The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-05
SPORTING news.
Boston Nay Have Two Ball
Clubs This Season.
American League Now Dicker-
ing For a FOothold.
SOMERS SEES HUBITES
The Grounds Have Been Select
cd and Money Assured.
This Would, Of Course, Mean
Dropping of Buffalo.


Boston. Mass, Jan. 5--Boston VIII
have ball teams In two leading orsani-
cations next season unless all present
plans fail
The grounds have been selected, and
ample backing is ready. Tha question
is. What league viii have the new cruz,
the American league, handled BY Presi-
dent Ban johnson, or the proposed new
National association now well under
Way2 Both organizations are anxious
TO get a foothold in this vicinity, and
would prefer Charles river park, now
leased to Arthur Irwin and j. B. Hart
Two men who were prime movers IN the
two clubs that passed a. couple Of years
at the Congress street grounds
Messrs. Irwin and Hart are bound to
renain IN the game If possible Irwin
want ca Philadelphia to try and induce
ftnu johnson to give Boston a place IN
his Aperican league Irwin was turned
Gown. At the same time Ian johnson
sent his close friend. Charles SOmerss OF
Cleveland. to Boston. TO see the owners
nf Charles river park about leasing the
plant. The western man offered big
money for the park. as ne was anxious
80 put a Club from Boston in johnson :
league President Hyde had given his
word e Irwin and Hart, however, SO he
gave them first choice at certain fig-
Gre, and, as they were ready to fulfil
their agreement. Mr.. Somers returned
to Johnson with a story Of Irwin 5
strength.
peared on the scene again yesterday.
lie has "a habit Of stopping at Young $
hotel under an assumed name, and not
being well known TO the baseball men
81 Boston, managed to escape notice for
two days, until yesterday. His mis-
sion here is 10 show the men back OF
Irwin how strong is the American
league and what a winner they could
make Of Boston Mr. Somers is perfect
ly willing to back the team from here,
and. being a man Of means, could make
good He has worked hard, but so far
failed.
Finding that he could not get a place
for Boston in the American league,
Irwin set about to see what could be
done in reviving the National associa-
ton, and found more life in the defunct
organization than he expected Last
Sunday "a meeting was held at Chicago,
when Irwin. Richter and delegates from
washington, Milwaukee and other
cities were present lawyer Bra1nani
with an Office in the stock exchange.
this city. went west to represent Presi-
dent Hyde and size up the other cities.
He returned to Boston highly elated
over the prospects Of the National asso-
citation
No doubt Ban johnson was tipped of
of the strength of the opposition and
hurried his friend Somers On to Boston
to get in some good work for his organ
fzatiOn, for National success would
mean a death blow to JohnsOn's league.
As the case now stands in Boston the
IT they care to locate a club at Charles
river park, the severest blow that could
befall the National association would
be the loss OF Boston to the rival Amer
Jean league, so that Irwin has a full
hand in either case, as MeSsrs- Hyde
and Braman have perfect confidence In
Arthur Twins judgment
Mr.. Somers is one Of the owners OF
the Cleveland club In speaking Of the
American leagues plans, he said.
IT can say positively that the AmeTi-
can league viii have clubs in Wash
4ngton, Baltimore and Philadelphia, and
we would like Boston to fill out our
eastern half Of the circuit"
This would mean the dropping out Of
Buffalo. Mr.. SomeTs said the idea OF
the National league snubbing the Amer
lean league was all nonsense-that they
were going to do business without any
regard for the league people. who have
no copyright on baseball.
President Hyde, Of the Charles River
Land association. says that he is con-
fident that 25-cent ball viii be a big &c
lin Boston. He f. very much pleased
with Mr.. Somers. the Cleveland mag
nate and may bring Irwin around il
he has not agreed to stick to the NIL
vrnukee syndicate. Hyde is the real
hacker for Irwin. although the latter
has a. lease Of the park with Hart.