The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-11
Class D Circuit One of the
Most Prosperous in Minor
Organized Baseball.
GAMES WELL ATTENDED


of organized ball, is making good in no
uncertain manner. The league IS com
posed of Martinsburg. W. Va. Frederick
and Hagerstown. Nd, and Hanover
Chambersburg and Gettysburg. Pa. The
Frederick. and Gettysburg. Pa. The
circuit is compact. the longest jump
being between Hanover and Martins
burg. seventy-five miles. Most of the
travelling is done by automobiles. this
being found more satisfactory and eco
nomical than by railroads. even on the
longer trips. The six towns of the
league have an aggregate population
of about ZOO. ranging from .Gettys-
burg. with 5000. to Hagerstown. with
10000. and the interest and attendance
is as good as in many of the leagues
of four times the population.
The attendance has been surprising
ly good all season. and crowds of LOO
to 1,5c0 are not uncommon, especially
on Saturdays and holidays. The at
tendance at the six games Monday
Gully 81 averaged almost LOO paid
admissions. about $500 people being
present at the morning and afternoon
games. The total receipts for this day
amounted to almost Sl,IOO which was
divided equally among the six clubs
On all days except holidays the home
ceipts fifty-ffty. the grand stand re-
ceipts going to the home teams. This
has proved a very satisfactory ar
rangement, and has helped the smaller
towns to pay their way and leave a sat
isfactory margin on the right side of
the ledger. The league expenses are
pail out of an assessment of 10 per
cent on the gate receipts-this being
used to pay umpires, scorers. etc. The
-lA a. - col
aries. but their expenses on trips are
paid out Of the league fund.
The books show that it is costing ap-
proximately 5000 a month to run each
club, or from $1,000 to $4,000 per month
for the entire circuit Thus far the re-
ceipts from admissions, grand stands,
and privileges have more than met this
expense. giving each club a small but
satisfactory surplus. The league and club
officials believe that the circuit has been
put upon a stable basis. and that the
prospect for organized ball in this section
in the future is very bright.
The players have been recruited from
not only the higher-class minor leagues.
but from both the American and National
leagues. as we'll as the Federal League.
Men who have worn uniforms in the ma
jors, the International the Tri-State. the
New York State, the Southern and Vir-
ginia lea CUES are playing ball in the Blue
Ridge circuit. A large proportion Of the
players however. are college men, many
of them having been stars on their school
teams, who are now breaking into the
professional ranks. The Gettysburg team
alone has tried out more than twenty
college men, several of them making
good from the start This is true in
lesser degree Of all the clubs in the cir
cult.
Notwithstanding the fact that Frederick
secured an early lead and is now out In
front with a comfortable margin Of
points. the race has been an interesting
one. At this time Hanover is second. two
games ahead of Martinsburg. with Ha-
gerstown fourth three games behind
Martinsburg. Chambersburg and Gettys-
burg have been having a see-saw fight to
keep out of the cellar position. with the
latter club now perched there by a mar
row margin. At this time IS per cent Of
the schedule has been completed, and
while Frederick has been playing good
ball she has shown signs of breaking
lately. and il would surprise no one to
see both Martinsburg and Hanover push
ing her hard for first place in another
two or three weeks.
Manager Jack Morrison has brought
the Frederick team out in front by rea-
son Of his strong pitching stan and the
clean fielding of his entire squad. The
Frederick boys have been playing a con-
sistent game in the field and have won
number Of games by their stout de-
tense at critical times. The pitching stan
has been going strong all season. King,
Stevens. Peck. Norton. and Orrison hurl-
ing ball that would make good In much
faster company. King. Frederick High
School boy. who was with the Richmond
Internationals ear in the season and
farmed to Frederick. has won nine
straights. Stevens has won six out Of
eight starts. In Boye. Agnew. Barnhart.
and Porter Frederick has a very fast in
field. while Morrison, Lamar, and Orri-
son compare very favorably with any
outneld in the league. Incidentally Fred
erick Is leading the league in team Held
Ing.
Martinsburx has been the most incon-
sistent performer in the league, playing
an in-and-out Rame that has proved DIS
appointing to the patrons here. Individ-.
ually, the team looks to be the strongest
In the circuit by a wide margin. with
an especially strong hurting star. and
the team has exhibited real class In =
number Of brilliant and hard-fcught
bAmee. The Weakness OF the club. how
ever. lies In unsteadiness in the field.