The Washington times., 1907-12-18
BASEBALL SCOUT
VISITS CAPITAL
FOR HIS LEAGUE
Fred Paige Wants Wash
ington in Outlaw
Circuit.
By THOMAS S. RICE.


That the new Union Baseball League
is not entirely a joke seems proved by
the fact somebody is putting up money
for travelling expenses. and trusty
scouts are already on the road spying
out The land.
Washington as a field for the Union
Leagues endeavor was surveyed today
by Fred Paige. OF New York. who was
taking stock OF the local situation and
seeing whether the Capital pubhe would
warm 10 the enterprise. He was not
very communicative. but repeated the
assertion that the league has a bundle
OF ready coin and intends TO start out
IT. the East with a circuit which at
present looks like Washington. Balti-
more. Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Reading.
Newark, Patterson. and probably Rich
mond, Va
Business Proposition.
The plan is to have high-class teams
IN each town, making a speciality OF
picking up the best college players who
can be induced 10 adopt the profe ssion-
al game. The promoters have an idea
they can get along without "A reserve
ball player all his rights. Should they
be able to do this and make their
league 4 success they will have &C
complished baseball miracle, but they
say they are willing to try.
Paige explained this morning that
the league has TO idea Of lighting or
ganlzed baseball for love or glory, but
WAS going into the scheme merely as a
business propositions. because the pro-
meters thought the cities IN the pro-
posed circuit would support more base
ball. In Washington. Baltimore. Brook
Ign, and other cities having one major
league team, every effort will be made
20 have the schedule OF the Union
League so arranged there viii be no
conflict with the other team. In PhiIa-
delphia. where one major club holds
the fort, while the other il on the road
there Will be an unavoidable conflict
but at that the new league figures on a
paying patronage, ana points 70 the
number OF semi-pro- teams growing TAT
around that city
Chances for Success.
Grounds Will be the great difficulty
OF the new league IN entering Wash
ington. There are few available sites
and almost without exception they can
not be leased. as thu owners are trying
20 sell them for immediate building pur-
poses. Whether Washington would sup
port such a club IS a hard question.
but a numter OF keen students OF base
ball and amusement enterprises were
OF the opinion last season that a good
semi-pro. CLUB In this city would be a
profitable venture II inclosed grounds
could be obtained. The city IS Ger
tainly crazy over amateur baseball. and
many % the exhibition games at
American League. Park between local
teams last year were good money
nlaktrs
With accessible grounds. clean. snappy
ball. and a winring club the owners OF
the Washington franchise IN the Union
League might have something soft.
The experiment would certainly be
watched with great interest
Ambitious Plans.
AS It now stands the Union Ieague
is merely an Eastern organizati on. but
working on the proposition that big
cities Will support two teams. the pro
mOters have a dream OF branching out
IN the future and taking in Pittsburg
and Cincinnati, which have one major
league club apiece now; Chicago, the
greatest OF ali cities for semi-pros-,
and one other Western burg. looping OF
weak sisters in the East to make room
for the Western contingent
In order 20 avoid trouble the Union
League proposes to make no effort 10
tamper with the reserved PLAYERS OF
organized baseball, but is confident II
has an abundance Of material IN sight
TO furnish bali teams that viii furnish
just as much excitement as the older
leagues
Mr. Noyes Remains Calm.
President Tom Noyes, OF he washing
ton American League Club. was not at
all alarmed this morning when told
that the city might be invaded by an
outlaw league. Haven't heard OF any
such doings. and can't see why I should
change my brand OF breakfast food be-
cause these other fellows want TO enter
ho no