The Washington times., 1906-08-19
AMATEUR BASEBALL
PROBLEMS ARE MANY
Comphcating Questions in
Deciding Which Team IS
City Champion.
RELYING UPON MANAGERS
Fans, anxious to See Title Awarded,
Think Compromise Is Possible.
Three Games Necessary.

For the first time in the history OF
amateur baseball in the city of Wash
ington, the question OF the District
. championship will be decided.
Representatives OF the Capital City.
the Sunday School, the Departmental,
and the Marquette Leagues Pave been
at work for the past week on a schedule
and rules. The first meeting was pro-
ductive Of an expression OF sentiment
and from the manner IN which the va
rious representatives got together on
the proposition. the post-season series
took a definite shape.
Articles of Agreement.
Articles of agreement have been
drawn up In the rough. and an associa-
tion 10 be known as the Amateur Base
ball Commission was formed, consist
ing Of the president of the Sunday
School League, F. W. BolgianO, the
president of the Marquette, c. + Ed
wards: the general manager Of the
Departmental. A. G. Rice, and the pres
ident Of the Capital City League. James
\. O'shea- All matters pertaining to
the games, the supervision OF the same,
the selection OF umpiTes and the
grounds Will be handled by this com
mission.
From present indications and the
views Of the commission it is more
than likely that Il series Of three
games Will be played, the complete
series 10 consist OF eighteen gameH-
Where the games will be played IS still
an open question. American League
Park would afford the best ground and
II il can be secured II will be used
From the sentiment now the commits
sion will handle all Of the money taken
IL on the series and will make such
distribution Of it as 1t sees fit
Eligibility Problems.
The eligibility code viii doubtless re-
duire much consideration before a con
clusion satisfactory 70 all concerned can
be passed. The Sunday School League
requires the attendance at Sunday
School for a specified time before the
PLAYER is eligible 10 play on one of its
teams In the Departmental the men
must be carried on the rolls as clerks
for period Of thirty days. In the
Capital League the players are permit
ted TO play after their names are in the
office Of the president for two weeks.
The number OF men is limited in each
league. in some a greater number OF
men is carried. I'm others a lesser. There
is therefore much divergence on the
question as To what rules shall govern
the contestants, and the only way this
can be settled is 10 effect a compromise
of some sort.
Watching Each Other.
In the interestof pure sport such steps
must be taken. The representatives OF
the different leagues are watching each
other with great eagerness. Another
problem which must arise under the
same head will be as TO what position
the commission will take when dealing
with a man who plays on a team in
more than one league. How will the
commission regulate his movements and
how will il control his playing?
If he plays with one team, the others
will feel chagrined II he IS a clever
man, then he may be approached by
some of the followers Of the league, and
inducements may be offered to him. The
commission should provide for this. as
far as il can. and eliminate any evil
dences toward professionalism.
Three Games Necessary.
4 series of games should be arranged.
to consist of three at least. for upon
one game no championship can be pre-
dicated There is too much luck. too
much chance in one contest The cham
pionship should be settled beyond Cavil.
There should be no aftermaths. The
people OF Washington will follow these
games with great interest and enthus-
iasm and will patronize them. and so
there should be no flukes, no elements
conducive to luck alone. The men at
the head OF affairs IN each league are
level-headed. conservative men. and 10
them the fans look for a solution Of the
problem.
Should Enforce Penalties.
Disputes should be provided for. and
the penalty for infraction Of the rules /
should be as severe as possible In order /
10 place these contests upon the high |
plane OF true sport Men may be ratified |
and all that but the captains Of the /
teams should govern the men on and of |
the field. and the managers surely have /
enough influence TO sway the players |
the right way.
In one league the championship Is on /
the shelf. in the other three there Is a /
battle royal which may prOtraCt the /
pOst-season series. In the Marquette |
there is as pretty a fight as one would !
wish TO witness. In the Capital City !
there are two teams nip and tuck, and
in the Sunday school It is a flip Of the
coin that may settle the team over
whose church will float the flag OF vic
tory. Never, perhaps. before In Wash
ington has such fights been waged
never before have such finishes been
seen. Teams are on the alert and the
officials have their hands busy keeping
the men in shape. Rules were never
more stringently enforced than now. and
from these exactlons viii the beneficial
effect be evidenced.