The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-10-01
BY TOMMY CLARK.

IA at THIS time OF the baseball
race. there is talk of third
q - major league circuit. The
talk is more persistent this time than
ever before, and men with millions are
said to be behind the scheme. The
plan Of the promoters is to have q
twelve club circuit with teams from
the big cities. A few years ago re-
ports such as these would have thrown
the baseball world into furry Of ex-
element and even dread on the part
of magnates The stories at this time
caused scarcely a ripple and merely an
elevation Of the eyebrows on the part
Of those financially interested in pres
ent clubs.
The growth Of the national pastime
which has made possible as well az
necessary the investment Of fortunes
in mammoth grand stands and pavil-
ions and the purchase or lease of valu-
able tracts Of property for the playing
fields has tended to the stability of
baseball investments. The great ex-
pense incidental to launching base
ball league in opposition to the present
machinery Of organized baseball is the
greatest obstacle to that plan.
Even If the proposed twelve club
circuit. impracticable on its face. were
reduced to eight clubs. the initial out
lay, would represent an investment Of
from 100000 to 100000 before the
first gun of actual warfare was fired.
To compete on basis of equality with
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 $250,000 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 present engagements and then the
battle for patronage and prestige. for
1t 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
a third major league from new ma
terial. That some of the present or
CARNATIONS might expand or that there
might be a realignment Of men now
interested in the national game would
find more ready listeners.
Talk Of q possible baseball war as a
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 q
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 clashed
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 M. 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 bitter struggle 1t succeeded in
compelling the old National league to
sue for peace.
It was after the National league, the
American association and the North
western league had signed what was
known as the tripartite agreement in
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. young
st. Louis millionaire, these persons
met at Pittsburg in September Of that
year and organized the Union assoc
citation, placing clubs in Boston, Phila-
delphia. Baltimore. Altoona, Washing
ton. st. Louis. Chicago and Cincin-
natl Lucas bank roll provided the
means for wholesale raids on the Ma
tional league and American associa-
ton clubs. and before spring arrived
fifty ball players had been. induced to
jump the reserve clause in their con.
tracts
Some Ancient History.
After the season had been under way
six weeks Altoona blew up and Kan
sas City was substituted In midsea-
son Lucas, who owned the st. Louis
Unions. induced Jack Glasscock, Jim
Mccormick and Brody to Jump the
Cleveiands. This caused a big row.
but Lucas had the men sewed up so
tight that they could not be recovered.
AS the baseball public did not take
much interest in the new league it
soon began to totter. Philadelphia dis