Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-11
BASE BALL MAGNATES
Coming Meeting of the National
League.
DISCUSSING PROPOSEDREORGANIZATION
Winners in the Six-day Bicycle
Contest.
CURRENT SPORTING NEWS
DISCUSSING PROPOSEDREORGANIZATION
CURRENT SPORTING NEWS

The National League base ball magnates
began gathering in New York Saturday and
yesterday for the annual meeting which
begins tomorrow. If predictions prove true
this meeting will be the most important
gathering of the league since it's organiZa-
ton.
1t Is on the program. according to the
prophets. to reduce the circuit to eight
cities, dropping Cleveland and Louisville in
the west and Washington and Baltimore in
the east. Several exceptions have been
taken to this prediction, other prophets
claiming that Brooklyn would be one of
the eastern cities left out instead of this
city.
About all the known facts in the case are
that Cleveland and Louisville are willing
to drop out of the circuit for small figure,
but that Baltimore and Washington will
claim quite a stiff sum of money before
giving up their franchise.
With this situation confronting the Ma
tional League it is more than probable, ac-
cording to official authority, that the cir
cult will be made up of ten clubs next year
or the two western clubs transferred to
other cities In that section, and the twelve
clubs will play out the ten-year agreement
period. As an argument in favor of this
arrangement 1t might be said that the
American Association, headed by Quinn of
milwaukee, and Schafer of St. Louis, is still
In the field, and they have publicly stated
of the reduction Of the National League
circuit. With an opposition base ball or
ganization in the field salaries of the play
ers would of a necessity be advanced con-
siderably. There would also be opposition
in the matter of rival clubs in one city, and
in the face of this possibility it would seem
unbusiness like for the circuit to be re-
duced this year
An effort will doubtless be made to
freeze out some of the clubs by threaten
ing not to let their owners in when the re-
AMI in,o
the Wagners and the Baltimore magnates
will hardly be frightened by that bugaboo.
There is no reason why either Baltimore
or Washington should be dropped from the
league except that the circuit would be I'M
wieldy. Both Washington and Baltimore
have proved themselves better ball towns
than several larger cities that might be
mentioned, and it can be stated in the
most emphatic terms that good club is
all that is necessary to place this city
among the leaders a financial winner.
Outside of the chief reduction of circuit
proposition. several other important mat
tiers will be discussed, all of which should
be for the betterment of the national game.
The proposition to shorten the playing sea-
son from six to five months has many adj
herentS, and it will take strong arguments
to sidetrack 1t.
The transferring of games will also be
discussed and undoubtedly a check be
placed on those magnates who are con-
stantly looking at the gate receipts to the
degradation of the sport.
Double headers. except where absolutely
necessary to complete the schedule, will
also be discussed. with the likelihood that
they will be prohibited.
A committee on playing rules will be
appointed. and, of course. considerable time
will be devoted to -owdyism the ball
field. and the umpires. The double umpire
system will probably be continued another
season. There are a number of protested
games and disputes about players that viii;
also have to be settled
The meeting will doubtless last all week,
and managers well magnates will
be hand. several important. If not sem
sational trades. exchanges and sales will
proba bly, be contaminated