The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-01-29
Southern Minnesota League Is
Frame Up;How 1t Looks.
VERY FINE PICTURE IS PAINTED
Owstonna Man Has Whole Scheme
Worked Out Nicely, What Do
Enthusiasts Think?

Owatonna. Jan. ga Southern Min
nesota Base Ball league is the alluring
possibility which now confronts fans
of this section. For some time past
the proposition has been considered
seriously and it is now expected that
it will be rushed through to com
pletion. meeting is to be called
some time in the early part of Feb
ruary, probably in this city, at which
the situation will be thoroughly can
vassed. and. if sentiment is advanced
far enough to warrant the move, the
league will be organized at that time.
Makeup of the League.
As at present contemplated, the
cities which will compose the league
are Owatonna, Faribault, Austin, Al
bert Lea. Mortified, Rochester, Red
wing and Mankato Every one of these
cities is an enthusiastic base ball town,
and has supported fast Independent
teams, two of these, the Faribault and
Redwing teams, having gained more
than state reputation. while the
Owatonna and Albert Lea teams jump
ed into the tOp-notch class last season
In all of the cities mentioned the
crowds have been good and Sunday
base ball is permitted in all except
Rochester 1t is said that it will be
allowed in that city this year, but
even should it not, the week day
crowds in that city rival the holiday
attendance in other cities. Plenty of
support would be assured in every city
named, and each has fine, up-to-date
ball park. In Owatonna, where a fast
amateur team drew record breaking
crowds all season, a proposition is al
ready under way to remodel the ball
park, which is the finest natural ath-
letic park in the state, and to form a
cooperative base ball association, which
will have charge of the team.
Mankato Has Had Fast Team
NIankato has been without profess
sional ball for some time now, although
a fast local team has furnished plenty
of good ball, and is clamoring for the
success of the project. 1t is said that
the street car company in that city
is more than eager to finance base
ball club, and to build suitable park.
In Rice county the intense rivalry be-
tween Faribault and Northfield would
insure the success of the league, and
the citizens of Heatwole's town are al
ready figuring on how their team may
land ahead of the "Athens of the
West"
Under the proposition as now ad
vanced, a salary limit of ST 200 would
be imposed upon each club, and the
league would ask for protection under
the national commission as Class ID
league. Many a young player would
be given chance to get his try out
in the league, and under commission
rules might easily be drafted into high
er company at the close of the season.
Many People to Draw From.
The smallest of the towns mentioned
has population of more than 5000
while the largest is $4,000 and giving
total of about $4,000 people to draw
from for the support of the league It
is figured that this would more than
support the teams as planned.
Two years ago the same proposition
was advanced and eliminated in the
Inflated Sunday league, where the
teams were too unevenly matched to
keep up the interest. AT that time
the mistake of not having had more
compact circuit, and better arranged
schedule was clearly seen, and the
follles of that season are not likely
to be repeated.