The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-21
NO CHANCE FOR
CLUB TO CHANGE
Possibility OF Richmond Securing
Eastern League Franchise Only
Barcst Possibility
MUST BE LEFT TO VOTE
Both the Owners of Virginia
and Eastern Leagues Would
Have to Give Permission.
by J. y. YoDER.


Should the parties now interested in
the movement to buy an Eastern
League franchise for the city OF Rich
mond get together as high as one
million dollars, there Is as little like
lihood of this place having represent
tation in the Eastern League as 1t has
to become d member of the American
or National League.
The three only possible ways III
which Richmond could be represented
by a club excepting the one in charge
of the present officials. are but the
very barest possibilities. These three
ways are: First that an outlaw league
be formed, with Richmond in that or
ganization; second. that an independent
team be. put into the field. backed by
the parties at the head of the move
ment to get in the Eastern League; an
third, that those interested buy the
franchise now owned by the present
stockholders of the local club.
That Richmond is able to become q
member OF the Eastern Baseball
League whenever enough men can be
gotten together with a pile of money
to buy franchise is a foolish thought.
In the first place, it Is necessary to
means in the baseball world. 1t means
just this. that any number of men who
cooperate and form an organization.
with stipulated number Of clubs ~
from the national baseball commission,
which is composed of Ban johnson.
president of the American League;
Harry Pulliam. president OF the
tional League, and Garry Hermann.
who has interests in several OF the Dig
league teams. that real protection VIII
be afforded them, and the case now at
hand illustrates just what that thing
protection" means.
Rules Would Not Allow.
In the rules of the national agree
ment which were promulgated imme-
diately after the famous baseball war
Leagues OF 1s97-lSss. it specifically
states that no organization which In
cludes any town within five. miles OF
another town or city already repre-
same commission. will be awarded
franchise which allows organized
baseball, and that, provided ISe DIN,
Gals Of any club IN an IN
the requirements of the league constt-
tuition, the franchise which allows
them to own and manage a team ac-
cording as they see tit, Will be their
This means that If the people OF
Manchester should offer the owners OF
an Eastern League franchise any sum
of money whatsoever for the same, IT
without the permission of the owners
ana officials OF the present Virginia
State League.
No Easy Sailing.
| In other words. the present owners
and officials OF the Virginia State Base
| ball League have been awarded the
| territorial rights OF the five cities now
represented, and this includes all terri
tory within five miles of each city. 10
organize team or league in opposition
to this would mean that the person.
Interested in such movement would
| have to oppose with an outlaw league
the strongest athletic organization In
the world-an organization that is run
| according to the most up-to-date pusl-
ness methods, and which has proven
itself an impregnable foe by the recent
subsection of the Tri-State League. nm
outlaw league last season with mil
| lions of dollars behind 1T. Therefore.
on the face Of it, it is plain that an
outlaw league would have no small
troubles fighting the natlonal pase-
ball commission
AS to the purchasing Of an Eastern
luteIy impossible without the, consent
of not only the owners Of each OF the
SIX cities which make up the virginia re MA
6lt also of se the as m
League. There is ono other faWful
manner of Richmond securing an East
ern League franchise. II oa Balt az thn
other three clubs in this organiza-
ton were drafted to either the Ameri-
can or National Leagues, q vacancy
would be left. which could be filled
only after vote by the owners Of the
remaining five clubs, which would
have the sole power of choosing n
city in any organization Of lower class.
II must be remembered that there are
several Glasses" In organized base
ball-class "A. class B, etc.-,and only
in case OF a vacancy IN n higher league
can a lower league draft" or secure
possession of tho franchise of club
which is a member of q lower organi-
cation.