The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-19
COMMISSION DECLARES
AMATEUR SEASON CLOSED
Permission Granted Battle Axe and
Ashland to Play Seven Games
~ for Championship.
WASHINGTON GIVES SANCTION
Situation In Capital City League Is
Explained to Intercity Officials, and
They Express Opinion That the

Explained TO Intercity officials, and
They Express Opinion That the
Rest Action Has Been Taken.
The past week has brought out
many things that have made tho anna
teur baseball commission OF Richmond
sit up and take notice. The meeting
of the Capital City League. hold last
Tuesday night when the Grays sur
rendered their franchise. was the match
that started tho big fire. Tho whole
truth is that the commission did not
fully realize that they were facing a
most crucial situation until after this
meeting. President julien Hill. who
keeps in touch with every movo that
is made by the teams playing under
the jurisdiction OF tho commisSio
realized that the time had como for
this body to take such action as would
not only hold the organization together.
but would tend to make organized
amateur baseball stronger in this city
than It has ever been before.
President Hill Mt once got busy and
issued Il call for a meeting OF tho
commission, which was attended by the
largest number OF the members that
had been present at any meetings this
year.
The result of the meeting was OF a
most gratifying nature TO those pres
ent, and proved beyond shadow of a
doubt that the organization has be-
come fixture in Richmond.
President Hill realized that the rules
OF the commission demanded immedi-
ate action, and when the commission
met he plainly stated the situation to
the members, and asked them to con-
slider carefully rule of the playing
season rules, which reads as follows:
"A league shall not consist of more
than six nor less than four clubs at
any time during the season. Through
Withdrawals or other reasons that
cannot be anticipated. if less than four
clubs remain in an organization prior
to July 10. the commission may de-
clare that the league has closed with
out completing its season."
Notice that this rule says may do
clare" and not must declare" tho sea-
son closed
After duo consideration OF this rule
and much discussion on the subject, It
was decided by the commission to al
only two clubs left on the league) to
play n series of seven games to decide
the championship of the league.
The next proposition was the disposal
OF the players OF tho defunct Grays
team, This brought forth discussion.
the players free agents at once Tho
meeting then adjourned to notify the
managers of teams In the various
leagues who were In another room
awaiting the decision OF the commits
sion.
When the managers learned what
had been done by the commission, sew
'eral of them protested against the ac-
ton in regard to players OF the
Grays. Several managers claimed that
these players should continue as the
property of the Capital City League,
and be at tho disposal of tho teams
that remained in tho league This
was q point well taken. and tho COM
mission decided TO reopen the ques-
zion, and went into executive session
for the second time, and voted to al
low the managers of the Capitol City
League the exclusive right Of sign
hight
This was. as the eleven members
thought, tho most fair and equitab
proposition that could be offered, but
when 1t was laid before the managers,
DR.. Parker, manager of the Battle Axe,
declared that he thought the managers
OF the Capital City League teams
should have the right OF valves on tho
players. AS the commission had dis
cussed this proposition from every con-
ceivable point. II felt that for the
best interests of amateur baseball, its
decision was just and final. DR.. Par
ltcr at once surrendered his franchise
which was accepted by the commission
Secretary Ben Tucker. of the Capital
City League made application to tho
commission for the franchise, and II
was granted.