Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12
VIRGINIA LEAGUERS
Bad Weather This Spring Has
Hurt Attendance Everywhere.
LATE START NEXT YEAR
Latest News From Different Clubs
in Tight Little
League.

StrSlai DiSpatC6 10 Tue St0r
LYNCHBURG. Va, May u.-wonder
IL there is a magnate in the virginia
League who has not already concluded
that the league made a serious mistake
by getting such an early start this
spring? The weather has been typi-
cal OF the season-unsettled: Just unsettled
enough TO keep the fan from wondering
whether IT will be safe TO go TO the game
or safer to stay at home and wait for
the result on the bulletin board May IL
was the getaway day for President Boat
wright's circuit this year. which was just
about thirteen days too early. That's .
statement. doubtless. every club director
will agree with now. but ten TO one
chances he will forget next winter and
take another shot at an early opening
The first Thursday in May is always
early enough for the opening in Virginia
just two weeks later than the start
this year. This would permit the clubs
to report later. and would generally In
sure better training weather.
Then. too next fall the magnates will
see that they have erred In closing down
when a couple weeks of the best out-of-
doors weather In the year is lost to the
base bail season. From May ! TO Sep
TENDER p looks to be the season Tor the
Virginia League. but IL will be a wondes
II the magnates can see ii that way next
winter, even IL they realize IL right now.
This early starting business pretty near
put Danville on the jinx already. for the
hackers OF the team over there are pass
ing the hat around this week. True.
Danville will stay in the league and SUI
folk will look longingly for some time Yet
befope the Red Sox will go TO that hus-
Ting little burg. but that doesn't keep
v,s,fn
should not and would not have gotten
had the league started when the weather
would have been better. BY the time the
Danviile hat is full the weather Will set
over the circuit. and from now on the
league ought TO get over a bad start and
be prosperous till closing days are here.
Whisper II under cover and knock wood
at the same time. but really IL looks as
though President Boatwright has gotten
himself q stan OF umpres who can see
the difference between a ball and strike
and q decision on the bases. or course.
il is not intended 10 convey the impress
sion that every decision has met with the
favor OF the home bug, but this does not
prevent the claim that the stan thus far
has proven far, far above the average.
There has been little umpire roasting In
the papers thus far and when an umpire
can get by the youthful sporting editors
OF the Virginia League he deserves one OF
science. there were . couple Of would
be arbiters who abide no longer. but the
remainder of the stan. Dougherty. Nc
Bride, Black and Donahue, are still with
Us.
Monday In the Lynchburg- Newport
News game ut Newport News First Base
man Wolfe was chased by Umpire Dough-
erty for disputing a decision, and. IL
memory serves Alright, Wolfe was the
first man to get this treatment this sea-
son. Think of an eight-club league play
ing two weeks without player being
have sounded in the days Of Patsy
Tebeau, when q base ball game Was
tame affair without scrap? The man
ayers thus far have been so docfle that
1t begins 10 appear that President Boat
wright must have sent them a love let
ter before the season opened. Well. lets
hope IL will keep up, for IL Ia q way 70
cater to the best element which would
like to patronize ball game, but cares
little for a reproduction Of night over
the back yard fence or q regular prize
ring mill.
Harry zannelli. the Washington player.
who was released last week by the locals.
will figure in little contest before the
national board IL the johnson City q ppala-
cham team makes a protest for his serv-
ices After being released here Zan-
neili wired terms TO Johnson City. In
Manager CASTOR, who was playing here.
signed him for 4 trial with the Danville
team. Shortly after this came a tele-
gram from Johnson City accepting the
terms offered by Zanneiif. The player
Joined Danytlle here and should have 1T
tie trouble beating Fleet Mayberry out
In a fight for the Red Sox shortheld. pro-
vided Johnson City does not get him In
stead.
trial in the spring OF 1911 with WASH
ineton. IS surprising fans around the
Virginia circuit by the form he IL show
ing on the slab for Danville Bussey
did not deliver the goods last season
either in the South Atlantic or the Caro-
lima Association, and some surprise is
heard over the good ball he has already
twirled for the Red Sox.
Jack Morrison Is playing a wonderful
game in left field for Lynchburg. His
stick work this spring has not only been
consistent, but II In around $50.
1t is evident from a statement made by
President B0atwrignt at a recent meet
ing of fans In Danville that the national
board Will 60 to the rescue of the Nir-
ginia League il organized ball suffers to
any extent in Richmond by reason of the
opposition now being furnished by the
outlaws. Mr.. Boatwright believes this
to be true. and il is to be hoped that he
has not been misled in the promises, but
II the action of organized authorities last
season counts for anything IL IL more
than probable that the Virginia League
will be left to work out its own destiny
without interference. Last year Norfolk
had outlaw teams all around but II the
national board so much as turned a finger
to help such q fact never came from
under the surface. The situation in
Richmond Is even worse. for the fans
there have been led to think they are
by the Virginia organization. This
coupled with the poor showing made by
the Colts under Steve Grimm, has turned
the patronage to the outlaws. OF course
II Grimm can get his team into the run
ming again he will draw well. certainly
enough to split the attendance nearer
half. As long as the outlaws are In
Richmond it Is going to be a hard fight
unless Richmond can be kept to the top
of the race. This IL up TO Owner Brad.
ley and Manager Grimm, for they need
not expect much help even from the ma
tional board unless that body does some
thing II did not do last season
Jimmy jackson has been turned loose
by Danvtlle. jackson has either slowed
down or he has been unable to keep pace
with the league. for q few years ago.
when with Norfolk, he was one OF the
stars OF the circuit Jackson halls from
Nd. where he can 60 back
days are over-something that has hardly
come as yet.
Roanoke has purchased two pitchers
from Southern League teams. Burleson
coming from Mobile and Green from Biz