The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-28
NATIONAL POLO LEAGUE
WILL BID FOR PLAYERS
Frank c. Bancroft Outlines the
Proposed Policy of New
Organization.
TO PAY HIGH SALARIES
Meeting Soon VIII Be Held to
Complete the Circuit of
the League.
TO PAY HIGH SALARIES


of the Journal to-day interviewed Frank
c. Bancroft. business manager of the Gin
cinnati National League baseball team,
who with Garry Hermann, will control the
Cincinnati team of the National Roller
Polo League. The only thing now in doubt
Is the circuit of the National League.
II has been known for some time that the
big league would be on a sound basis next
season and that nearly all the star players
will be with National League clubs, is
undisputed. Mr.. Bancroft made the fol-
lowing statement:
There Is no doubt but what the National
League will be on a solid plane in short
time. meeting of proposed franchise
holders will soon be held either at Indian
apoiis or Columbus. and all preliminary ar
Iangements viii be disposed of at that
time. President j. Eli Grillo, Of the Amer
lean Baseball Association, was last year
elected 10 the presidency of the National
Roller Polo League, but We did not get
under way at that time. Mr.. Grillo viii
doubtless again be elected president and
some other prominent sporting man will be
elected to serve as secretary and treasurer.
Mr.. Grillo will preside at the coming meet
Ing. Both Indianapolis and Columbus are
central points IN the proposed circuit, but
cannot say as yet just where the meet
ing will be held.
Il will vote to admit both the INDIAN
epolis and Richmond Western League Clubs
10 the big league. The capital of Indiana
viii be one or the best paying cities in
the circuit The sport-loving people of that
city will not attend contest where their
club contests against teams from
cities who are not her equal in population.
1t will make all the difference in the world
when club will come TO Indianapolis,
whose players will wear the uniform OF
Cincinnati. Detroit OF Chicago on their
jerseys. The words Anderson, Muncie and
Elwood are not in themselves conducive to
crowded houses.
How many cities in the National League
will have 70 build rinks?" Mr. Bancroft
was asked.
THAT is a hard question to answer, ow-
ing TO the fact that the exact circuit is as
yet unknown Dayton is the only city
that has no suitable building In which to
play roller polo. In this city we have a
magnificent place in which to play Horti-
cultural Hail is a massive building, which
will seat 1900 persons. With a few slight
alterations 1t VIII make an excellent polo
rink and all games scheduled for this city
will be played in that building. Both Cleve-
land and Columbus have large buildings
which can easily be converted into polo
Kinks and Detroit already has a rink"
DO you know at this time what cities
That question cannot be answered until
we know whether the big league will be
natl. Indianapolis, Richmond. Toledo, Day
. ton, Cleveland, Anderson, Detroit and Co
lumbus have all asked for franchises. II
Is hardly probable that Anderson Will
draw q berth in this league. The city itself
IS too small, Notwithstanding that there are
delegations to the games scheduled for An
derson. If we admitted Anderson the old
ghost OF the larger cities contesting against
teams from smaller cities would again
''wii the National League enter into a
peace agreement with the Western and
Central Leagues?' was asked
I'VE certainly Will not the first year.
answered Mr. Bancroft. "All players now
members of the Central League clubs have
signed one-year contracts. At the close Of
the present playing season they will be at
liberty to sign when and where they please
and 1t is safe TO say that all the best play
tional League. The big league may enter
a national agreement like that now in force
between the two Indiana leagues next year.
We Will not this year for the reason that
we have no players who could be signed
by the Western or Central organizations.
viii the plan OF dividing the gate re-
ceipts be adopted by the national organiza-
Yes. we will share and share alike. This
IS the same plan that has been in force
for so many years among the clubs In the
many baseball leagues Of the United States
and II has proven entirely successful.
Clubs playing In cities where the attend
ance was not up to the average placed by
other cities have an equal chance where
the percentage plan is in vogue.
The amateur players will be in great
demand next year. Those who do not APP
pear on Central or Western League clubs
will be taken by the magnates in the cities
Of the National League; II Is imperative
even at this time dearth OF fast polo
players 1t Is my present intention to or
ganize an amateur league 10 be composed
OF Indiana amateurs and they will probably
play three nights week. / believe that
the amateurs will draw crowds large enough
TO pay expenses on nights when the Ma
tional League teams do not play. In one
years time many of the polo players who
are row members OF amateur teams will be
with the big league clubs.
why are you confident that the players
will jump at the chance 10 sign National
League contracts when the game of roller
polo Will be an Cntried venture in at least
four OF the cities that will be represented?
Mr.. BanchOft was asked.
THE franchise holders OF the National
League viii go into this thing willing to
expend any amount of money to make il a
60. We do not expect to make barrel OF
money the first year, as we will pay the
players higher salaries than they ever re-
ceived before. and we Will also pay ref
erees 500 week IL that sum is necessary tC
obtain men who are really competent. We
must also educate the Ohio people 10 the
game That will be small matter. Let
them once attend game and they will
ever, IL will, In my opinion, be a hard thing
TO draw crowds OF two three thousand
people until one or two months after the
opening OF the playing season. The report
Is current in this State that polo game
IN your State is not considered complete
unless ar least one fist fight is INDUCED IN
by the players during the progress OF the
contest no rowdyisTn whatever will be
tolerated in the National League. The
Western and Central League officials are IL
q sense to be blamed for this report II
seems that they cannot understand that "a
lower the game TO the Mexican bull fight
standard Will sooner later kill IL en-.
tirely. II the officers OF the two lea que:
would go TO the expense OF hiring com.
petent referees all dirty polo would be
ing good men 10 ofIiciate would be- more
than made up by the increased attendance
That Mr.. Bancroft is fully conversanr
with the polo situation in Indiana is shown
by the fact that he knows each PLAYER by
name. the position he plays. and the clut
to which he belongs lie at one time
several years back, the president OF tht
Eastern Roller Polo League In those dav,
the first team 10 score three goals out of :
possible i've was declared the winner anc
the players who are now rated 10 be I'm,
fastest IN the world were unheard OF mem.
bers. OF amateur teams. When Mr.. Ban
croft was elected 10 the presidency n,
changed the playing slime 10 two fifteen
same length are played and 10 quote Mr.
Bancroft the people are given anywhcr,
from one hour 10 one and "A half OF soliC
enjoyment FRANK G. LOWRY.
H.