Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-08
WILL HAVE BUTTON DAY
TO HELP BASEBALL TEAM
Richmond Fans and Fannettes VIII
Be Asked to Contribute
81 Each.
CLUB NOW sELF-sUsTAINING
With Debts Wiped Out, Climbers
VIII Pay Own Way for Balance OF
Season-EarIy Obligations, How
ever Hinder Development.

hiiec'ors VI tho RICHMOND Exhibition
Company agreed yesterday TO permit a
number Of loyal fans and boosters to
try their hands at putting the local
baseball club on a firm and lasting
basis Ways and means for accom-
plishing this worthy end have not been
FULLY threshed out, but a tentative plan
has been proposed and meets with the
approval of the club officials meet
Ing will be held tomorrow afternoon to
get things moving.
The tentative plan Is simple. but ef-
fective. In short. 1t is proposed to ask
every fan and fannette in the city to
contribute 81 to the club Golfers. This
money. OF course will be a voluntary
contribution. but in return the Rich
mond Exhibition Company will show its
appreciation by allowing all subscrib-
ers to attend tho opening game of tho
coming home series without cost.
Henry Hotchkiss is the man who is
going TO put the scheme across and It
is safe to predict that the Honey Boy
viii make success Of the undertakings
huge committee will be assembled to
work out the details and to get the
coin. Buttons bearing the legend. II
have paid my dollar" will be given to
each contributor, and whirlwind cam
paign TO round up the fans will be un-
dertaken.
ALVIN SMITH SAYS
PLAN Is GOOD ONE
Alvin n. Smith. president of the
Richmond Exhibition Company, and
Ben Wilson. member Of the board OF
directors, arc pleased with the attitude
taken by Mr. Hotchkiss and his friends
II think that such a scheme should
put the club beyond all possibility Of
any financial mbarrassment said Mr.
! Smith last night. "We have a ball
team. while not a winner. which Is still
in the race. and I believe that We are
going to see some real ball when the
club gets back. If We meet outstand-
ing obligations and have good weather,
feel that we viii survive this season
and be In shape to start our second
one"
Mr. Smith was asked point blank con-
corning the finances OF the club and
. frankly explained the situation, which.
while not as dark as has been painted.
has room for much Improvement.
According to the figures submitted
by Mr.. Smith, the Richmond baseball
! club is self-sustaininR. That is. the
receipts from all sources balance tho
! expenditures But In spite OF this. the
/ club Is behind at least $4,000 on the
! present season. and II is to wipe out
! this obligation that Mr. Hotchkiss
I hoped TO do The average attendance
/
for the last fourteen days in July. LES,
which is n decided Improvement. and
shows that expenses can be met IL II
] continues.
When Jack Dunn moved his Balti-
more franchise here, Richmonders were
20 $4,000. Slightly more than half
OF this was taken consequently when
| the Virginia League and Broad Street
Park Corporation had been satisfied.
nothing remained to start off the sea-
| son.
EARLY EXPENDITURES
PUT CLUB WAY BEHIND
| Things had to be done at the be-
| ginning OF the season that will not be
necessary next year. For instance.
| nearly s25o0 was expended in repairs
| on the stands and In building of a
diamond Players had TO be bought,
! and Pick alone cost Dunn $500 Play
expense from this source has been
heavy. Consequently, although the
| gate receipts have been sufficient to
pay operating expenses, the obliga-
lions incurred In the early stages are
still outstanding. Then, too. the bad
hole in the finances. To meet some
! Of the more pressing debts. Dunn has
not drawn his salary for several
| months.
Wipe out this outstanding debt,
| said Mr.. Smith, and the team will
| pay It's own way for the balance OF
| the senson. We will also have a mar
| gin then to start spring practice next
| year.
| "Mr Hotchkiss and his associates
are going after the matter in the right
way, and they are doing it, not for
the love of baseball alone, but for
Richmond. This city is getting adver-
| Using every day through It's connec-
| tion with the International League.
In the East alone there are 1900 or
| more scoreboards, all bearing the name
! OF Richmond coupled with cities far
| larger, but not more progressive.
| These boards are read by millions each
| day, while papers all over the country
carry the scores OF the games. and
again bring the name of the city into
prominence"
While speaking OF the club, Mr..
Smith called to mind that n number
of innovations Will be inaugurated on
the return of the team. For instance,
he announced that heretofore one
tpr,ce will prevail in the grandstand.
The admission to the grounds and
grandstand will be so cents the chairs
which formerly cost rs cents extra
being included. The bleachers will
remain two bits, but boys under
twelve, which practically means all in
short trousers, will get seats In the
CONTINUED on Fourth Page.)