Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-09
COAST MAGNATES WILL
TALK OVER EXPANSION
Idea of Making League Eight
Club Organization Food
for Discussion

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. S-If a ma
jority of the directors of the Coast
league are agreeable a special meeting
will be called for this city to be held
Thursday, September Is, for the pur-
pose of considering the double umpire
system for next year and the expan-
sion of the league into an eight-club
circuit. Judge Thomas F. Graham, as
president of the league, has written to
the several directors telling them that
it is his opinion that the meeting
should be held and asking their vote
upon calling it. Ed Walter of the Oak
land club is the first to respond and he
favors holding the meeting. Hen Berry
and Happy Hogan also have voted
yes"
Judge Graham believes that it is the
proper time to begin laying plans for
the next season and the directors, while
probably taking no definite action on
either of these important subjects at
that time, will discuss both and find
out how they stand upon the PROPOSE
tions. In this manner Judge Graham
will be in a position to proceed with
some definite idea as to the sentiment
of the directors upon both subjects.
With Walter already announced as
favoring the special meeting it looks
like it will be held. Hen Berry and
the Vernon club management have
voted for the meeting, too, and 1t is
improbable that Judge Graham would
have taken the step without having a
fair idea as to the attitude of the San
Francisco and Oakland clubs. McCredie,
too, will favor the meeting, as he is a
booster for the double umpire system
and the expansion of the league. This
makes the meeting practically assured.
Baseball fans will be more than ordl-
narily interested in the results of the
meeting 1t is an established fact that
everybody. with the probable exception
of the directors of the San Francisco,
Oakland and Sacramento clubs, wants
the double umpire system adopted
for next year. The fans are also IN
clined to look with favor upon the
proposition to take in two more north
western clubs and make the league an
eight-club organization. A greater
number of clubs to fight for the pen
nant and greater variety in the way
of new faces on the diamond occa-
sionally is desired as a means Tor IN
creasing interest Sin the Coast league
flag race every season. Six clubs do not
furnish the variety desired, but eight
clubs would make the visits of the
same clubs to each city less frequent
bunting with eight clubs to fight for
the pennant there could hardly be such
a nerve racking tieup of hopes as ex-
lists this season.
There are various good reasons to ad-
vance in favor of both propositions and
the Coast league magnates will in
/ crease their popularity in an immense
degree if they will vote "yes' on both.
The Coast league ranks next to the
ma iors in Importance and class and
as such should comprise eight cities
to put it on an equality Of size with
the majors. In an eight-club league
there always is second prize 10
deht for in the form of leadership in
the second division. an honor that is
coveted by the big league clubs that
are unable to win the pennant. Then
there is the glory that goes with a
nnenohership in the first division that
always carries an interest in league
race and which cannot exist in small
league Of six clubs.