The Washington herald., 1911-12-17
BY c. w. SWAN.

anon Tor next season, II ID pam " NC
seen that there will not be as many
leagues as graced the sand lots the
season passed.
For one thing, the one-man-one-team
rule will hurt many aggregations, as the
star players of one team could always
be found on another club in another cir
cult.
With the new rule in vogue the play
ing on more than one club is out of the
question, and it will be impossible to
have eleven leagues all under the ANA
teur commission, that will put up the
article of ball displayed last season.
Perhaps two or three teams in every
circuit will have frst-class ball clubs.
while the other teams will not be as
fast as last year. This is an evident
quick. and will not be able to jump from
one team TO the other, as in years gone
by. The releasing and signing of play
ers overnight is done away with, so the
only thing left for the managers to do
will be to sign up their men and use
the same players the year round. In this
way, a real bal! club can be gotten to-
gether, one that will present the same
lineup day after day, and interest in
the league races will be greater, the class
of ball better. and the quitting of play
ers at the taiI-end of the season will be
less than ever before.
independence League Strong.
The Independence League promises to
be the banner circuit of the year, as at
least three pennant winners are scheduled
to take up franchises, and three other
fast mines are after places in President
RoakeS' circuit.
There is a persistent rumOr going the
rounds that the American Security and
nk,a ions
of the District last year, will be in the
Independence League next season, al
though this could not be confirmed Of
ficially last night. Should the Bankers
enter President Roakes' circuit, which is
almost a certainty, as they are by far
the best in the Bankers League, and in
the Independence League they would be
able to play real ball clubs, the games on
McDevitt's Field next summer will be
some games, for the Bankers and the
Manhattans, not to speak of the Aloysius
club and the Pepcos, hated rivals. the
battles will be hard fought from the start
The Capital City League is an uncer
tainty, although il is a sure bet that the
Capital City League will be playing ball
next summer at the same old stand. The
main question is: Will Manager Cornell
put a team in the league. There is a
possible chance of the boss not piac-
ing a club in the running, although he
may, at the last moment, decide to once
more take a crack at the amateur cham
pionshIp. of the District. Manager Cor
nell has been identified with amateur
baseball in the District for many years,
and should he decide to quit the game,
the ball tossers will lose one of the best
managers who ever sat on a bench. Cor
nell is famed for his kindness to his play
ers, often taking them for long trips in
his machine and showing them a good
time generally.
Scmi-prO League Likely.
The Pumpers will most likely be in the
fold next year, but there is considerable
talk of making the Capital City League
a semi-pro circuit next summer, charging
regular admission to the games and
running the league on a sharing basis, |
where each club will come in for part
of the proceeds at the close of the sea-
son. Opinion is divided on this subject,
many claiming that a semi-pro league
could not live with the Nationals a home
while there are others who say that ii
would be a good thing. If the league
would put up a frst-Class article of ball, |
play clean ball, and above all, keep the
game clear of dirty work. there is no rea-
son in the world why semi-prO circuit
would not make money at Capital City
Park. Sunday games alone would pay
for the park, as great crowds would
OUT 10 see EOOQ games, ana Win the
pick OF the talent Of the District playing
on the teams and all the clubs well bal
anced, high-Class league could be form
ed.
When interviewed last night, Manager
Cornell would not say one way or the
other, although he stated that there was
a chance of his not leaving the game. !
The proposition Of the formation of the
semi-pro league has been gone over, and
inside of three or four weeks, something
definite will be done.
There are several good teams that have |
ben playing together for the past two |
years who would like TO enter the league, |
and while ii might be hard sliding at first, |
as soon as the public saw that real ball |
games were being played at the park. !
nothing would stop them for attending. |
1t is almost a certainty that the Com |
mercial League will be in existence next |
year, and while last season was the most |
prosperous in its history, il is hardly |
likely that the league will draw as well |
next year Interest has abated in the |
northwest section, and unless the league !
puts up a better article of ball than last
year, II will not do as well.
Maurice O'Connor stated some time ago |
that the District League would still do
business at the same old stand, and |
with the additional teams that are count
ed upon to enter the circuit, a rattling |
good aggregation could be gotten to-
gether.
SquabbIes in Sunday School League.
In the Sunday School League there is
considerable dissention. 1t is understood !
that an outsider controls the lease on the
grounds, and unless the league makes it's
peace with this party. there will be no
Sunday School baseball at Thirteenth and
D streets northeast, next year. While
there are several other diamonds that
could be gotten, it is a question II the
public would support the league any
where else.
It is practically an assured fact that
there will be no Suburban League next
year, although some other teams may get /
together and use the diamond. The trou-
bic at the close OF last season just about
broke up the game, and as Petworth Is
after a franchise In the Independence
League and Silver Spring would also like
TO Join President Roakes' circuit. It looks
Ike the death, of the Suburban League
Of baseball clubs in the District
The Marquette League will enter the
field next year with about the same teams
as last year, with the exception of the
Medieos, who are after a berth in a
faster league. Last season the Marquette
League had a successful year, ending the
season with little money in the treas
ury and all bills paid. Just when the9
first meeting of the year win be called