The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-01

The worm seems to be turning ut
a good rate of speed in Virginia
League circles. Just before the end
Of the 1914 season Richmond was held
up to a good price by the Virginia
League magnets for the local fran
chise In order that the International
League could place q club here. De-
spite the fact that nearly all of Rich
mond's representative business men
interested in a higher grade of base
ball for this city met the Virginia
League officials and asked them to
be lenient, no favors were shown local
people, and 1t required nearly four
months time TO get enough money
to warrant bringing the big league
here.
Now. however. things have changed.
whether Or not the Virginia League
will reorganize is a question that Will
not be solved for some time and
probably not until early in the spring.
Portsmouth. Norfolk, Newport News,
Rocky Mount. Suffolk and Petersburg.
for a part of the season, were in the
Virginia League last year. 1t is known
that but two ciubs--Norfolk and
Rocky Mount--made any money to
speak of etersburg could not stand
the seasons grind, while Suffolk Jared
badly. Newport News made a little
money and that town has promised
to return to the leagues fold again.
Wilmington Wants to Get In.
The question now IL what other
towns will play ball in the circuit.
Wilmington, y. c.. is anxious to get
a berth In the circuit. providing Rich
mond Is taken in. 1t is improba bic
that the North Carolina League will
be reorganized the coming season. i!
this Is the case Raleigh would also
desire a place in the circuit A league
made up OF Newport News, Norfolk,
Raleigh. Durham, Wilmington and
Rocky Mount would be a good thins
for the Virginia League moguls. A.
matters now stand, however, there Ia
not much In sight for a successful
season. Hopewell has been suggest
ed as q good baseball town. Most oil
Hopewelrs employees are foreigners
who do not understand or care foI
the national pastime, while the men
who are interested in it. leave Hope
well for Richmond and Petersburg as
soon as they complete their labors
at the DUPONT plant.
In the meantime. however. the sport
writer's on the stats OF Norfolk
Lynchburg, Roanoke, Wilmington
and Newport News papers are giving
much space to argument which would
keep Richmond out of the Interna-
tional League and return this city to
Virginia League baseball.
An article from the Norfolk vir-
ginian-Piio is interesting fiction and
some parts of It are printed below in
order that Richmond fans might get
an idea of what il being said In
~ he ~ff nj 40 ~
Virginia League season:
Where's Virginia Pride.
Dunn will. no doubt, see that the
Richmond fans who invested money
in bringing the International League
Club to Richmond are reimbursed.
This should satisfy the minority stock
holders, but judging from utterances
emanating from Richmond IL will not
They are threatening to resist the re-
moval of the club by taking the mat
ter into court IL they do SO and sue
coed they will be sorry. II the Inter
national is forced to keep a club ii,
Richmond against its will Richmond
will soon wish 1t elsewhere. There is
nothing in baseball law or common
law either TO keep the international
magnates from giving Richmond the
short end OF the deal In the seized
ule and then saddle Richmond with
such a poor team il will not draw al
home or abroad. There are more
ways of killing n cat than feeding II
to death on butter.
Richmond fans and critics. OF
course, dislike to see their dream OF
Class IA baseball vanish after one
brief year, but their Virginia pride
than which there Is no greater pride
under the sun. should keep them
from trying to force themselves In
company which desires their room
instead of their presence.
Belongs to Virginia League.
Richmond's rightful place In the
baseball world Is in the Virginia
League. For years II was an honored
member of the circuit and It's team
drew well all around the wheel. Then
came the dream OF promotion to 2
higher class. OF consorting with
Providence. Montreal, Buffalo. Roch.
ester, Newark, and Richmond cut
loose from it's former associates. the
lesson has been learned. ait wha'