Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-09
BIG LEAGUE STARS
DOWN PENINSULA
Lefty Russell Playing With
Laurel: Dover Disbands;
Teams Drawing Crowds.

the strong contenders In the baseball
frAcas now going on down the penin-
-sula. Dover having thrown UP the
sponge a week ago Saturday night.
with reported deficiency of 5000. A
carnival was given in the town last
week to help pull the club out OF its
financial difficulties. One of the prin-
cipal causes of Dover's downfall WAS
the disbanding. several weeks ago, OF
the Milford team. These two clubs
when playing against each other, were
among the strongest drawing cards
on the peninsula. and a great help IN
keeping up the expenses of the two
teams. Another cause was the indif-
fercnt playing of late of the Dover
team, they having struck bad losing
streak.
= The past week also witnessed the
invasion of another ex-leaguer down
this way. Lefty Russell. the famous
$1,000 beauty, whom Connie Mack
bought from Jack Dunn, having pitch
cd Laurel to a to 0 victory over
Salisbury, acknowledged to be one of
the strongest teams now fighting for
first honors on the peninsula. Russell
had the Salisbury club beaten from
the start He was opposed in the box
by broadway" Jones, Miilsboro's
pitching ace, and battery mate of
Walter Belts, also of Millsboro, now
with the Phillies. Jones oficiates
both in the box and behind the bat.
He is a big fellow with a world of
speed. but appears to tire along about
the sixth or seventh inning.
e. Laurel has got the baseball fever.
and with the assistance of Seaford,
Delmar. Bridgeville and other nearby
towns the attendance is increasing
every game.
Last week a fence was built around
the pew park which the team is using
this season for the first time. A new
grandstand was built when the new
grounds were opened.
New faces from the semi-profession-
nj ranks of the cities continue to ap-
pear on the teams engaged in the
struggle. and this week the Cecil
County League was invaded for play
ers. Moore. of the Elkton. Md, team.
has been engaged by Easton. and
pitched his first game Thursday,
against Laurel. He made a very
creditahIe showing. allowing Laurel
five hits. Easton lost the game. Al.
but IL was not Moore's fault. The
"old timer" after seeing a majority
of the teams down the peninsula in
action, is still of the opinion that
there are better ball players hanging
around some OF the peninsula towns
than some of those that are imported
from the city lots. sYott" Conaway,
of Seaford. would make good with any
of the teams if given the proper show
and encourasement. He Is SO per
cent better than some of the outfeld-
crs down here at present, and he is
"A player who is liable to break UP any
ball game with a home run clout. He
is not fiashy fielder, but his hitting
Will more than offset any deficiency he
lacks in chasing fly balls
The old timer" has heard consider
able. comment about the umpiring
down the peninsula In some of the
games it is bad, and very disgusting
20 the fan who happens to live at
distance, and goes to see the game
won or lost on its merits. The um-
pfre question is one that viii need at
tention before any satisfactory re-
suits are obtained. Speaking of UNI
Firing brings the "old timers" mind
back to the old days when big Mike"
tGeorge) Davis, of Laurel was UNI
piring Here was a fellow who has
umpired all up and down the penin-
sula. and his work was always a credit
TO himself and the game.
Notwithstanding the intense rivalry
between Seaford and Laurel in the old
Gays Big Mike" always gave uni-
versal satisfaction and his services
were always sought Everyone, both
player and fan, knew he was on the
square. and If he made q mistake il
was not done Intentionally If there
were some Mike" Davises down the
peninsula today, the game would be
far better off. Davis died several
years ago and everyone was sorry to
hear of his death, coming as il did
while he was still in the prime of life
Big Mike" was also some pitcher in
his heydey, and engaged in many
a gruelling contest all up and down
the peninsula
Edward NJ. Scott. former Seaford
postmaster, and for several years
manager of the Seaford team, was an
other umpire who always enjoyed sthe
respect of the fans, and his umpiring
was also credit to the game. Scott
was also a ball player of much ability
in his day and covered shortstop on
one of the old Seaford teams.
1t may not be generally known. that
Delaware has a former governor who
was great bah player in his day, but
IT is a fact. 1t is Ex-Governor S. S.
Pennewill, of Greenwood. Governor
Pennewill played many a game for
Seaford, and when in his prime as a
ball player had very few equals down
this way. He was an infielder of
considerable ability, fast on ground
balls, with an arm of steel and a
corking good hitter and base runner.
OF the third basemen down the
peninsula today the old timer" has
failed to find one Of the ex-governor
calfbre
The disbanding of the Dover team
the past week leaves only one Della
ware town in the fight for first honors
among the. clubs of the peninsula,
and that is Laurel, but to date this
team has more than held its own
against the clubs so far played, and
they have included some of the best
Easton on their home grounds, last
Friday. Laurel has a record OF seven
won and one lost.
Salisbury, thought to be one of the
best teams down the peninsula. re-
ceived setback last week, dropping
three games in as many days-Laurel,
Princess Anne and PocomolSe trim
ming them. This week is likely to
find some new faces on this team, as
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