The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-25
FORMAL ORGANIZATION WILL BE
PERFECTED NOV. "a.
LOCAL FRANCHISE WILL BE
OFFERED TO SAVANNAH A. A.
EVERY CITY WILL HAVE A REP
RESENTATIVE PRESENT.

Jacksonville, Augusta, Macon and
Columbus Have Already Taken
steps Towards Organization.
Charleston May Not Come in, But
Columbia and Brunswick Are
Eight Team League Would Be Inn
practicable.
Now that there is no doubt that
cities of Georgia, South Carolina and
Florida will have what they have been
wishing for for some years, profess
sionaI baseball, the greatest enthusi-
asm prevails in the cities that will be
members of the South Atlantic League
which will be formally organized in Sa,-
vannah on Nov. "a,
In Savannah the organization of a
stock company to take the local fran
chise has not been entered into for the
reason that the Savannah Athletic AS
ISOLATION, which is now in the course
of organization, will be given an OPP
ton, and only after the associations
decide that it will not put out a team,
will a stock company be organized to
take the franchise. Whether the ath-
letic association takes the franchise or
not Savannah will have one of the
best teams that it is possible to get
outside of the big leagues, for there
are several gentlemen here with
money, anxious to take the financial
end of the bargain, so confident are
they that such a team will prove a
paying investment.
No Chance for Southern League
Franchise.
At the first meeting of those inter-
ested in the organization of the Sa-
Vannah Athletic Association it was in
cidentally mentioned that if the assoc
citation proved success that an at
tempt would be made to put a profess
sional ball team on the diamond next
year, in the Southern League, if it
was possible to get the franchise. Lo-
cal sentiment, however, seems to IA
Vor the league such as the South At
lantic will be-composed of cities close
together, which will occasion keen
rivalry, lessen expenses, and no fran
chise money will be required. 1t has
been proven, also. that there is no
chance for Savannah to get a fran
chise in the Southern League. The
franchise itself would now cost about
$4,000, which, however, increases in
value as the attendance and interest
in the national game grows.
Have Already Organized.
In Jacksonville the Jacksonville
Baseball Association will take the
franchise, and no organization will be
necessary there. This association had
one of the best teams in the South
NCt
slble to arrange games enough to make
the receipts what was desired, the as
ISOLATION was highly delighted with the
results
In Macon the franchise will be own
ed by private individuals, and a letter
received here yesterday stated that a
meeting of those interested would be
held in the Central City as soon as
the State Fair was over, at which
time final arrangements for sending a
representative to Savannah to the
meeting on Nov. "a would be made.
Macon is one of the best ball towns
in the state, and is fortunate in the
possession of ball diamond that has
attracted the attention of some of the
big league teams. It was on these
grounds that Ned Hanlon's pennant
Orioles had their spring practice for
two seasons, and Jimmy Collins had
the worlds champions down there last
spring.
In Columbus a. party of gentlemen
who are interested in professional ball
for their town, will meet one day next
week to make arrangements for send
ing a representative to Savannah when
the league will be formally organized.
The Columbus papers are voicing the
sentiment of the lovers of the game
there, and there is little doubt that the
Gem City Will have one of the strong
est aggregations in the league.
Augusta, too, has taken the initial
steps and will be represented at the
meeting when the formal organization
of the league will be entered into.
Charleston May Not Enter.
Charleston is the only city that has
been slow about responding, and it may
be that either Brunswick or Columbia,
S. c., will be chosen instead Of
Charleston. Both of these cities have
made application for admission into the
league.
There are some who advocate an
eight-team league. This has been
found to be impracticable in all minor
organizations, and it is considered adj
visable to start with only six teams.
1t would be hard matter to get an
eight-team league without making the
jumps too far, and it has been found
that the interest and rivalry is more
intense where there are only six teamA