The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-06
A NEW BALL LEAGUE
1T WILL PROBABLY BE KNOWN AS
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION.
President Watkins Quits the Ameri-
can League 10 Join the New
Organization.
AFTER BAN JoHNsoN's SCALP
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE Is BEHIND
THE LATEST SCHEME.
Meeting of Magnates mt Louisville
Six-Day Bicycle Face Won
by WaIthour.

W. Fl. Watkins, president of the Indian
apolis Baseball Club, returned last night
from Louisville, but absolutely declined to
talk baseball An Associated Press dis
patch from that city late last night said:
THE war of the National League against
Ban Johnson and the American League is
TO be to the knife and the first blood is
with the National League.
indianapolis has broken away from the
American League and there are prospects
that Detroit will do likewise, while Louis
vile. which had been looked upon as favor
able territory by Johnson, has gone over
10 the leagues new organization.
''At a meeting held at the Louisville Ho-
tel this afternoon papers were signed for
the eighth club of what is to be the Amer
lean Association. backed by and with the
hearty support of the National League. The
circuit may, however, not be confined to
eight clubs, but may be ten. 1t all depends
upon Detroit There were present at the
meeting W. II. Watkins, of Indianapolis
Harry Pulliam, formerly secretary of the
Pittsburg club. and John J. Sanders, III. B.
BurfOrd and John j. McCloskey, who rep
resent the Louisville territory.
AS result of the meeting it can be said
that an agreement has been signed by the
eight clubs interested and that in two
weeks a meeting will be called and steps
taken for the granting of recognition and
the disposition OF the surplus players over
the limit of sixteen by the clubs of the Ma
tional League The new circuit is to be as
follows. the name mentioned being either
the manager the financial hacker or
both
Boston-Arthur Irwin and Havemeyer,
Charles River Park.
New York-Andrew Freedman, Manhat-
tan Field.
BaItimOre-Von Der Horst McGraw and
Robinson, Union Park.
notwithstanding Wagners, League Park.
Louisville-McC1oskey Saunders and Bur
ford.
St. Louis-Al Sphinx.
Indianapolis-W. H. Watkins.
Milwaukee-H. ID. Quinn and Koch.
In addition Detroit may be induced TO
follow the lead of Watkins. If so, the fran
chise will be given TO Burns and Stallings,
and to balance the circuit the old Athletics
will be resurrected in Philadelphia and
+ c. Richter given the franchise there.
circuit, all depending upon how Johnson
acts. If he shows desperate fight two more
towns may be added, perhaps Buffalo and
a Western city now having an American
League team. If he enters st. Louis TO fight
the League an association team there may
not be started, but instead be transferred
&c one OF the towns where the American
League has the field. Harry Puiliam, it IS
Gaid. is to be made secretary TO Nick Young
and upon the organization OF the American
Association he will probably be given
charge of IL, though still retaining his POSI-
ton as secretary of the League, Nick YounS
still being president. Freedman in New
York is expected TO split his team, one
being at the Polo grounds and the other at
Manhattan Field. To Freedman is said To
be due the credit for bringing McGraw
around.