Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-13
RUM0RS OF NEW
MAJOR BALL LEAGUE
May Spring From American
Association and East
ern League.

NEW YORK, November 1S.-SeVerai
| prominent base ball men here In discuss
| ing yesterday the action Of the Eastern
League and the American Association In
boiling the meeting Of the National Asso-
citation OF Minor Leagues In Chicago on
| Wednesday, after the delegates had voted
down a proposition to place these two
circuits in q class by themselves. were
positive In the belief that before long
| a new major league circuit will be organ
| ICED which may precipitate base ball
| war Of wide dimensions. For more than
two years the American Association,
whichsis the most powerful minor league
in the west has been talking Of expan-
sion, and has repeatedly threatened to put
club in Chicago. The national base ball
commission has steadily opposed this
scheme and has been backed up by what
is known ~ "organized base ball. en-
bracing all OF the major and minor
leagues in this country.
Until recently the American Association
stood alone In trying to effect this plan.
but the action OF the Eastern League, the
biggest and best minor league in Ameri-
ca In standing by the American Associa-
ton. has made many base ball men believe
that there Is great deal more under the
has been known for q long time that Ed
ward Hanlon. the owner OF the Baltimore
club. has been In favor Of organizing q
new major league circuit to take In his
city, while It has also been reported on va
rious occasions that II q break should
come Buffalo and Providence. two other
leading Eastern League cities. would get
aboard the band wagon. month ago
1t was common gossip that Clark Griffith
was in with some such scheme that might
20 nj
this city. and the fact that he has shown
I'D In Chicago and Is apparently in no
hurry to accept the management OF the
Cincinnati club lends color to the belief
thing radical In the base ball line.
The American Association men have
within the last ten days been accused Of
not only planning an invasion of Chicago,
but also Of q we'll laid scheme to put new
clubs in st, Louis, PittsburU and Cincin-
natl II there ia really anything in this
report local base ball men said yesterday
that in case the Minor League Association
refused to recede from it's present position
and the national commission also declines
Association and the Eastern League it
will not be at all surprising II before the
winter is half over new major league
circuit embracing Chicago Cincinnati. st.
Louis and Pittsburg in the west and New
York, Buffalo, Baltimore and Providence
in the east is launched by the leading
schemers in the two big minor leagues
In order to start such an organization.
however. 1t must be remembered that big
money would have to be spent To secure
star players who would attract the public
patronage 1t would be necessary to raid
the ma jor leagues for talent. In that event
a big base ball war would result, and In
fight to a finish the American and Nation
al leagues. with plenty of coin to spend
would probably win out II Grimth really
has an idea of placing new club in this
city he may have overlooked the fact
that accessible grounds are practically out
Of the question: while 1t would take all of
500 900 cash to set the ball rolling. To
conservative judges 1t looks as If the
American Association schemers were
shooting at the moon, and that when the
time arrives for real action in the way Of
expanding the circuit they will find that
they are up against hard proposition.
AS a matter Of right, however. base ball
men say that the Eastern League and the
American Association should be in q class
by themselves, and should not be domi-
mated by q host of minor leagues when 1t
comes down to q matter Of legislation.
Some of the American Association clubs
Indianapolis and Columbus. for instance
own their grounds and have much money
invested In their plants. All Of the Amer
lean Association clubs and those OF the
Eastern League have salary lists that are
far greater than those in the other mi
nor leagues. For these reasons 1t Is ar
gued that 1t is not exactly fair for the
Western and Southern leagues-compara-
lively cheap affairs-to be permitted to
enjoy Glass A privileges with the two big
fellows.