The Portland daily press., 1897-12-28
EIGHT CLUB CIRCUIT.
New England League Favorable to Taking
in Couple of New Cities.

Mr.. j. G. Morse, secretary of the New
England base ball league, writes to Sport
ing Life:
1t is possible that the New England
league Of 1898 may lie increased to EIGHT
clubs. Two well known managers, John
j. Pigott of New Bedford, and Michael
d. Clarity Of Portland, intend to pros
pect IN the prosperous cities of Lowell.
MASS. and Manchester, N. II. They have
communicated with the officers of the
league, and If they meet with any kind
OF encouragement in those cities. will
lose no time in laying wires to give
tneln good article of base ball in the
coming season. Both gentlemen have
nao ample experience in base ball. Mr..
Safrlty has been active in the New Eng
IaIu league for years, having been located
moStly IN Portland. Last season he was
Win the Maine league. He has been uni.
lormly successful and is one of the best
men TO organize a strong minor league
team. Lowell and Manchester are both
lirst-class base ball cities. There is no
dount when they enter a well-organized
league that they will score success. The
action OF the league will depend upon the
report or the managers named at the
January meeting. While the clubs ave
not running after two moro clubs, they
would welcome en- eight-club cironif
the league was that there was not suffice
lent financial encouragement bestowed.
with those two cities in line the whole
LEAGUE could not but be benefited.
ii the New England league is ready TO
take in couple of more clubs from north
of Boston, there is no reason why Port.
land shouldn't be just as eligible as Man
chester or Lowell. The travelling exnen-
SEES between Boston and Portland would
not be as large as between Boston and
Manchester, as the teams could travel nv
boat at least one way, and if the history
OF the New England league for the last
seven or eight years is anything to Judge
by, Portland is a far better ball town
than either Manchester or Lowell.
But even surprising Manchester and
Lowell were admitted there seems to he
more than an even chance that there
will be an opening which Portland will
I'LL about as aoceptably as any city in
New England.
1t IS an open secret that the prospects
OF base ball in Pawtucket are not the
best and the Rhode Island city is quite
iAAoiy HUI 10 De represented IN the league
next season. Base ball has never been
profitable there and year ago Mayor
Ilepke, who has kept the game alive since
the city has been member of the league,
Withdrew his support. leaving affairs in
not the best of shape. The other New
England league clubs have already en-
gagged their managers, but Pawtucket has
not only not done SO, but has allowed the
man who has had charge of the club the
past two years, John Smith, to go to
Fall River. This is the more significant
as Smith is not only capable manager,
but is one of the best batters and fielders
available for class r company
With Pawtuoket out of 1t, it would be
necessary to go north of Boston for a city
to complete the circuit and if one club
were admitted it would be profitable
to admit more than one. a
The annual meeting of the New Eng.
land league occurs in Boston January
II, when the situation will probably be
cleared to some extent.