The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-18
BASEBALL TEAM TAKES
A NEW LEASE ON LIFE


and that the team would disband after
the game in Leesburg but some of the
fans We're so well pleased with that
rip roaring game that they got in be-
hind the finances and have assured US
a team until September sth. The
management had enough money on
hand after the Leesburg game to set
tie all bills and close out the season
free Of debt and had decided to adopt
that plan, but two or three OF our lead
ing citizens and enthusiastic fans
thought it shame to stop playing
just when we had winning aggrega-
ton assembled and going good, so
they took out their pencils and paper
and did some tall figuring in high
finance and decided that they would
underwrite the team for another
month. They ordered all bills paid
and fresh start made. | have today
paid all bills out against the associa-
tion so far as | know. If you have
an unpaid bill please present it to me
at once.
The new underwriters have engag-
ed the services of Elrod as manager,
captain and pitcher for the team at
salary of $3.50 for the month. They
have also hired Taylor for shortstop
and pitcher for the month at a salary
of $50 and expenses (about $40 a
month";. Wood and Swink come to
Oeala to play for their expenses and
time lost from their jobs. at a rate of
S5 the trip. They average three trips
a week so they will cost $120 for the
month. Powell plays with us for
$50 a trip to Ocala from Lynne The
balls cost US Sc a game The whole
expense for the month will be about
$3.50. These three public spirited men
expect to get most of this from gate
receipts but if they do not get it all
they will have to dig into their own
pockets. It is up to the rest of us. to
help them out. They say they will not
go around begging for money unless
they just have to do so. They want
you good-hearted fans who have not
already given all you can to mail me
check for them. Do this without
being personally solicited. If three
men vii ltake the whole burden on
their shoulders, let's show them that
we appreciate their spirit ard pep and
come to the front with our cash to
help them out.
EIrod has taken hold with vim.
He has secured crew of negroes and
has been hard at work on the infield
and outfield of our park. The outfeld
has been moved so that ball hit
there balls the jack until some one
gets in its path. The infeld has been
skinned like squirrel ready for the
frying pan and is today being rolled
and sprinkled with the city hose cart
and roller. The city is donating its
equipment towards making the last
month red letter month in the his
tory of Ocala baseball. What are you
doing to help?
Our. tentative schedule for the rest
of the month includes about three
games a week. We hope to arrange
three games with Leesburg. Our
games with them now stand two and
two. We have phoned Manager Kirk
and he first said that his men would
not play 0cala on our grounds be-
cause we had such bum park. (We
have not any school house standing in
the middle of where center field ought
to be and our infeld isn't slanting but
III admit our park is not of the best).
I told Mr.. Kirk that we were giving
our park a general overhauling and
that it would be ready for use in
day or two He then asked me how
much longer we would play, and I
told him until Sept. 9Th. He replied
that they had no open Thursdays be-
fore Sept. 18th. / suggested that he
try to get Winter Garden and Tavares
to trade some other day for their
Il 1nuTSQdYS as We COu1Q Hdh0 HOEG
money for both teams than the other
towns could.
Palatka wants a game or two with
us. The Orlando state league team
wants to play US when the season is
over. Dunnellon wants game. None
of the games have been set yet as we
are waiting to hear from Leesburg.
We want them to have every choice
TO play off the tie soswe don't care to
be dated up when they select a day.
What our underwriters expect of
the fans is that they attend the
games and nay at the gate. They have
issued orders to Mr. DeCan1p at the
gate to admit no one without paying,
even if it. were President Harding
himself. That is pretty hard on you
folks who would like to slip in free,
but you must consider that these
three men are risking over 5000 eaen
on this venture and they want it all
back if possible. L. T. IzIar,
Secsy. Ocala RI. B. Assn.