
as fine and fancy a shoyeler as ever
handled shovel. He says the old
wing" will be in great shape TO chuck
them across the diamond next season.
Jake Wells Talks.
Jake Wells. theatrical magnate and
former president OF the Virginia State
League has these few kinds words to
say and says them
II am glad the trouble Is over. Nm
der the conditions an eight-club cir
cult was the one solution Of the prob
lem. II was a mistake to ever let
Portsmouth drop out of the Virginia
League and ! believe. with a Ports
mouth owned club the season will be
| successful one across the river and
that the interest in Norfolk will be
greatly stimulated because Portsmouth
| is To be a contender.
But" added Mr.. Wells. the num-
her OF clubs in the-ls league is not the
material thing. 1t Is true that bet
| ter schedule can be arranged with
eight clubs and there will be more
clubs for the people TO look ut. The
/ success OF the proposition, though.
will hinge upon hiring young ball play
ers. who can be secured at salary
that the Virginia League can stand
rather than employing has beens' at
/ more money than they are worth. In
having young ambitious players the
! club owners Will possess material that
! can be developed and sold at the end
of the season. If "a scout for big
/ league club Is ioking over players
and finds one that impresses him the
/ first thing hi. asks Ia, How old Is he :?
| II the PLAYER is a young one he has
a god chance OF going up. but II he
| is an old stager the scouts Will pass
| him up. because they figure that he
will never he any better and probably
| not so good in another year.
| Brings the Profit.
It's the saleable material of club
t in the Virgisia League class that
/ brings the profit to the club owners
and ii would be good idea 10 pro
! hihit the clubs from purchasing or
drafting players from a league higher
! than the Virginia League. The best
! results would be obtained by getting
these players from leagues Of "A lower
/ or some class as this league"
"A Richmond paper stated several
!, days ago." said the reporter, that you
were president of the Virginia League.
the Richmond club and part owner OF
: the Norfolk club at one and the same
( time; Ia this true?"
| 1t most assuredly Is not" was Mr.,
Wells reply. Il was never president
! of the Richmond club and never own
i ed cent of stock in the Norfolk club
!, at any time. II ia true that ! was In
+, terested in the Richmond club with
Mr. Bradley during the first two years
II was president of the league. but
when / ives reelected the third year
against my own wishes I disposed OF
my holdings and for three years had
absolutely no connection with any
club In the league. In 1910 when the
! championship OF the league hinged
upon a technicaiity ! decided in favor
Of Roanoke when the owners Of the
Norfolk club we're among the closest
friends I have. am sure that no
| fair minded man can even Intimate
that ! was partial To any club in the
/ league. + had sanass AF .tsasa nj things
/ to do. but | always tried to treat
everybody fairly"