The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-05
TED SULLIVAN HERE
rAwoUs OLD TIME BALL PLAYER
AND LATTER DAY LEAGUE
MANAGER SAYS f
FINE CHANCE FOR BASEBALL.
LEAGUE COMPOSED OF SIX CITIES
~ EASY REACH OF SAVANNAH.

so Well Does Mr.. sullivan THINK OF
the Idea He Says He Is Wiling
90 PIT His Money Into League
1f Interest Can Be stirred Op IN
,be Various Cities-He Has JUST
ooturued from Texas After Sue
o..suI Season of the Texas state
,soa.ue, which He Organized Two
Years Ago.
Tad Sullivan, perhaps the best known
baseball promoter in the entire coun-
.-,. who has at various times been
oeeciallv connected with the National,
the Southern and the Texas state
League. is in Savannah on visit Mr..
Sullivan reached Savannah yesterday
from Texas, where the state league in
tbe Lone Star state has just closed
most prosperous season. Mr.. Sullivan
organized the league two years ago.
and since that time has made 1t good
investment.
Ted Sullivans name Is synonymous
with baseball, and his career in tink-
ering with the national game goes
hack to the early days just after the
civil War. He himself is a retired
knight of the diamond, and in his day
he could hold his own with the best Of
them. =,
said Mr. Sullivan. Gwen when was
nlavtng ball years ago I remember how
we looked forward with delight to
"trip to the Forest City. 1 intended
going right through, but could not re-
sist the temptation to stop over lew
hours with old friends.
1--WE have had a most successful sea-
son out in the Texas State League and
NY team, from Paris, was the lucky
winner of the pennant l was delight
ed with the Lone Star state, but my
health has been bad out there, and L
have lust about made up my mind that
1 will make the next season my last one
out there.
Il was surprised when / arrived here
to find that there had been no profess
sional ball in Savannah in several
wears. AS l remember the city was one
of the best towns in the South for
professional ball several years ago.
am told that a movement to secure the
Montgomery franchise in the Southern
League has been advocated here. 1t
appears to me that this idea is not near
so feasible as is the one to organize
an independent six club league to be
made up of Savannah. Macon, Augusta,
Charleston, Jacksonville and COLUMBUS,
I don't think / ever saw better held
for good paying independent league.
Il know that there are lots of peo-
pie who have invested their money In
baseball enterprises years ago VINO
had balances on the wrong side OF the
ledger This happened when baseball
had not reached the conspicuous place
that it now holds in the public favor.
Never in the history of the game has
so much enthusiasm been manifested
in all parts of the country, and there
is not a single instance where large
profits have not been paid to stock
holders in the various leagues An
illustration clearly showing the in
creased interest and attendance on
baseball games is the fact that num-
Der of the Southern League teams had
salary lists reaching as high as So
000 While 1 believe this all out OF
proportion it goes to show that the
people want the best they can get and
are willing to pay for it.
"A six club league composed OF the
cities have mentioned would be VEN
ture that l think so well of that l am
willing to invest my money in it if
can get the towns themselves interest
ed. All of these cities are close
enough together, and friendly rela-
tons exist between the citizens Of all
that would make the contest of every
game one of the keenest interest. An
other advantage is that all of these
cities are situated close together, and
the one big item of railway fares would
be materially cut down in comparison
with those of other leagues.
IF such a league is to be formed in
Georgia now is the time to get things
in motion. I am going to Washington
tomorrow, and l am only sorry that
l cannot stay here and feel the public
pulse on such an enterprise"
Mr.. Sullivan has just issued a book
of humorous stores of the diamond,
gathered during his long connection
with the national game.