The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-14
WANTS TO EXPAND ;.l.. n!
Northern Baseball League Debates
Plan to Take In Duluth
and Superior.
Lennon Angered by Insinuation Of
bluff Ban Johnson Leases
New York Grounds.

The coming season promises to be a
memorable one in, the history of =: the
Northern Baseball league. For some time
past the circuit committee has been at
work preparing report for the next meet
ing of the board of control the date Of
which has not yet been set by President
Kent. The proposition which is now I'M
der consideration by. all those interested
is whether it is advisable to take in two
of the smaller towns, such as. Devils
Lake, Bem1dji or Grafton, to complete a
six club league, or to admit Duluth and
Superior ~ 49,. ...-=-.
The towns that will certainly be in the
league are Grand Forks, Fargo, Crook,
ston and Winnipeg, and these places have
practically signed their men for the COM
ing season. All have faster teams than,
were in the Northern league last season,
though many of the best of last. years
men have been resigned by the man
layers. <gl.s y
The advocates of the more compact
league argue that it would not be to the
best interests of the game to take in Sill
perior and Duluth, as the company would
be too fast for the balance of the towns;
but this argument is met by the state
1nent that Winnipeg, while, several times
larger than any of the towns in the league
last year, did not set too fast a. pace, even
though she did win the pennant. The
fact that Winnipeg finished first is con-
first year of professional baseball, and in
consequence. the people are lip on their
toes yelling for more of itgtilis season. Il
On paper. it can easily be figured out
| that it would be a paying proposition to
take in Superior and Duluth. The aver
age population Of the six towns in the
league would then be 10000, while if Dew
lis Lake and Grafton were taken in, the
average population would be just .one-half
that number, or $4,000 per town. 1t is
true that the travelling expenses would
be greater per game with Duluth and
Superior but this expense would hardly
be doubled.
| Looking at the proposition another way,
! the travelling expenses per game per 1000
population with Duluth and Superior In
the league, would be SO cents, while with
| the smaller local towns, the travelling ex-
|penses per game per 1000 population would
be Is cents.
Another question that is agitating the
cranks is the election Of a president Of
the league. President E. H. Kent an
nounces that he cannot serve another
| term, but pressure will be brought to bear
to induce him to change his decision. If
he refuses, State Land Commissioner D.
j. Laxdal will without doubt be offered
| the presidency.
| The local organizations have been COM
pleted in Grand Forks, Fargo Crookston
and Winnipeg. The latter place quit last
the balance of the cities have raised from
I$2,O 900 to $1,000 each, with which to start
the new season. The business men look
on the league as a good business propo-
sition and all are willing give their
hearty support to the game. AS a rule,
the business men favor the Duluthy and
Superior scheme, and the merchants of
the latter towns are of the same mind.
President Lennon of st. Paul got on his
high horse yesterday and announced,
! through his official organ, that if there
was any more talk to the effect that he
was bluffing when he intimated the pos
/ sibility of transferring his team, he would
turn over his dolls to Bobbie Burke of
/ Chicago. Then the fans would see whether
it was a bluff or not. ~
| Lennon can't be more fatigued by the
attitude of the fans than the fans are by
the continual rehashing Of the transfer
proposition.
Ban Johnson left New York for Chicago
late last night. He did some tall hustling
/ on Wednesday and clinched the ground
question. He put up big cash deposit
and signed lease for term of years.
But he will not make public the location
Of the new grounds until Feb. "a. When
the announcement is made, Johnson says
the work will begin at once, and every
thing will be ready by April Is.
4 One of the rules passed at the Ameri-
i. can association meeting in Chicago did not
get into print. This rule is to the effect
4 that any time a club intends to release
a player, notice must first be sent to Pres
ident T. J. Hickey, who In turn will in
" form all the managers in the association
q Of the intended release. This will give the
managers an opportunity to- put in a claim
for the men and also open negotiations
with him before any outside league has
-, itxr RI do h11Sj11nSS with him
The fact that all managers will learn OIL
the proposed action before the player him
, self will be of benefit to the club own
ers throughout the association This is
, in line with the re-establishing of the
i claim list, which was abolished last season
In order that the clubs might go out and
secure whatever players were in the
market.
Charles Blot. the hypnotic pitcher o.
, Mukwanago Wis, is anxious to secure Z
trial with one of the Milwaukee club:
J this spring. Blot was signed by Mana
10