The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-05-07
BASEBALL
TOMORROW
Eastern League Series With
Montreal at New West
Side Park.
FINEST FIELD IN COUNTRY
President Powers Speaks for
I the First Time and Ap-
peals to Public Spirit
for Support.
FINEST FIELD IN COUNTRY

On the eve of the opening of the Eas-
tern League Baseball championship seas
son in Jersey City, Mr.. P. T. Powers,
who has heretofore refrained from max
ing a public statement, was induced to
make a statement relative to the future
OF the national game in Jersey City
Mr.. Powers in 1892 was elected Presi-
dent OF the Eastern League of Baseball
Clubs. and has been reelected annually
ever since. TO a reporter Mr.. Powers
today said:
Since 1889 Jersey City has been WITH
out a representative team In any league
which condition is not due to the fact
that Jersey City did not want or could not
support a ball club. 1t has. therefore.
been my desire ever since became presi-
dent of the Eastern League, to see a
club with membership therein located III
my home city. This was impossible as
long as the nAtional agreement remained
in force lunder which all baseball leagues
were operating) and which prohibited the
granting Of franchise within five miles
of the corporate limits of any city in
which a club was already located.
Andrew Freedman insisted that the five
mile applied to New Jersey, as well as
New York, and covered the territory of
Jersey City Year after year appeals
were made to the New York management
to waive their unjust claims of our ter
ritory, but in vain; and not until the ten
year National Agreement was abrogated
by the National League, last fall, leaving
wide open the territory of Jersey City,
did our chance come. Seeing the oppor-
tunity for which I had longed, I suggest
ed the adoption of a new agreement; a
meeting was called for Chicago on Sep
tember 5, 1901, at which we entered in
to the agreement under which we are
now operating. l Immediately made ap-
plication for membership for Jersey City
in the Eastern League, at the same time
guaranteeing the necessary financial
backing. The franchise was subsequent
ly awarded by the Eastern League to
Jersey City.
The Eastern League is composed of
Montreal, with a population of 100000;
Buffalo, 1000; Toronto, 26O, 900; Newark,
200, 600. and Worcester, 1500Q0-aH cities of
the first class. and therefore more fitted
to support teams much superior to the
organization of the past. The Eastern
League also stands with the past ten
years record of all clubs finishing the
season. Last year Hartford and Syracuse
were allowed to drop out in September at
the close of the season to make vacancies
for Jersey City and Newark,
When it became public that Jersey City
was to have ball club l was agreeably
surprised to have the proposition accept
ed so favorably, and it has been a plea
sure to carry out the plans for the en-
gagement of players and the building of
a park The latter was the first step.
After looking over various sites, the hand
some grounds of the Jersey City Golf
Club were looked upon most favorably
a portion of which were finally leased
from the Buyten Tlyn Realty Company
upon which has been laid out and con-
strueted a park that is second to none in
the Eastern League and excelled by few
in the country For a proof of this as
sertion a visit to the New West Side Park
is all that is necessary.
THE New Jersey Exhibition Company
which owns the Jersey City Baseball
Club, purposes to conduct besides the
baseball games football, track athletics,
bicycle racing and other popular sports
"The untimely death Of the late Thomas
E. Burns, who had been engaged to man
age the team. was a severe blow to the
Jersey City Club, but they have been for
tunate in engaging Thomas L. Reilly, who
is looking upon as the right man by those
who know him best, as a thorough gem
tleman and capable of plotting the club
to a high position in the race for the
pennant.
"The players engaged from the nucleus
of a championship team and with the re-
porting of two players who have not yet
Joined the team. along with the morning
practice at home, can be counted upon
to do good work and be a credit to Jer-
sey City and Hudson county
1T is to be hoped that the people of
Jersey City and Hudson county will, by
their attendance at the ball games during
the championship season, attest their ap-
probation of the efforts made in their be-
half for clean and wholesome sports, and
thereby encourage the Jersey city CIap
to continue their efforts and to stop at
nothing short of a championship team
II confidently expect everybody to show
town pride by being at New West Side
Park tomorrow, when Montreal begins
The finest baseball diamond in the coun-
try is in this city. 1t is to be known as
the New West Side Park and is TO be the
home of the Jersey City Club of the East
ern League. 1t has been constructed ny
many weeks Of hard work under the per-
sonal supervision Of p. r. Powers, Presi-
dent of the Eastern League and Is an
ideal spot. Ii occupies all of the grounds
faxr
fitv Golf Club. It is located on West
Side avenue at the end Of Belmont ave-
nue..
The field will be used for the first time
tomorrow when the local season opens.
The Jersey city Club takes the Montreal
team into camp. That game should afaW
every lover Of baseball to the grounds to-
roxv ana all who are interested in out
door sports should also be there
The directors Of the club have al along