The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-27

the headquarters Of each league in regard
to the crushing blows dealt the opposi-
ton. Looking at the question from an
impartial standpoint, however. it must be
admitted that the American League has
had the best Of the szirmishing this sea-
son. The spirited race In the younger
league. and the superior quality Of ball
put up by the majority Of the clubs in
this organization have won the favor OF
the public in all the cities where both
leagues have been represented. Forum
ately for the American, too. the teams
which have had to buck National league
opposition have all finished in the first
division while Philadelphia, Chicago and
st. Louis, in the National, have landed
in the second division, and Boston has
been q poor third in an uninterestirg
contest. $50
There can be no question that from the
standpoint Of the quality. Of baseball fur
nished the public the American has given
moro for the money than Its older rival.
Probably every American league team ex-
cept Baltimore and Detroit has made
good money. Hedges in st. Louis. who
had the highest priced team in the league,
has cleaned up, it is creditably reported,
from $4,000 to $4,000. Connie Mack has
made mint of coin, and the Boston cluD
has been a great drawing card at home
Comiskey has not made as much as he
would if he had kept the lead but he is
undoubtedly pretty well ahead on the sea-
son, although he. too, has a big salary
list. Cleveland has enjoyed great pros
perity since the acquisition of La Joie
and Bernhard started the eeam on the
up grade, and Washington with COM
paratively 1ow-priced team, has drawn
we'll Baltimore and Detroit have un-i
| doubtedly quit losers.
| Not only has the American made
money. but 1t has accomplished in large
degree a feat which will mean much to
| the organization in the long run. 1t has
destroyed the prestige Of the National
league. The parent organization can no
| longer run on it's reputation; it must show
| the goods hereafter before the fans will
be convinced. -.
Older League Not Crippled.
But admitting that the American has
dealt the National hard blow, the older
| league is far from crippled, and ct the
meeting in New York this week, most OF
the magnates declared for war. Well, the
public can stand it,; the players certainly
! conflict pretty well, and If the National
magnates want to continue the fun, no
voices will be raised in opposition.
| Next year the American will surely
| have a team in New York. Detroit under
good Management and with q good team.
| will be a paying plant. The club now has
a splendid nucleus for successful team,
would put the aggregation in the winning
road. The American circuit will be
stronger next year than before, and In
all probability the clubs will be even more
evenly balanced than this season. On the
other hand, Dreyfuss is currently reported
to have lost a number of his stars, and
the race in the national next season will
be much closer than it has been this year.
The United States is plenty big enough,
rich enough, and baseball mad enough to
support two major leagues, and there is
no reason to suppose that either Of the or
CARNATIONS will die from the wounds OF
battle. Just now the players want to see
the war continue. It means big salaries
for them and they do not wish to kill the
:, goose with the auriferous ova.
In the west the American association has
had all the best of the conflict with the
Western league. Although Milwaukee
!; and Kansas City in the latter organization
have had winning teams, while the same
clubs i'm the American association have
finished only fairly well. the American ha:
had at least an even break in these cities
{ while practically all the other teams have
, | ma de money!. - {.