The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-09-03
Why Not Baseball League?

HOW WOulu NOT1OlK ike 10 DelOnS 10
a state baseball league? Or, better
still, to belong to q north Nebraska
and southern South Dakota league for
next year? This Is a suggestion.
Down in the southern part Of the
state, according to the Hastings Trib-
une, state league gossip Is rife in a
number of good Nebraska towns.
Three years ago circuit could have
been formed had Hastings been able
to secure satisfactory grounds. This
difficulty is now overcome and 1t re-
mains for the fans to prove that they
are willing to support league team
in the coming year. Enough other
towns to make up a six-club circuit,
with sufficient guaranty at the out
set to insure the teams finishing the
season can probably be lined up.
South Omaha, Grand Island and FIRE.
mont are regarded as essential in the
organization of state league for the
reason that all three of these towns
will permit Sunday playing. South
Omaha Is in the territory controlled
by Manager Rourke of the Omaha
Western league team, but Rourke is
willing to have the packing town enter
a state league, provided it's schedule
of home games will not conflict with
home games in Omaha. This condi-
ton is one that can easily be met.
There are numerous arguments in
favor of league organization in prefer
ence to operating on an Independent
basis. In economy alone it is believed
there would be a decided advantage in
having the team under league forma-
ton. Under the present system con-
tracts with players, although enforc-
cable by legal process, are practically
worthless, as no manager would care
to go into the courts to compel play
er to continue against his will, and
Independent contracts, of course, are
not recognized by league organizations.
An Independent player is free lance,
subject to no control whatever, and as
result salaries are often raised to
keep men from accepting offers of
higher pay elsewhere. This would be
unnecessary under league rule. for no
ambitious player would care to break
a contract, knowing that in doing so
he would bar himself from further
league service.
Moreover, the league organization Is
more satisfactory to the players for
the reason that all records are kept Or
derby and accurately and scouts for the
higher spheres of baseball are able to
secure information Of players ability
that they cannot get under the present
system. It Is believed the attendance
would also materially increase where
all teams are marked on a percentage
basis. Under the league system there
would be order in the business side Of
the game instead of confusion and I'M
certainty.
A league team can be maintained
here with salary list no larger than
that of the present team and there are
many who believe the attendance will
be sufficient to pay expenses without
the aid Of subscriptions. A fund Of
reasonable size to start with Is an es-
sential, however, and that Is why the
management Is in hope of a strong
attendance from now until the end of
the season. Aside from the sum ex.
pended for improvements on the ball
grounds the balance In the treasury a
short time ago was almost as large as
the fund raised at the beginning of
the season.