The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-31
BASE BALL.
What was Said and Done at the Con.
yenti0n Yesterday.

The Western Base Ball League held a
convention yesterday afternoon, at the
Harper house. There was good atten-
dance and the letters from those members
who could not attend, spoke very encour-
agingly of the formation of the base ball
league in the west which will be success
financially. The Union Pacific nine, of
Omaha, was represented by Mr.. r. E.
McKelvey, a base ball player of great re-
putation. Mr. Chas 0verrocker, the
manager of the Quincy Base Ball associ-
alton last season, was present. Mr..
0verrocker is the present secretary of the
Western league, and is the delegate from
the Quincy association, which will play
two clubs the coming season, one in the
Northwestern league and the other, the
reserve nine" in the Western league.
The delegate from the Kansas City base
ball association, was Mr. Crawford,
who reported increased interest in
the game at Kansas City, The Rock Isl.
and association had for its delegate
County Treasurer j. E. Fleming. Mr.
Overrocker, secretary of the league, read
letter from R. s. Ransom, Keoknk, Ia
j. T. Johnston, Chillicothe, Mo-, J. Albus,
Jr., st. Joseph, Mo-, and H. R. Bostwick,
Atkinson, Kan. in which the writers
said that organizations were under way
and their cities would Join the Western
League at the next meeting.
This will give the Western League a
membership OF eight cities, which is all
that is necessary for successful circuit.
The membership can be increased to
twelve, and if two or four additional ap-
plications are received, at the next meet
ing, they will be taken in. The associa-
ton adopted the constitution of the
Northwestern League, and the name Of
the organization was changed to the
Western Base Ball League" the word
amateur" was dropped. The secretary
was authorized to have 500 players
contracts printed, for distribution
among the league. Membership fet
was fixed at $40, one half t.
be sent with application and balance OF
call. Five clubs have paid in their frs
installment of membership fee. Fort,
per cent was fixed as the share of receipts
to visiting clubs. with a guarantee of $6t
for each game played. The Spauldin!
league ball was adopted The rules TO
playing were laid over to the next meet
ling. The secretary was instructed I,
notify all clubs to pay in the first install
ment of membership fee within fifteel
days. They failing to do so application
will be received from other cities to fl
vacancies. A motion was carried tha'
each city name two umpires, the visiting
club to select one of the two to umpire tn
game, they to name their choice on tn
morning On which the game is to b
played, and the home club to pay tn
empires salary.
A committee was appointed consistin!
of Messrs. McKelvey of omahs. Crawford
of Kansas City. and Overrocker. Of Quincy
to list schedule of games for the season
and the same to be reported at the mex
meeting. On holidays the gate receipts ar
to be equally divided The president wa
instructed to make application to tn
national arbitration committee for mem
bership, after which the meeting sd
Ijourned to meet at Kansas City or St. Joe
at the call of the president and secretary
| Mr.. s. G. Morton, the secretary of tn
league, who was present, expressed him
self as pleased with the favorable begin
ming made by the amateur league,