The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-25
MANY CIRCUIT CHANGES
RUMORED IN LEAGUE MAPS OF
1905.
Mobile, Savannah and Macon In Line
for Shreveport Franchise-More
Talk of Dropping Little
Rock.

Memphis, Tenn. July 24.-(Special)
According to the constitution OF the
Southern League change In the cir
cult of clubs may. at any time take
place, II the members can show q
three -fourths vote in favor OF a
change. A clause in the article. from
which there seems no appeal. enables
the franchise holders to adopt new
cities for clubs for business reasons"
This section of the constitution Is
thought to have been especially franz
ed in order to enable a three-fourths
vote to abandon a town where gate
receipts commence to lessen so that
a more profitable location may be Sc
lected for the placing of q club with
all rights.
The recent action Of the Shreveport
Baseball Association in transferring
games from their own lot to Birming-
ham, according to reliable report
reaching league headquarters. is to be
followed by the transfer Of other con-
tests to other diamonds. The reason
Is simple. Gate receipts are larger
and profits derived are greater abroad
than received from games played in
Shreveport.
Baseball wiseacres remembering dis
satisfaction which has followed from
home patrons of the game over such
an arrangement by previous clubs in
other leagues, will not be surprised to
hear of proposed new circuits for the
Southern League in 1905, and already
Mobile, Savannah and Macon are men
toned as possible holders of 1905 fran
chises.
Certain 1t seems right now that there
is trouble in store for directors when
they meet in the annual conclave TO
talk over business of the 1904 season.
and to make plans for the 1905 race.
Managers of two clubs have been
heard to express their intention of vot-
ing to abandon the Trans-Mississipp
towns, which means the last of base
ball at Little Rock and Shreveport
should the vote be carried to cut loose
from those cities, so far as the South
ern League is concerned. Nothing but
the continued prosperity and fat gate
receipts in other towns Is thought TO
have prevented contemplated change
in the circuit before this.
At Shreveport visiting clubs are
paid the guarantee as stipulated by
the league, for each game played. This
and nothing more is handed visiting
managers during week day games. and
on Sundays and holidays the receipts
have never swelled to an amount cal
chuckle. The gameness in which the
directors of the Shreveport association,
coupled with their personal popular
ity, has caused any movement to de-
sert their diamond to be sidetracked.
but now that much more profitable
fields are in sight at towns East of
the Mississippi river. the future cir
cult of the 1905 league and the action
of the franchise holders. who have
right by the constitution for business
reasons" to change the circuit. will be
watched with interest.
Many changes are likely to be in
the baseball maps of the South in an
other twelve-month. The addition of
Macon or Savannah would cause the
South Atlantic League to select anoth-
err city to fill the hole. The Cotton
States League, which Is prospering In
it's third straight season, contemplates
expanding to Alexandria, La. and
Jackson or Meridian, Miss. which will
give them an eight club league.
Tho recently organized Delta League
which will surely finish the season. is
also making plans for an eight club
circuit in 1905, according to President
Sid Dodds. Meridian, wanted by the
Cotton States League, Is also wanted
by the Delta League. Should Meridian
enthusiasts be induced to form a COM
pany. a movement will be started by
President Dodds to place club In |
Mobile.
The increased interest manifested
by the Southern public in the great
national game, has caused the various
leagues to look on baseball no longer
as an experiment, but as a staple bus
iness