The Washington times., 1905-10-01

In June, 1894. Antony A. Sousa con-
ceived the idea OF forming a baseball
league, 10 be composed of clubs In
Uncle Sans departments.
A meeting was held in the Post
masters room at the city postoffice.
and the following clubs sent representa-
tives: Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing. District Commissioners Office. Post
Office Department, War Department.
Treasury Department, city Postoffice.
Interior Department and Arsenal.
The league selected as its officers An
tony Sousa, president; Lamar COBB,
vice president: Alvin Belt, secretary.
and William Horace Darrant. treasurer.
The delegates. who formed the nucleus
of the league were as follows:
Messrs. NJ. c. Hazen, c. b. Hunt, A.
S. Belote. Horace Darrant. Alvin Belt,
E. z. Merrill, Charles F. Miller George
A Jaeger. F. A Cooley. Charles F..
Dickens. Harry Clark, Owen Kellar.
Lamar Cobb. John Meyer. and John
HeJ der
Many Games Arranged.
The league was launched with sched-
uIe Of seventy-five games, which were
played at the old Capitol Park, on North
: Capitol street, and the Arsenal grounds,
permission for the use of the latter field
having been granted by Lieut.. Albert
s. Cummins. Fourth u. S. Artilltry
| Among the players were many ex-
professionals, including Paul Hines, Bob
/, Barr, and George Winkleman. who
were at that time employed in the Gov
ernment service, while John HeydIer,
now secretary of the National Baseball
League, umpired the games. assisted by
VIII Belts and Sidney Bieber.
Three Seasons.
The three succeeding seasons found
the following officers and promoters OF
the league: The Hon. A r. Server
then secretary of the Civil Service Com
mission; c. 3. Hunt, Engineer of High
ways; Major S. Porter House, John F
wilkins. John Hadley Doyle, Charles F
Dickens, NJ c. Hazen. DR.. Glendie b
Young, Owen Kellar, Charles F. Miller
Chares r. K. Miller. Frank Larner
Thomas Roche, Edward Walsh, Franz
Rebstock, A. s. Belote and others oi
prominence.
The first year the championship wa:
won by the strong District Commission
ers team, and the second season th'
Bureau of Engraving and Printing clul
, landed the pennant A handsome silvei
|
holding a gold ball. was purchased, anC
after all expenses were paid the sur
plus in the treasury enabled the League
to give several successful social af
fairs. including dances, concerts, ant
, smokers
Exhibition Games
: Several exhibition games were playe'
: with the Senators, then in charge o
7 Scrappy Joyce, and on one occasion tn
league had as n star feature Champion
( James j. Corbett, who played firs
I base.
= Up TO the third year OF its existenc
the league was highly successful an
had players on its teams who were reall,
; identified with the department or bureat
D represented. but after this il Wa
{ thought best to allow few outsiders [
join the ranks of each club for the pur
} pose of strengthening the teams.
The next season found the director
of the league in favor merging tn
= Departmental with the District League
: At this time President Sousa and Adar
Johnson, the Columbia Athletic Gu
athlete were elected. This league
known then as the District League, ha
. as its promoter f. f. Rice, who with Nj
e Johnson, directed the league throug
V several successful seasons.