The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-02
ge dahita Daily eagle TUESDAY aorng February 1892
NEW BASEBALL PLANS.
Rem Milford, Jr., Writes of the
Latest Developments.
THE PROPOSED CENTRAL LEAGUES

Without the kindergartens of the game
| the clubs in first class society would be in
sad straits. They would have no inviting
fields for their fall and winter hunts after
talent when stars, grown large under the
hat. were on the wane. That fair and fond
dove of peace had only tapped her wings
| once or twice over in Hoosierdom when
| the united factions resolved to foster and
protect the small fry of the diamond.
| There is a vast territory to cover, for scores
| of cities want professional baseball
| The Western association, which held a
sort of meeting for the collection OF
! feelers" at Chicago the other day, has its
eye upon several of the cities coveted by
the projected Central league. Columbus,
Indianapolis and Milwaukee are in the
| similar roles of having two claimants
| apiece for their hand in the diamond dance
of 1892. Toledo completes the western four
in the Central while in the east it is ex,
| pected to take in Buffalo, Rochester, Al
bany and Troy.
Away back in 1877 the name of James A
Williams was one of three signed to the
call for the organization of the Interna-
tional association-the first in the field
after the National league had been born.
Singularly enough this same James A.
Williams was one of the several parents of
the American association, and today he is
leader in the movement to place the Cen
trail league in front seat on earth. He is
likely to succeed.
About the 18th of January a meeting of
all those interested in the proposed circuit
will be held in the Buckeye capital. From
five of the cities encouraging replies have
been received and in the other three there
are stock companies organized and ready
to move in and take fats on the first floor
The Central league may break far away
from traditional lines and adopt plan
that has never been given the practical
test it deserved. In all minor leagues the
salary limit has been tried and found
wanting. No matter how solemn the
pledge some club-anxious to secure a
card-would break away from the bound
airy Of safety and the rest would plunge
after, carrying the whole circuit into a
maelstrom of high salaries and subsequent
ruin.
Under the contemplated plan the players
in the Central league will all be signed by
the president. There will be a maximum
salary list for the basenlen, the fielders, the
catchers and the pitchers. After the num-
Der needed by all the clubs are signed the
idea is to distribute them by lot. In this
way the danger of breaking into the old
and disastrous habit of promising to pay
out more money than would be likely to
come in at the gate would be averted The
Central league would attract no little at
tention during the trial of this idea-one
of the many embodied in THE Millennium
Plan" which was shelved when the war of
1890 broke out.
When the International made its debut
in 1877 the first season resulted SO favorably
that the League, then in its swaddling
clothes, took fright, and William Henry
Hurlbert was accused of plotting its down
fall by sending to the annual conclave an
emissary whose capital stock seemed to
consist of an abundance of suggestions,
all of the same import. IL move we ad,
journ," was his platform, which, however,
remained unoccupied. l. c. Waite
"Deafy," of the old St. Louis Reds-and
H Denny Mcknight, destined to become
president of the American association,
Joined Williams in his call, and the Inter
national lived four years.
In that first season the Live Oaks. of
Lynn, dropped to sleep ere it was ended,
but the Tecumsehs, Of London. won the
flag in their campaign against the Allie
ghanys, Rochester, Manchester, Maple
Leafs, of Guelph, and Buckeyes, of Column
bus Arthur Cummings, the father of the
curve, was leading spirit in the Interna-
tional, and Mr.. Williams, who had once
shone as Columbus manager with the
muniicent salary of $500 per year, was
created secretary and treasurer. Talking
of the old days to me, he said:
"a few of the clubs were semiprofession-
al and were conducted on the 'carpetive'
plan, as Bill Gleason would say. Some of
the actors in the race that year are dead.
Here in Columbus we had Club Sullivan,
who was afterward considered the greatest
man who ever stood on first base Lapham,
the first baseman of the Maple Leafs, dice
few weeks ago at Dubuque"
Little Louie Say was with Manchester,
and Joe Hornung-"Old Ubbo''-a Te-
cumseh brave. Jack Nelson, famous as
1.-THE oldest man in the world" when he
played with the Indians at Staten Island,
was with Allegheny, while Wesley Blogg,
who afterward became an umpire, caught
for Manchester. Out of the International
came many of the stars of past and pres
ent. Charley Fulmer and Jimmie Calvin
wore Buffalo robes, while W. II. McGun-
nigle was one Of the greatest 1ielders and
base runners in the business. Mike Dor
gan, over whom New Workers once raved,
and Honest John" Kelly, the umpire, who
turned his own picture to the wall in the
gallery of the cranks' affections, were II
walls for the title of the king of catchers,
and Dorgan won by few points. Horace
Phillips managed the Auburns then when
Critchley and keenan, were one of the best
batteries in the land. Fred Dunlap was
also in the team.
The next season Jim Clifford had the
whole outfit at Albany in addition TO Tom
Burns, now Uncle Anson's right bower
and Captain Ned Hanlon, of the Pitts
burgs. Tim keefe played in Utica and
Buck Ewing in Troy. Roger Conner and
Smiling Micky Welch, the friend OF the
census taker, began at Holyoke When
the International met at Buffalo after the
first season there were no less than twenty
six clubs knocking on the door for admis-
sionl The entry fee in those days was only
thirty dollars. Such a roll of celebrities
shows that it IS folly to despise the day of
small things.
Manager Gus II. Schmelz is the man who
will pilot Columbus in the new league and
Charles H. Morton has already given it
his cordial Endorsement Perhaps james
H Williams Will be installed as president.
No one could be either more efficient or de-
serving. Before Charles II. Byrne entered
the Association councils o. p Caylor and
Mr.. Williams were the authors of most OF
the legislation in that body, and when the
joint playing rules committee was organ
lied the progressive ideas of the Associa-
ton were Endorsed and embodied almost