The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-08
CAN They MAKE GOOD
ROURKES BUNCH MUST DOUBLE
IT'S SPEED TO BEAT
HICKEY
ONLY FAST BALL WILL WIN
Advantage In the Base
ball War Thus
ONLY FAST BALL WILL WIN

Baseball critics siding with the Western
league in this new baseball war are nov
practically admitting that the American
association has the better of the argua
ment, but they are not certain that the
new organization can stand the pace it
starts off with.
Can the American association stand 4
losing season? That is the question these
critics ask, and they ask it without point
ing out where the American is to enc
counter losing season.
1t is true that the American will have
to fight, for the Western intends-if
Rourke, Van Brunt ct al. can be believed
to put teams in three towns of the
American circuit, land the Western associa-
ton announces that 1t will put a team
in Columbus. This Of course will not
make the running OF the American any
easier, but unless the two Western
leagues improve their grade of ball the
presence in these towns of the smaller
teams will not make the American play
through losing season.
The wisdom of Hickey in selecting the
circuit for the American is also question:
ed 1t is pointed out tfat Columbus, To-
ledo and Indianapolis never Won universal
praise by supporting bas sDdu teams. The
failure of Indianapolis to take care of
Watkins team last yelr s mentioned
as one particular eva nple
Following this line of argument these
critics might point out that st. Paul.
Minneapolis, Kansas City and even
Omaha failed last season to properly
support the baseball teams put into these
towns by the Western league.
The support was not Forthcoming SIM
ply because the baseball public in the
towns mentioned did not believe that
they were receiving the worth of their
money when watching this minor league
ball. Indianapolis fans demanded from
the start that their town should be rep
resented in bigger league. Kansas City
fanatics felt the same way, and so did
the fans of st. Paul and Minneapolis.
The 1902 season is to start with the
American association attempting to fur
nish the protesting fanatics with fast
baseball. Side by side with the Ameri-
can will be the Western Flooding along
with the cry that it had the territory
first and the protesting fanatics of the
past season can take their choice.
Fast Ball Will Win.
They can have their towns in faster
league by supporting the American or
they can listen to the sympathy wall IF
the Western and have St Paul, Mime
apolis and Kansas City held back in the
l. -,
least, will make good their demand for
faster ball and will support the league
delivering the goods.
The claim that the American Is faster
league will no doubt be denied by the
Western magnates. but the Van Brunt
crowd will have to 90 something more
than tell the doubling fanatics about the
strong league of next season.
The Western circuit has not been
III, IL.
noticed. The same towns are in the cir.
cult and if the Western makes good aud
furnishes a grade of ball comparing
fayorably with the stronger American. it
will be question whether the Western
can go through a losing season and con.
tinue to do business on the old circuit
The fans interested care nothing for
this fight between the two leagues aud
will only look out for their own inter-
ests. With the American association en-
tering the field, the st. Paul, Minneapolis
and Kansas City supporters of the game
can see where they are to have higher
grade ball.
With the American certain to furnish
this ball they naturally turn to the neS
organization. If the Western can show
that it Is presenting even faster ball than
that presented by the American, the
Western will receive the support. The
fanatics want the best article of ball
possible and the league delivering the
goods will receive their support.
sympathy will not, and should not en-
ter the question. Because Bill Rourke of
Omaha, can make as much money with
g. cheap team as he can with a high
priced team, he should not win the ap-
proval of the baseball public for COIL.
tinuing to employ the cheaper team
By Rourke in this case, is meant the
entire body Of Western league magnates
If the members of the Western canort
furnish better ball without losing money