The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-17
MAY Join AMERICAN
NEW YORK AND CINCINNATI MAY
BE INCLUDED IN JOHN
SONS CIRCUIT
FREEDMAN CONTROLS PARKS
Polo Grounds and Manhattan Field
Can BE Held From National
Brush, Too, Cam De-
liver.

CHICAGO, Jan. 16.-New York and Gin
cinnati may be included in this years
circuit of the American baseball league.
Freedman in new York and Brush IN
Cincinnati are about ready to quit the
National and affiliate with the American
league
These men realize that A. G. Spalding
can make good his promises to drive
them out of the National leagues They
also appreciate the fact that they can.
if they choose, cast their baseball for
tunes with the American league.
Brush, of Cincinnati, can hand over 20
the American league a new ball park
in fair ball town and a. fairly good
team. Freedman cannot deliver a ball
team, but he can and will offer to the
American league his long-term leases on
the Polo grounds and Manhattan field.
These are the only two ball parks in the
city of New York, and really represent
all of Freedmans stock in trade, as far
as baseball is concerned. 1t appears that
the long-term leases on this valuable
patch of Gotham real estate are made
out in Freedman's name as an individual,
and not as the president of the New
York club.
Spalding has options on a controlling
interest in the stock of the New York
National league club, and as natural
result has Freedman beaten to a stand
still as regards the control of the club,
but when this is said all is said. Freed
man still holds the only baseball asset
in New York worthy of consideration
the lease of the Polo grounds and Man
haitian field.
In Cincinnati similar conditions pre-
vail. freedman is Brushs partner in the
Cincinnati club. They have a thirteen
year lease on the ball park in the Ohio
metropolis. The improvements on the
ball park are many and valuable. They
include new grand stand made of steel
and fire brick. 1t is supposed to be a
model structure of it's kind Besides his
plant Brush has the signed contracts of
seventeen ball players Linked up as he
is with Freedman, and realizing that
Spalding has TIE upper hand in the Ma
tional league controversy, Brush has
been forced to mend his baseball fences.
1t is only natural that he should turn
to the American league. 1t is a fact that
he and Ban Johnson, the president Of
the American league, are cordial enc
miles, but still Brush has strong friends
in the American circuit.
The dicker for the transfer Of Freed
mans and Brush's clubs is now being
made. Certain people in the American
league have been approached, and are
considering the proposition. What is
more, the indications are now that the
deal will be consummated.
President Ban Johnson Of the Ameri-
can league, is in Cincinnati. Ban did not
take the trouble to tell his friends that
he was going, and apparently did $
best to keep his departure from town a
dark secret
h. ra, ILL., 49,
Cincinnati clubs to the American league
is made, many new and novel angles in
the baseball situation Will develop. 1t
may mean that the Baltimore club will
be switched to New York and Cleve-
lands bunch consolidated with the Gin
cinnati outfit. Then, again, it may re-
suit in a ten-club circuit for the Amer1-
can league, for this year at least. That
the big men in the American league have
designs on the rich field in New York
is fact, and, judging from the devel-
opments of the last twenty-four hours,
| they are willing to take up the heavy
burden of Freedman and "Freedmanism"
| in order to gain their point. The joint
| careers Of Freedman and Brush, provid-
| ed they jump to the American league
will be watched with more than passing
| interest. Ban Johnson is a far different
proposition from Mic Young.
| This action by Freedman and Brush
would necessitate Encouragement of
| the National league circuit. The National
| league managed to worry along for years
without New York. and can profitably do
| it again. AT any rate, the exit of Brush
| and Freedman would throw the balance
| of power in the National league over to
| A. G. Spalding and tne people he repre-
| sents.