Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-27
MYSTERY IN RICHMOND
CLUB PUZZLE TO FANS.
DeplorabIe Showing Of Team Thi,
Season Causes Followers Of Game.
{" Seek Explanation.
WHY LOCAL INTEREST WAVES
Silence OF Club Owners Leads to Be-
lief That Best That Is to he Ei-
pccied Is OGcred-CoDfidcnce
Needed to Win Support OF Fans.
tlly "liOSJ'N.",

manifested during the course of II game.
for the cheers and shout. Of approval
Tor a player often arc changed Instant
lN and upon tho slightest prctcxt To
boots Of dcrison and the wcll-known
advice "Takc'm out" But once the ball
field has been left behind and the game
is being played in retrospect or the sit
uation is being reviewed. the fans are
given TO real thought as we'll as con-
siderable speculation.
This is true Of Richmond fans at
least
They have been pondcrinc deeply
upon tho local baseball situation
Tor some time. questioning many Of the
moves that have been made dcplorinc .
tho showing made by the team during
the present season and cndcavorinE sto
find reason.
But the mystery has not been ex-
piaincd 10 them. 1t remains with us
still. There is 4 reason, OF course for
the fact that few other than mediocre
players have been brought here there
is reason for the manner in which
several OF them have been used since
signing Richmond contracts. there is ::
reason for the dismissal OF Billy Smith
as manager. there is a reason for the,5
many rumorS circulated about the club
and the individual players and there is
= reason for the fact that Richmond has
won but nine games thus far. seven s
during the first month at home and two
since taking the road three weeks ago.
What is tile explanation? That is the
question that three OF every four local
rams is asking and the question that
thus far officials OF the Richmond club
have avoided answering.
support OF the club by the fans hardly
enters into the present consideration.
the crowd OF opening day was good
and that on the first Saturday was not
complained Of. Neck day games sell
dom draw large attendance here, so II
is evident that the local club drew
fairly we'll until il became evident the
team was not of IL caliber to cope with
opposing teams.
Games Held M interest.
! Then the crowds began to .lwindie
| They continued to decrease and by the
time the club left the home grounds
! scarcely corporals guard turned out
| Tor the contests. OF course, tho war,
automobilinS and interest of persons
| who formerly attended ball games in
business or club activities is RESPONSE
bic to considerable degree; but the
outstanding fact appeared TO be that
| the fans did not care 10 sec tho kind
OF ball being presented.
| Reports were given out frequently
! that efforts were hcinS made to secure
other men. and several new players
were signed. However, few of tncm
nave proved better than those released.
| Rumors had 1t that the local club would
not pay the prices demanded by good
players; others that big league cubs
mad no players 10 let out. Yet other
| International League teams have been
securing excellent material from the
major teams and Richmond has SUI
| Tered.
! Now Manager Billy Smith. regarded
! mere AS one OF the most popular lead
trS ever secured 10 direct II Richmond
| club, has been let out otto knabe
mas been siEned. and is expected In
bring the club up in the race. knabe
IS an old Philly player and has had
! managerial experience in the Federal
LEAGUE. lie kept Baltimore well up
| IN the running with the Fcdertls dur
ing the irst year that circuit existed
| VIII he he able to bring about the
rejuvcnation Of the local club? viii
| lie he able 10 secure additional and
better players for Richmond or viii
ne be able TO win games with those
| already on the roster:
| u he does, the fans probably will
form their own opinions as 10 the WINS
ana the wherefores Of the results at
| tanned this season, without an cxpla-
nation from the club owners. Uuless
he does. ii is probable the attendance
! viii continue IL decrease n
| In amy event, it would appear thai,
me local owners would make II hit with
/ the ians by furnishing some mixing
| rs to the causes for tho present stand
| 'nG of the team. as a Justification for
the belief in better showings when tho
tlub returns To the home grounds on
! Thursday
Bad Advertising Unchecked.
While holders Of season hooks bavc
| been Kidding their systems of heat
| against the club and those fans who
nave attended The games have been
| departing from the field swearing
never to return nothing has been done
! to countcract the effect of the dsas-
trous advertising. by virtue Of Tie
silence, Richmond followers OF the
game have been led To believe they
! were getting the best that might b..
expected.
Now that managers have been chang
ed, the only attempt At explanation is
carried in the announcement that tho
o'hcials believe playing manager
will be more valuable to the club Than
bench manager. That is true, yet,
with the club in the situation il now
finds itself and the mind OF the fans
made antagonistic to the game here,
1t hardly affords sufficient explanation.
The situation is not made more acccp- y
'ahle when II is remembered, that Il
rev days prior TO the announcement
that knabc had been signed, officials
OF the club stated positively TO this
paper that they were not considering
any such change.
knabc was not signed in a day. Nor s
was ne the only man approached be-
fore successor for Billy Smith had ],
been secured. EumorS had IL that Red
Doom was under consideration and
that negotiations had been opened with
h'ni. This was denied. Rumors on &
the streets here also had il that other
wcl'-known players had hecn ap-
preached. They brought the general 4
denial from the club officials
The baseball situation throughnuses
the country is IN an uncertain condi.&
! ton al best. II the game is TO sur. Z.
| Niye IL will Ia ncrcsGarv for cI,,t.
crs To exercise considerable foresight Y
ana to play IN the fans. TO win theirs&
| favor. and. therefore, their support
| And To do this. the confidence OF thu
followers OF the game must DO sccur- a
cd. When the team returns IL Will RAJ
! auirc hearty support. II il is to sur.
vivc the season without forcing oHrers N
TO dis deep In their jeans. scpdins hadES:
money after worse. 1$i