The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-01
JOHN FOSTERS FORECAST OF BIG LEAGUE SEASON OF 10
F THE economic conditions Of the

only as a PROFESSIONAL paStlme, but as 4
general field amusement --the nation IS
dearest cherished outdoor sports as
sured of the most prosperous season in
its history. Widespread prosperity, a
disposition to combine some pleasure
with the exacting demands of business,
and universal fondness for pastime
which combines an exciting element Of
uncertainty with rapid succession of
brilliant athletic feats are a firmly ess
tablished foundation for this prediction.
This year baseball begins with abso
lutte peace between controlling bodies
which govern the sport. True, there
may be intense playing rivalry, but
rivalry on the field and quarrels on
topics of; legislation are two quite diff
ferent questions There never has been
time since 1889 when two major
leagues existed in baseball in which
there has been SO little friction prior
to the start of the playing season.
So far as the financial situation is
concerned, all leagues may be said to
be on sound footing. Of course this
would naturally apply to the major
leagues, which are worth much of them
selves because of the value attaching
to their franchises in centers of ire.
mendous population. But it also ap-
plies to the minor leagues, which have
bettered their condition as their cities
grew in size, and which, as rule, are
handled now by experienced baseball
men who are more able to obtain favor
able results than novices. $50
The playing results of the season of
1905, which, next to 1889, was unques-
tionably the most prosperous in the
game, upset quite enough Of the specu-
lative tendencies of the suort to at
tach greater Importance to the season
of 1906. There had been mildly in
dicated sentiment thruout the country
to attach to the American league some
superiority in playing ability over it's
old and formidable rival, the National
league. .-1
Helped the Game.
Naturally this was disputed by the
National league, and the agitation of
the subject was extremely helpful to
baseball, in that it kept alive healthy
interest in the game. The test of the
year, which took place at the end of
the season in the series of games for
the world s championship, resulted in
favor of the National league. The series
between the rival Chicago clubs also
resulted in favor of the National league.
To those who had tried to give base
ball an impartial study, it is not SO
certain that these results were wholly
surprising, but it is unquestionably the
truth that they came as great surprise
to the American league.
A few words are due to the world s
series. Not in the history of baseball
has there ever been conducted GER
tain number of match games for a ma
tional pennant which were so ably han
died and which were so creditable to
the managers of the nation s sport as
the contests between the New York
National League club and the Phila-
del phia American League club. To
John T. Brush, who outlined and sug-
gested the rules which should govern
such contests, great credit is due for
assisting in placing on the highest
plane in the history of the game, cham
pionships involving the interests of a
nation for there is no question as tc
the national concern in sporting
event of this character. The story oil
the world s series last October was
flashed by innings from one ocean tt
the other, and even in the smalle?
towns and villages bulletins were is
sued showing the progress Of the con
tests which were taking place in New
York and Philadelphia y -
The defeat Of the American club
which sought to win the championship
was not such a hardship to the Ameri
can league as some would have it. Pos
sibly nothing could have resulted whic]
would have given the younger organ
iZation greater incentive to try to i'm
prove for the fight Of 1906 than to b
beaten. On the other hand, victor
did not unduly initiate the minds Of tn
National league owners, for baseball
fighting is not uncommon to them, bu
it did establish a certain feeling o
satisfaction that their confidence ha
not been misplaced in the team whic
had the right to compete against til
Americans
Both Ready for Warm Fight.
So both organizations benefited b
defeat and victory, and both, therefor
renew the struggle for supremacy tn
year with zest. which might hav
been lacking in part had not the r
suits Of 1905 been weighed out as the
were. liz 5"&'-.
r. The enthusiasm which is part
the struggle in the major leagues nevt
is confined to those bodies. 1t spread
in every direction. Given good yes
with the Nationals and Americans, an
there will be good year with tt
minor leagues. The keener the stru
: giles in the cities like New York, Bo
ton, Philadelphia and Chicago, tt
greater the attention which is paid
baseball in the eastern league, tt
American association, the Southel
league, and the two score and mo
other leagues which may be mentione
Their patrons may take sides with Il
major leagues, and they may look wi
some avidity for the news Of the
games, but so contagious is basebs
Interest and enthusiasm that he who b
comes devotee to the larger eli
speedily finds himself a rank partis'
for his own team, even tho it be pla
ing in the far northwest, or the f
southwest, for the championship Of tn
immediate section.
More baseball clubs will be on t
diamonds Of the United States this We
than ever before played in the histo
" of the country. There will be mo
leagues than there were in 1905 al
thoro will he moro o1,,l