The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-01
FOUR CLUB CIRCUIT
sPALDING FORCES NOW CONsID-
ERING SCHEME TO DROP THE
FREEDMAN TEAMS
DREYFUSS SUGGESTS PLAN
If the New York Nagnate Wins ia
the Courts, Chicago, PittsbuPg,
Brooklyn and PhiIadeI-
phia Start Alone.
DREYFUsS SUGGESTS PLAN

CHICAGO, Jan. 51-One of the club
owners in the National league who be-
lieves in and favors the adoption of a
four-cIub circuit is Barney Dreyfuss the
president of the PittSburgs club Drey-
fuss owns the controlling interest in the
Pittsburg club and what is more, enjoys
the support of all the stockholders in
that club, all reports to the contrary not
withstanding. Furthermore, Dreyfuss not
only intends to stick to the A. G. Spald-
ing faction in the fierce family row which
now prevails in the National league, hut
is a strong advocate of the most radical
policy yet advanced in dealing with the
unwelcome Mr. Freedman and his asso-
ciates, John T. Brush and Frank De
Haas Robson.
Dreyfuss defined this policy during he
interview with Spalding held in Chicago
a few weeAs ago. At that conference the
Pittsburg magnate said to Spalding:
THE best way out of this middle in
my opinion is for US to go alone on d
four-club basis for this season at least.
In my opinion it is a plain business prop
osftion. The clubs behind you, namely,
Chicago and Pittsburg in the West, and
Philadelphia and Brooklyn in the East
represent small but remarkably com
pact circuit. These four clubs want to
represents. As things are now he has
two ball parks in New York but a pail
team abSurdly weak as to playing
strength. In Boston there is an oppose
ton club and SodenS team has the weak
end of the argument. In the West Robi-
son has nothing to offer to visiting clubs
in st. Louis. while Brush in Cincinnati
cam only offer a fairish lot of. Sunday
dates providing the weather holds fair.
This means that If we include New York
Boston, Cincinnati and st. Louis in this
seasons schedule, we are simply carry
ing lot of dead towns from a financial
viewpoint, and at the same time again
tying up with Freedman, Robson and
Br1sh, the very men we are now trying
to break from.
Il know that a four-club schedule will
entail lot more travelling, but at the
same time remember that none of us will
have to carry as many players and ean
SO arrange dates that championship
games can be played every Saturday in
Pittsburg, and every Sunday in Chicago
from the beginning to the close of the
season.
what we will spend in extra railroad
fare We are bound to make up in the Sat
urday and Sunday gate receipts, for re-
member that as things are now Chicago,
P1ttSburg, Brooklyn and Philadelphia
have. the strongest and most evenly
matched teams. Of course / am in favor
OF an eigh-club circuit under proper con-
ditions, but we can easily reorganize the
circuit on an efght-club basis next fall.
There is no doubt but what Spalding
and his followers think well of Dreyfuss'
four-club scheme, and if defeated in the
courts they VIII undoubtedly adopt it.
The scheme has the merit of simplicity.
It would ne comparatively easy task to
frame up a schedule which would enable
Chicago to play at home every Sunday
in the season. and although this would
involve the making of the Eastern trips.
the jumps could be broken at Pittburg
and give all of the four teams the choice
Saturday dates in Pittsburg,- Brooklyn
and Philadelphia while the Sunday games
would surely draw big crowds to the
West side grounds
On the other hand. if the Spalding fac
ton does decide on such a circuit the
outlook for Freedman and his associates
will prove the very reverse of bright.
New York with losing team made up