The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-10
RESENTS CRITICISM
OF NEWPORT NEWS
Gus AIalbcrt,
Gus Malbcrt.
Sporting Editor The Times Dispatch
Richmond. Va.

Gus Malbert.
Sporting Editor The Times Dispatch.
Richmond. Va.
My Dear Gus.-In The Times-D!s-
patch sporting page to-day under title
OF In the Wake OF the Game" you
make such gross misstatements Of
facts that feel II my duty as a d,rec-
tor OF the Virginia League. as q diroc-
tor OF the Newport News Baseball
Club. Inc. and as citizen Of the best
town on earth, to point out TO you
your errors. Had you secured the
facts In the case from President J.
O. Boatwright as to the attendance In
Newport News this season, you would
not have been led into the error OF
placing Newport News In the same
class with Roanoke and Portsmouth,
so far a attendance Is concerned And
your statement that the attendance
In this city IS dwindling away is with
out tho slightest foundation In fact
We people down here are At loss
to know Why you so pcrsstently mis-
Represent the facts as regards New
port News as baseball town The
official records will show that Newport
News is drawing as we'll ms any city
in the State. with the exception OF
Richmond, and when Petersburg played
q week end series here. Petersburg
took out of this city more money by
nearly 500 than Newport News took
out Of Richmond for a week end series
Petersburg also got as much money
out of Newport News in that series
as It has taken out OF Richmond this
season. except where a holiday gama
was played.
Your own msaager. steve Grimm.
stated after his team had played here
that he had taken more money out Of
Newport News for the three games
Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday,
than he had ever gotten In any other
town In Virginia since he has been
managing baseball teams in the Vir
g!n!a League. Lee Garvin, manager Of
the Portsmouth Club. Will substantiate
the statement that Newport News is
drawing better than Petersburg. as will
Manager Shaffer or Manager Kircher.
of the Norfolk Club have not dis
cussed the matter with Dr. Pressly. but
] think that he VIII substantiate the
statement that Newport News Is draw
ing as we'll as any town in the state
and better than any OF them. except
Richmond
Comparing the size of the towns
Newport News has shown that II is
a far better ball town than Rlchmond.
And we don't have to have any 10-sent
gate TO draw the crowds either. The
people down here are sports enough
to put up quarter OF dollar to see
the games. They don't ask for any
cut rates. and they are there every
time the team plays at home. This
town is the Invest baseball town or
the map, for It's size. barring none, and
when the local club Is home 1t more
than pays It's expenses. including sala-
ries, the division to the visiting clubs
and all other expenses But It loses
when 1t goes to Norfolk. Portsmouth
and Roanoke.
Newport News is outdrawing Norfolk
almost two to one, but I suppose you
judge Norfolk a good baseball town.
This city Is supporting a tailend club
Ms Richmond would not support such
n club, and when we have n winner
Richmond will have to look TO It's
laur-ls or Newport News will be the
best ball town. size not included, In the
State of Virginia.
This IS written you for publication.
Fraternally yours.
JAMES L. WEST.