The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-16
RICE in 1t.
Will Place a Nine in
Cambridge.
NORTHERN LEAGUE.
Teams That Are Likely to
Belong to 1t.

Charles F. Rice will have a ball
team in Cambridge this year, and when
he says i:'s TO be a strong one, nobody
base ball win doubt his word. George
II. Spalding of Marlboro will undoubt-
edly manage the team.
Mr. Rice opened negotiations yester-
Gay and practically secured the refusal
of Charles River park, where the team
will play Nothing definite has been
done towards the organization of the
league, IN which the team Will play
but Mr.. Rice gays there will certainly
be league 1t will probably be called
the Northern league. The powers that
be in minor league base ball circles in
this section of the country have come
to the conclusion that a change of
name from the New England league
might work to advantage. The name
New England strikes them as a hoodoo
Mr.. Rice went to Boston yesterday
and consulted with T. H. Murnane of
the Boston Globe. who has been pres
ident Of the New England league for
several years. The talk made Mr.. Rice
feel elated at the prospects for a good
league, and he decided instantly he
would be in the game from start to
finish.
After consulting with Mr. Murnane,
Mr.. Rice called on E. c. Hodges, pres
ident Of the Massachusetts, Athletic As
ISOLATION which owns Charles River
park. He informed the latter what his
plans are, and in return President
Hodges told him TO let him know just
what his purpose is in reference to the
park and he can have 1t. Cambridge
being within five miles of Boston,
which will not permit the establish
ment of ball club within a fivemile
radius of a city where one already ex
lists. Rice had the choice Of the fran
Chises Of BroCkton and Cambridge, and
took the latter.
Mr.. Murnane had a conference with
President SOden of the Bostons which
resulted in an agreement by which the
five mile limit clause will be dead
letter. President Soden of the Bostons
said he would not object to a club in
Cambridge. There was an understand
ing of course that as far as possible the
schedule would be arranged so that the
Cambridge dates would not interfere
with those of the Bostons. President
Soden said if that was done he would
welcome the establishment of a team
in Cambridge, as Boston people could
attend ball games there while the Bos-
assist in keeping interest alive until the
return Of the Beanea tiers.
Mr. Murnane is deluged with letters
from every city in this section which
has a population of $4,000 or over. in
which a desire is expressed to get into
the league. The Connecticut cities are
after place as we'll as the Massachu-
setts towns Mr.. Rice suggests that
maybe Bridgeport, New Haven. Water
bury MaTi6pO and thor tOurDS urbin1
were in the Connecticut state league.
might be DESTROYS of entering the new
league. He says Cambridge Newport.
PaWtucket and BrOCkton will undoubt-
eddy make up a part of the circuit
Although no steps have been taken
which the promoters of the league
think are ripe for publication. some
thing definite must have been done. for
Mr.. Rice was enthusiastic when he
spoke TO The Spy man last evening. He
said:
Nothing is fact yet, but you can
say without fear of contradiction that
there will be q league. Just what has
been done nobody but Murnane knows
and he will not tell. A meeting will be
held probably the last of next week."
When asked if George H. Spalding Of
Marlboro will manage the team for him
which was mentioned as probable in
The Spy yesterday, Rice smilingly re-
piled that The Spy struck it right. He
said he could not devote time to base
ball the coming year on account of bust
ness pressure, and as he consider!
Spalding a good manager he has asked
him to handle the Cambridge team
Spalding told Mr.. Rice he would like
nothing better and when the league /.
formed Mr.. Rice will engage the Mari
boro man as manager.