The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-09-30


race. there il talk of third |
II n major league circuit. The
talk is more persistent this time tnan |
ever before. and men with millions are
said to be behind the scheme Inc
r,an of the promoters is TO nave
twelve club circuit with teams from
tha bie cities. A few years ago re-
80 s,,ob as these would have thrown
the baseball world into furry OF ex-
element and even dread on the part
NJ rnagnates The stories al tnAs TINS
caused scarcely a ripple and merely an
elevation of the eyebrows on the Pail
OF those financially interested In pres
emit clubs.
The growth of the national pas.i"e
which has made possible as wen as
aassorv tbe investment of fortunes
On mammoth grand stands and pavh-
tons and the purchase or lease OF yalu-
able tracts of property for the playing
acids has tended to the stablity OF
baseball investments. The great ex-
pense Incidental to launching base
ball league in opposition to the present
machinery of organized basebaii Is the
greatest obstacle to that plan
Even IL the proposed twelve CLUB
cfrc,,it Practicable on it's face were
reduced to eight clubs, the initial out
Law would represent an investment Oh
from $4,000, 900 to $4,000.ooo before the
hrst gun of actual warfare was nreo-
To compete on a basis or equality WIN
either the National or American
league a new organization would need
commodious grounds and STANDS. ANY
major league club which has not at
least a s25o,oo0 plant is a 'piker" in
the present day of baseball fortunes
After that would come the Turing. only
at fancy prices of diamond stars from
their pre- sent engagements and then the
battle for patronage and prestige, Tor
II is certain the present organizations
would fight and fight hard against any
intruder, pouring back some OF the
money already made at the sport, while
the invaders would be spending new
money" so to speak Under present
conditions the financial difficulties
seem to argue against the formation OF
third major league from new ma
terial. That some of the present or
Plantations might expand or that there
might be a realignment of men now
interested in the national game would
find more ready listeners.
Talk of a possible baseball war as q
result of the foundation of a new
league backed by theatrical interests
has recalled the fact that since the ma
tional game became firmly organized
in 1876 five of these wars have
marred the sport and burned up thou
sands of dollars. Either jealousy or a
desire by outsiders to cut into the
good thing" caused the trouble in
each instance. The first strife was In
1882, when the National league FLASHED
with the newly organized American
association. Then in 1884 the Union
association was organized and fight
to a finish with the National league
and the American association follow
ed In 1890 the Brotherhood of Base
ball Players headed by John NJ. Ward
helped to form the Players league
which tried to put the National league
out of business, but without success
Ten years later the American league
was founded by Ban Johnson. and
after a bitter struggle it succeeded IL
compelling the old National league tc
sue for peace.
1t was after the National league. the
American association and the North
western league had signed what wa.
known as the tripartite agreement II
the fall of 1883 that outside promoters
realizing that there was money in pro
fessional baseball, decided to cut in
Headed by Henry v. Lucas, younf
met at Pittsburg in September OF tina
year and organized the Union asso
citation. placing clubs in Boston, Phila
delphia, Baltimore, Altoona, Washing
ton. st. Louis. Chicago and Cincin
natl. Lucas bank roll provided tn
means for wholesale raids on the Ma
tional league and American associa
ton clubs, and before spring arrives
fifty ball players had been induced I
jump the reserve clause in their con
tracts.
Some Ancient History.
After the season had been under wa
six weeks Altoona blew up and Kan
sas City was substituted. In midsea
son Lucas. who owned the st. Loui
Unions, induced Jack Glasscock, Jir
Mccormick and Brody to jump tn
Clevelands. This caused a big row
but Lucas had the men sewed up 5
tight that they could not be recovered
AS the baseball public did not TAX
much interest in the new league
soon began to totter Philadelphia dis