The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-07
BASEBALL IN TWINS.
Roth Cities May Yet Have American
League Teams Next Season.

League Teams Next Season.
One story, which is going the rounds
of those In the baseball business, is
that when Tom Lotus made contract
with President Hart, of the Chicago club,
to manage the Orphans next season, there
was inserted in that contract clause
providing that Lotus and Comiskey, of
st. Paul, should be permitted to play
American league ball in South Chicago
during the season of 1900. Those who
tell this story say that Comiskey and
LOTUS will join hands not only in Chi
cage. but in st. Paul The St Paul man
has lease of Lexington park, which
does not expire until the end of next
season. This contract calls for the pay
ment of $4,000 annually. and if Comis-
key leaves st. Paul entirely he will be
liable for this amount and will have no
income from the park He will let
the st. Paul people believe he is going
to, secure from them, perhaps, a bonus
to remain, and then make up his mind
to stay. If this is done, 1t Is said, Min
neapolis will retain its club, and the
American league will be the same as last
year, with the exception of the club in
Chicago, which will take the franchise
formerly held by Columbus
The National League of Baseball clubs
will meet at the Fifth Avenue hotel, New
York city, next Tuesday. If at that meet
ing IL Is determined to drop four cities
and make an eight-club league, it Is more
than likely that st. Paul and Minneapolis
will both be dropped from the list of
American league towns.
This statement has been denied by
Western league magnates here and else
where. But now these men admit that
the chances are about 100 to l that the
big league will drop four clubs, and that
II this programme is carried out Mime
apolis st. Paul and Grand Rapids Will
cease to remain in the American league,
the successor of the Western league
The clubs which it is believed will be
dropped are Louisville, Cleveland, Bal
umore and Washington or Brooklyn.
Brooklyn, perhaps, being removed to the
national capital
Comiskey seems to have about made I'D
his mind to leave St. Paul. He has long
had his eye on Chicago, where it is be-
HeVed an American league team would
prove to be winner. He may get in
there. President Hart, of the Chicago
National league club, has been pressed to
give his consent. and it is believed that
his consent can be secured. Other Amer
lean league magnates would jump at
chance of entering Chicago next year,
put Comiskey has spoken first Tt is be-
allow
Comiskey to transfer his franchise to the
Windy City.
With all of these changes the American
league of next year will consist of Chi
cago, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Louisville
Cleveland, indianapolis, Detroit and Buff
falo.
Comiskey may attempt to secure foot
hold in Chicago whether or not Hart
agrees to it, but the more conservative
Western league magnates would not side
with the st. Paul man. Clarence H
Saulpaugh, of the Minneapolis club, to
reporter yesterday said that he would
not vote to permit a transfer of the st.
Paul franchise to Chicago if Hart were
opposed to it,
L Will not vote for anything that will
cause friction between the American and
the National league" said Mr. +Saulpaugh
II Mr. Hart rs willing that Con4iskey
should so to Chicago then. I wtHAvote. for
the transfer. but under no other condi-
ton would 1 do it. 1 believe Comfskey
would do well in Chicago. and If he. wants
to go there I.swould like, to see him
there"
Mr. Saulpaugh was asked If there is
any truth in the dispatches quoting
Thomas ]. Hickey, promoter of the new
western league, as saying that Mime
apolts and st. Paul were to be in the
new I6dSu0-
mot a line of truth in it, replied Mr.
Saulpaugh. I'VE will be in the American
league next. year, if not In Minneapolis,
then IN some other city. We will not be
IN any league comprised Of the. cities Mr..
Hickey names; you can rest assured of
that. What will happen after next year
/ do not know The Western league con-
tract is for five years, four of which have
already elapsed. The American league
will exist, under it's present contract, only
during the unexpired term Of the Western
league contract. Another league will
then be formed, undoubtedly, but what
cities will be represented therein is a
question cannot answer.
SO far as next season is concerned,
there is little to be said at present We
may remain in Minneapolis. On the 9th
er hand, our franchise may be trans
ferred to Cleveland or Louisville 1t alto
gether depends upon what the National
league does at it's meeting next Tues
day
Mr.. Saulpaugh and Manager Wilmot
will both attend that meeting