The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-14
INDOOR BASE BALL THE THING.
PLAYERS WANT A LEAGUE ORGAN
lied AT ONCE,

Success of the Tri-CIub League Last
SeasOn-In One Season the Game
Leaped Into Popularity Four
q Teams in the Field This Year-Ex-
hibitiOn Games to BE Played This
Week.
good many people who found pleasure
In witnessing the games of indoor base
bali which were played by the teams in
the tri-club league last season wonder
why the league has not been organized
this season. 1t has been given out that
it will be organized early in January, but
the players composing the various teams
and the fans" who like to see the games.
see no reason why the league should not
organize now and begin playing at once.
There seems to be no reason why this
should not be done, and there are several
which might be given in favor of an early
organization
1t can be said of indoor base ball that
it reached popularity in one season that
other sports have taken years to attain.
The game was almost unknown in Savan-
nan until the organization of the teams
by the Young Mems Christian Association.
the Catholic Library Association and the
Young Mems Hebrew Association last sea-
SON The Y. NJ. c. A. had played the
game the season before, but only between
teams of this association, and outside of
us own members it was almost unknown
The organization of teams by the three
associations led to the forma ton of the
ul-club league, which was at first meant
20 De a small organization and nothing
IKE the success 1t attained was expected
ny It's promoters. 1t was formed more for
we benefit of the associat lions and the
pleasure and exercise to be derived from
lne games than anything else. In order
70 try and make the game popular the
ollrlsslon to the games was placed at a
very low figure, but by the end of the
season tive times that amount would have
peeh paid willingly by some of those who
i5d become devotees of the game.
Inc phenominal popularity of the game
vas IN sense a result of the rivalry
"iHohg the teams, but after the specta-
sors became acquainted with the game
anu IT'S fine points they saw that 1t was
i.aty a good sport and one which was en-
o''eu TO as much respect and support as
many other standard sports. The i'm
le.se crowds which witnessed the games
a. me latter part of last season showed
same Hdu COllG 10 stay.
moor base ball was first played IN
t,+edgo but it is now played In many of
' s northern and western cities This
II viii be almost universally played,
' pau' next to foot ball. will be the most
iYtGar winter sport. Many of the players
u'e National League will take 1t up as
b,, mans of keeping in trim, and teams
any 3ieady been organized in st. Louis
r BOSTON. The Boston players, with
NJ oAception Of Long, who Is an old
/ 80 OF the indoor game saw their first
W" IN this city last spring when they
yerr mere training. The Beaneaters were
rr, y much impressed with the game and
Ills winter
6elS are four indoor ball teams in the
II ms year, the Y, NJ. c. A., the C. l..
IN Arm 1: NJ. H. A. and the Chatham
81 sire ny. The team Of the Chathams de-
Wbstboo enter the indoor league. but
4 from ,t tl or not the league viii be changed
decide,5' ree to four clubs has not yet been
Ieaep9a aissocations which composed the
Il last year have recently organized