The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-15
SPORTS.
MORE TALK OF
DROPPING TWINS
ALL EASTERN BASEBALL MAG.
MATES SAID TO BE IN DEAL.
Story of Cutting Out Western Half of
American Association Again Re-
vived-Watkins of Minneapolis Not
Likely to Consent to the Plan.

Talk of dropping the twin cities,
Kansas City and Milwaukee from the
American Baseball association con-
tlnues. There is no probability sug-
gested that the change will be at
tempted before next fall, but it is as
serted by several papers around the
circuit that Strobel of Toledo, Bryce
of Columbus, Tebeau of Louisville and
watkins of Minneapolis are strongly in
favor of dropping the four clubs in
the western division, and taking in
four eastern cities to replace them.
the attitude of Tebeau is we'll
known. In the two years since the
orsah!zation of the American associa-
t1on, 1t has been his ambition to be
dictator OF the leagues affairs. He
lost big bunch of money in Kansas
city last year, and would undoubtedly
be glad to get that franchise off his
hands, For some time Lennon of St.
Paul was hand and glove with Tebeau,
but the Louisville magnate cannot
latest move. Lennon wants a club in
st. Paul, not for the actual profit
from the baseball venture so much as
for the advertising it gives his other
business. He will never consent to a
transfer Of the franchise to an eastern
city, and 1t is probable that his fran
chise is similar to that of the Mime
chlSe cannot be transferred without
the consent of Lennon as owner.
Moreover, Lennon and Tebeau have
not the influence in the councils of
the league which they once had. Time
was when these men could get nearly
anything they wanted, but that time
has passed. While Tebeaus ability
as baseball general is recognized, he
| is not popular, and it is doubtful how
much help he can get from the other
| magnates in carrying out his plans.
| With Watkins in the deal it might
stand some chance of going thru. If
! the Minneapolis magnate pulled out
Lennon might be forced to get rid of
his franchise, for the distance between
the twin cities and the other cities in
the circuit makes it Improbable to
maintain one team in Minnesota with
out the other. It appears unlikely,
however,, that Watkins contemplates
such a move. He has invested large
| amount of money in Minneapolis. and
would hardly go in so deep with the
idea of using this city as a feeder for
| an eastern team as has been asserted.
It cannot be denied that the present
| circuit is somewhat unWieldly, but no
| more SO than it would be with such
| towns as Baltimore, Providence, Buff
| falO, Toronto, or Jersey City in place
| of the western cities.
| The National baseball commission
thru President Hermann, yesterday
| handed down several important de-
! cisions. In view of the fact that the
American leagues contracts are minus
| the reserve clause. the National COM
mission has decided if a contract con-
| tains no reserve clause, Il club may re-
serve a player unless he can produce
a written agreement that he was not
to be reserved or give conclusive evil
! dence to that effect. After Dec. Is g
! neW:rule goes into force, under which
! all written agreement releasing a play.
| er from reservation must be writer
| on the contract itself. -. H." o. y
| When the Western league met i1
Lincoln to-day to perfect organiza tor
and issue the franchise, it was forced
to begin all plans anew, for Sioux City
was on hand to make good fol
! the franchise awarded it at the pre-
vious meeting. George B. Wood, vii
liam National and Charles e. Huge
son, to whom the franchise wa.
awarded after a diligent canvass, have
| failed to secure the necessary financial
support and are unwilling to put il
the team. It is possible that A. Beall
| who owned the teams at Sioux Cit
and Minneapolis, in former seasons
! may appear and ask for the franchise
but this is not expected.