Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-27
VIRGINIA LEAGUERS
Managers Signing Up Players
for the Coming Season.
BRISTOL'S ODD Statement
Won Championship of Appalachian
League, But Lost
Money.
pecial Correspondence Of The Star.

LYNCHBURG, Va, January %. 1913.
The financial statement issued several
days ago by the association backing the
Bristol team I'm tire Appalachian League.
which won the pennant last season. dis
pells the idea that Bristol was playing a
cheap team and makes il much easier to
understand why the Appalachian cham
pions were able to waliop the life out OF
the Virginia League champions
in a post season series of games. Instead
of being a cheaper outfit, Bristols team
probably cost more money a month than
did Roanoke's. despite the fact that the
provided for a salary limit
something like 500 a month less than
was the case in the Virginia circuit.
This statement shows that in three and
a half months the sum Of $6O09.63 was
paid in salaries to players, in addition to
an item of $1S5.03 charged to "try-outs.
The experience of the Bristol Associa ton
in attempting to provide an article Of
ball more costly than its resources could
stand for stands out in bold relief in the
statement. The gate receipts during the
season aggregated 3,91O.25 at home and
$742S6 on the road. This shows that
the team paid for salaries and try-outs
during the 1912 season nearly 81, 200 more
than the real drawing strength at home
and abroad.
OF course, the treasury was short in
face Of such condition and it was to be
expected, SO another item shows the as
ISOLATION got $1,S33 from miscellaneous
collections, presumably donations from
212 degree bugs, while 1878 was borrow
ed in bank and when the flag had been
gathered in the association found itself in
debt to the tune OF $1,213.5S. and now
another season. but to make good on a
deficit of $1,000 carried over from last
year.
An apology seems to be due to the
Bristol Association for this use OF its
figures, but 1t Is so seldom that an as
ISOLATION is frank enough to como out In
the public prints with wide-open state
ment OF it's operations as has been done
in this case. that it seems not out OF the
way to utilize the statement for an OBJ
to quit committing slow suicide. The
Bristol Association Is to be commented
for its frankness, even if it is to be CEN
sured for going in for a winner regard
less Of the prescribed salary limit.
Newport News has adopted yale gray
with blue trimmings for its road uniforms
for the coming season, while white with
blue trimmings will be used for the home
uniforms. The association has just Sc
cured it's charter from the state corpora
ton commission. and the Shipbuilders
this year will be operated as a corpora
ton instead Of a private enterprise, as
was the case last year. The fans are ex-
pected to put up enough money next
month to run the team through the sea-
son.
The Petersburg team is standing in
dread of the mails when the players re-
served last year begin to write back fol
more money, and it is expected that Man.
ager Busch will have something of q
crowd of hold-outs before he gets them
all in the ring. Mickey keliher and Ber
Spencer are already reported in that class
jump at once. especially if the Coolers
are to play anywhere near the pre-
scribed salary limit next season.
Doc Ayres. the Washington recruit, who
was bought from Richmond last fall, con-
tinues to insist that he is not going to
report to the Washington club at its
Charlottesville training camp. for about
that time he will be in the midst of his
spring examinations. The pitcher-doctor
or doctor-pitcher. If you choose. seems to
dote more on a medical degree than he
does for an opportunity to outshine Wal
ter Johnson and Bob Groom during the
coming season.
Secretary Bradley of the Richmond
ments this winter. Although he is both
ering himself very little over the as
sembling of base ball aggregation
for he has turned that over to Manager
Griffin, he has his hands rather full build
ing brand new ball lot. Last fall the
club had to give up its lease on the
Broad street park. where such men as
Lee Tannehill, Sam Lever, Pop Tate.
Chesbr0 and a few more diamond cele-
breties played a decade or two ago, and
it was up against the proposition of build
a plant from the ground up. While the
ia n ha ca6
concrete it will be complete in all of its
details. There will be ample seating &C.
commodation. with separate entrance for
white and negro patrons. press boxes.
telegraph facilities and a good field with
a grass diamond.
The contracts for the reserved players
are all out and Secretary Bradley will
have everything in shipshape for the
arrival of Manager Griffin, who is spend
ing the winter at his home at Toledo,
leaving nothing for the manager to dc
but to get his team together and train
it. Griffin seems to be getting a fast
team. Indeed, with his 1912 team intact
and with the addition Of another reliable
pitcher or two. Richmond would easily be
one of the contenders for the 1918 cham
pionship. Just now the Colts look strong
on paper. and with Griffin to whip 'em In
line, Richmond ought to be in for a good
season.
SudTIey OudIIeT, As ICpOIIe0s Is lOS-
ing sleep over the report that Pitcher
Gordon is bucking over the &races for
the coming season. Gordon has sue
cessfuily passed an examination for a
government position under civil service,
and it looks like the revenue service
for him instead of a Virginia ball yard.
Gordon made his advent into the Vir-
ginia League last spring, when he was
farmed by Chattanooga to the Danviile
team. He looked a bit more than a
y-doIlar pitcher, but
nothing was said until the association
fiunked and the league took over the
team. Then 1t was that President
found Gordon had two con-
with the league and an
other with the team. The one on file
called for $3.50, and the other for SIS
more q month. When Gordon was paid
by the league, it was at the one-hun-
nd-fifty-dollar rate. and he didn't
take kindly to the shave. Next he was
in the Carolina association. and after
a time showed up at Norfolk. where he
finished the season, after doing good
work Shaffer. no doubt. will miss
for it will be no easy job to
Joe Finneran, who was sold along with
John Dodge to the Philadelphia Ma
tionals.
Shaffer, who was sick nearly the whole
Of last season, now reports himself in
good shape, and he expects to be able
to take his place in the game when the
bell rings again. He had q good team
last season, and had he been able to d.
rect 1T with his old-time fight. there
would probably be a different tale to