New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-15
BASEBALL.
NO CHANCE OF AN EIGHT CLUB LEAGUE

NO CHANCE OF AN ElGH IS LE>AIt r.
After two days of preliminary tactics and talk
the club-owners of the National Baseball League
will begin in earnest to-day to transact the annual
business OF the organization Tuesday and yeste--
day spent in conferences and chickering's. but
II is believed that when the baseball magnates
start in to-day they will have clear sailing. The
corridors Of the Fifth Avenue Hotel were again
thronged with Club-Owners, players. umpires and
lesser lights in the baseball world yesterday and
last night but the club-owners themselves the
all-important personages Of the occasion and the
little army of followers hangs upon their every ut
terance as If the fate Of the Nation depended on
what they said.
The most important subject that came before the
delegates yesterday the troubles OF TIE ST.
Louis club Both Won der Abe and Muckenfuss
were obstinate. and each threatened suit in the
courts unless his rights were respected. Mucken-
fuss is receiver of the club while Won der Abe
contends that ne is the president Of the club and
that the franchise belongs TO him. Practically two
days have been spent in trying 20 untangle the
troublesome knot. and Muckenfuss comes out vic
torious He will be present at the meeting OF the
club-owners to-day and will have the privilege OF
voting Won der Abe will be present, also but he
will not be allowed TO vote The case Will be
fought over again In the courts In ST. Louis and
some OF the cub-owners fear that the League Will
be mixed up in several lawsuits before the trouble
IS finally settled TO the satisfaction Of all con-
cerned
While many Of the baseball are still in favor
OF reducing the League circuit 10 eight or even ten
clubs. those in a position 10 know are Of opinion
that nothing Of the sort will take place. The old
agreement tina, the circuit cannot be reduced with
out the unanimous consent of all twelve clubs Will
be in force until the fall of 1901 there being thus
three more playing seasons foe II to Presiden;
Pu!iam OF the Ouisville club: said last night tina;
any chance of a deal by which Detroit would pur-
chase the Louisville franchise had passed and that
he contemplated no change In the circuit
Be changed 10 ten clubs. the Cleveland team and
franchise might be transferred 10 St Louis but
the Louisville franchise would have TO be pur-
chased outright by the League No one believes that
the other club-Owners ready to go down into
their pockets at this time 10 purchase franchise
from anybody. The profits Of the clubs last season
would not warrant any considerable expenditure Of
money.
Another rumor 10 which little credence was given
that the club-owners had decided to cut the
circuit to eight clubs This would mean the trans
fer OF the Baltimore team TO Brooklyn. the pur
chase of the Washington club in the East. the
transfer Of the Cle,,la.I club St. Louis and the
buying out OF the Louisville people. All OF those
directly Interested sad that any such plan WAS
utterly ridicuo' and that there was ~ possible
chance that 1t would be carried out ANY attempt
to drop any Of the present clubs would bring about
the formation OF another association. which would
give battle 10 tho League. and since its old fight
with the Brothc, hood anc the American Assoca-
tion the League has shown no desire to hght The
ciub-owners favt a 1,cnopoy Of the business as /,
is and they are not likely to take any chance for
furnishing ammunition for possible foes
ed name of the New-York club Yesterday secured
from the Lynch estate renewal Of It's lease Of the
Polo Grounds and Manhattan Field for ten years.
The present lease does not expire until next year.
W 3 Wheeler was reported TO have said that he
represented syndicate ready TO purchase the New.
cup Fe s secured G the eo fH
interest in the club tour years ago FOR les, than
would mean protaby tha, for the amount men \.
toned he was 20 secure all Of the stock OF the