The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-28
THE AMERICAN LEAGUE.
BY b. 3. JOHNSON.

The American League approaches the
season of 1901 with prospects which prom
Use a better n more successful year
than it has yet enjoyed. The season Of
1903 was a prosperous one. in many ways
exceeding our brightest authorizations, and
the league is better fortified for the COM
ing campaign than it was a year ago. both
from a playing standpoint and in the re-
sources OF its individual clubs and OF
the organization itself. Much valuable
playing material has been secured during
into the weaker clubs will raise the stand
ard Of playing and make the race for the
pennant closer.
The changes in ownership of the clubs
last season have materially fortified the
league financially, andNI do not th;nk it
too much to say. no similar organization
was ever stronger or more perfect in that
respect. The aim of the American League
has always been TO intrust the interests
of its clubs and Of the baseball constit-
high standing and busine reputation.
who are at the same time good sports
men aud enthusiastic baseball followers.
This fnsures the confidence of the public
recitation that the games will he clean
and sportsmanlike exhibitions by teams
which are the best exponcrts of the mod
en game that can be put together by
liberal ownership and u~ntra1nmcled man
agement. The American League is justly
proud of its club owners:
oLkllStICS i Ict bISSNGu ~ tlioI
baseball has a firmer hold than ever on
the affections of Americans. Clean base
BALI has been the platform OF the Amer
ican League, and every effort has been
made to free the game of those features
which make X Objectionable to its best
admirers. There was never Il time when
the contests OF an entire season were more
free from the 'rowdy" element or that
which seeks to gain unfair advantage by
unsportsmanlike ~methods-the sole result
of which is to produce delay and DISGUST
the most desirable class of patronage
thar those seen on American League dia-
monds last season. To foster this spirit
Of fair play and retain that popularity will
be the chief aims of the league next sea-
son. without robbing the games in aEy
to a strong. healthy, honest rivalry &c
tween contendf.g civbs.
In New York, where the American
League Club was handicapped last season
by insufficient transportation facilities.
and. for a part of the time. by an in
complete plant. because of the h~erculeon
task of transforming the present site into
a baseball field. the outlook. is infinitely
more satisfactory, although the owners OF
that club and the league were by no
in the face of existing conditions. The
early completion OF the subway will bring
the American League Park into close
touch with the business n residence dis
tricts of Manhattan.
The worlds champion team which Bos-
ton supported last season will be practi-
caIly intact and the accidents which weak
ened 1t for a time will be guarded against.
The team which has represented Phila-
delphia. successfully for three years has
the winter. and Washington will have an
almost entire new team. made up largely
of young. hustlinS players, sprinkled with
enough Of the experienced men Of high