Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-25
AMATEUR PLAYERS OUT
FULLER BELIEVES THAT
SEASON WILL BE SUCCESS
Washington md baltimore Players Al
rendy PrepnrinE-Comm mission
Head Watches Practice.

Every inch OF mud--for there was
little solid grouud-at Byrd Park was
covered with some kind OF a bail play
er yesterday afternoon working out
The kinks and getting in shape for
tlr season. which opens in about two
weeks. There were ball players large.
ball players small, bali players short
and hall players tall; IN fact. the
grounds inside the half-milo oval track
were literally covered with the knick-
crbockercd men.
Edward Il. Fuller. president Of the
Amateur Baseball Commission Of Rich
mond. was among the spectators pres
ent and was IN fine spirits and APP
psarcd much pleased al the large num-
Der of players who had bravcd The
mud and water 10 get into practice.
Mr.. Fuller is serving his first year
A. president OF the Amateur Commits
sion. having been elected TO serve in
the place OF Julien II. Hill who re-
signed some time ago. President Full
Ter has taken hold %; tho work with
a viii. and has bean !aboring hard to
got the boys Interested. Although this
Is his frs, Year as president OF the
organization, he is not unknown to
the amateur bail players of the city
4
under the commission and had some Of
tho best-known amateur players i'll the
city with him.
The president Of the commission was
spi"d watching the practice game be-
tween tho Duplex and Noldc rip-Tops,
and. when asked what he thought Of
TN" prospects for the season his re-
ply was something after this order:
We'll, the boys are certainly show
ing interest in their work this year.
and, when YOU can get crowd Of
players together with mud over two
inches deep over practically the en-
tire field. then IL seems that there is
no lack Of enthusiasm. The entire sue
cess of amateur baseball depends upon
the interest taken by the players them
selves
The president stopped Ia remark
about some batter coming up to the
plate or some bright fielding stunt
pulled by one of the players, and then
Went on:
1T seems 10 me that the teams this
year are about as evenly matched as
they could be. and this will go a long
way to help stimulate interest in ann
atcur ball. The six clubs in the Com
mercial League have the most evenly
matched teams that could have been
got together and | expect that this
league VIII see hot battle for first
place.
What has been heard from Wash
ineton and Baltimore since the season
of 1916 has passed into history" he
was asked
why. have just received letters
! from President Young, OF Washington,
! ana DR. Potter, president OF the ANA
/ teur Baseball Commission of Baltimore.
/ and both state that their boys have al
ready got under way. Washington an
nounres that they already have visions
of being intercity champions again.
and the boys up in the Capital City are
working hard The Baltimore lads
have been practicing equally as hard.
and reports from that city indica e
that they have started off with a rush
and will leave no stone upturncd to
win the intcrcity series
We'll we were beaten last year. but
YOU can say this much. that the team
that comes out victor in the series this
year will have to go some to down the
| boys from the Old Dominion Canital"