Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
Fine Outlook for the Minor
Leagues in the Season
That Is to Come

While the prospects of the teams in the
major leagues always will be a subject OF
interest to base ball enthusiasts, whether
they be as far removed from the scene OF
the games as New York from San Fran
cisco. the possibilities Of the season of
1908 cannot be reviewed thoroughly with
out a word for the minor leagues.
In spite Of the scattered discussion dur
ing the winter to the effect that the
American Association might pick up q
firebrand and toss 1t into organized base
ball. there is nothing which would indi-
cate that the minor leagues will not en-
Joy more prosperity than ever before. 1t
might be inferred from what had been
said Wy certain of the American Associa-
lions owners that minor league base ball
had proved to be a poor investment for
them. On the contrary, 1t has been an In
vestment which paid handsomely, and it
will continue to pay Handsomely just so
long as the men who are now In control of
the clubs refrain from disturbing the
methods which are in vogue in the ma
tional pastime.
In the east there is a splendid outlook
before the Eastern League. Montreal is
In new hands. The Newark Club has
passed out Of the control Of the Burnham
interests to those Of George Stallings.
The latter Is q fighter and also a good
baseball organizer to the extent OF plac-
ing a winning team In the field.
Toronto is sanguine that it will be able
to win another championship with Mike
Kelly at the head of the team, and Buff
falo is in line with a good nine for the
are we'll fixed with players, and Jack
Dunn, the Baltimore managers, says 1t Is
up to him to make good this time with the
Orioles, and believes that he has the nu-
cleus of an organization which may win
the pennant. Base ball has taken a new
life since the games last year between
the Eastern League and the "old timers, u
who once won the championship for Balti-
more. and the interest Is greater than 1t
has been in three seasons.
Patrick T. Powers, the president OF the
league, insists that this season will be
by the organization for a long time. and
concludes by insisting that he IL willing to
stand by that prediction in spite of the
fact that this Is "presidential year.
In the west there will be another fine
fight among the clubs of the American
Association. II Columbus shall happen to
win the championship again 1t will not be
due to the fact that the team fails to meet
opposition
Toledo believes that 1t has a better ball
tcdH1 tndN IL NdO ldSt year, ana Oh tNe
western end Of the circuit additions have
been made to some Of the teams which
are expected to make them better able to
cope against the present champions.
Milwaukee will not secede from the as
ISOLATION this year. and 1t Is doubtful II 1t
attempts anything Of the kind any other
year. 1t is certain that an invasion of
Chicago will be fought by both major
leagues. and 1t is not likely that the
American Association will be in hurry
to risk battle which would result In
somebody being financially crippled and
somebody else having all the advantage
Of the fight at the end. That is usually
the case in all base ball wars.
All the cities in the American Associa-
ton circuit would be winners from the
money end. at least. II their owners would
devote their time strictly to advancing the
interests Of the organization as it exist
at present without indulging In too many
idle day dreams about expansion. At the
present rate OF growth OF the cities of
the American Association 1t will be but
short time when the population Is as
large. collectively. as 1t ever was in the
earlier days of the present major leagues
The Southern League Is in the best OF
condition. The New England League
looks as II it will be money maker. the
Three Is" Is booming. the Pacific Coast
League is in good standing in every way
the Western League seems prosperous
and It's outlook favorable, and the score OF
smaller leagues never have started under
better auspices.
Three-f1fths of this Is due to the excel.
lent agreement which was made when the
National League and the American
League declared peace. The present sys.
tenn under which organized base ball IL
working Is absolutely the best in the his
tory of the sport. 1t has placed base ball
on firmer financial basis than ever, and
the sport must have some solidity to 1t in
order to enlist the efforts of men to hold
together the minor leagues from year to
year.