Evening star., 1909-05-03
MINOR LEAGUES ARE
FAST SPREADING OUT
Parks and Teams Compare
FavorabIy With Old
Organizations.

MILWAUKEE. Wis. May 3.-The MI
waukee Association msgnates have got
ten the major league idea as to base ball
parks, and I'm the case of some of them
there is no reason why they should not
have the best In the land Owner w III.
Watkins OF India napolis made $1,000 las;
year. and Immediately enlarged the park
so as TO have seating capacity of 20
90 and accommodations for 2S,Oco. AT
the first Sunday game this year, which.
by the way. is the first Sunday game in
the history OF league ball In Indianapo-
lis. there were fully 5000 people pres
cnt.
This was too much for Nj. Watkins.
and he Immediately started building ad-
ditionsl bleachers and stands so there
will be seating capacity for another 1000
or 1000 fans. Not only has Indianapolis
built a fine new park. but Louisville
comes to the front with splendid add
tions 10 the old park, and the seating ca
pacity there is almost doubled, and the
same conditions prevail at Kansas City.
-
The Minnesota legislature this week
passed a bill legalizins Sunday hase ball.
and now. when Owner Csntillon OF the
1aihHCdpciS Siuu oDoot 'ohPittt'
new additions to the stands in Minneapo-
lis. the seating capacity there will he
greatly increased and the park beaut-
fed. Mike Kelly, manager OF the 81.
Paul club. intends to enlarge the park So
they will be able to take care OF the big
Sunday crowds. Columbus already has q
fine plant and Toledo is having a new
one built. At present Milwaukee can
take care Of ordinary crowds. but on
fow into the outfeld. Within another
year it will be necessary to build add
tional stands at Athletic Park.
Judging from the weather that has
been experienced in the northern end of
the circuit up to the present time. il is
the teams open i'm this section. In former
years the northern clubs always opened
in the south or east. but II was decided
this year to give II trial In the north.
as during the last few years the weather
during the latter part of April and Mat
has been fairly warm and dry. Associ-
alton magnates may go back to the Old
plan OF having Minneapolis, st. Paul and
Milwaukee open down south or in the
east
AS the schedule this year calls for lSs
games. and there are already numerous
postponed games. il is hard matter To
understand how they are going to play
all of them without a great deal Of in
convenience. Double headers will he even
more numerous than was the case last
year. The chances are that the managers
will begin playing of the double headers
as early as possible, so as not TO be
caught mapping toward the end OF the
season.
The association teams have gotten into
the second week of their race, but moth
ing special has developed to get a line
on the strength of the teams. except that
the Columbus club has shown great weak
ness in .the opening games at Indian
apolis and Louisville. while the weaker
clubs of last season have shown con-
siderable strength. The weather has been
against good playing in most of the towns
and II will require a few weeks Of play
before the teams really get into playing
condition.
The Milwaukee club has surprised all
the magnates by getting splendid start.
and Ii the pitchers will round into CON
dition before long the chances are Man
aSer McCloskey will be able TO keep up
In the first division.