Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-30
BALTIMORE WON'TDO
President Lynch Says City Will
Not Support Major Team.
NO HOPE FOR THIRD CIRCUIT
Head of Old League Hits Right
From Shoulder on Base
Ball.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

NEW YORK. December 30--President
Lynch of the National League yester-
day ridiculed the idea of a war between
organized base ball and the two outlaw
organizations which hope to get share
of the patronage in cities which now
support major or class AA minor league
teams. Lynch talked of the vast tinan-
cal backing which these outlaw pro-
motors would be compelled to have to
make any Roadway with third major
league. He declared in his opinion no
practical base ball men were connected
with either venture, as practical base
ball man would recognize the absurdity
of attempting to buck organized base
ball
"Why. these fellows talk as if they
COULD start new major league on a
postage stamp" said Lynch Can they
not realize that before this league could
put team IL; the field they would have
to spend s5,OOO.OOO Sounds big. doesn't
it? However. they would have to spend
every penny Of It, They would have to
build eight up-to date big league plants If
they want to fight the big leagues they
must play big league ball and in big
league plants. By big league plants l
mean plants like the ones we now have
or are building in all the big league
cities. Why. many cities nowadays will
not even allow wooden structures to be
built. They must build of steel and con-
crete or stay out.
"Where would these fellows procure
their grounds? Real estate is getting
higher and higher every year. Further
more real estate men will want a good
guarantee before they will lease a piece
Of property to a concern about which
they are not sure Will these fellows he
able to put up this guarantee?
where do all these leagues expect to
get their players? Do they think men
who now are drawing big salaries in
the major leagues will fall for their
offers? They might offer better In
ducements, but we'll does the big
Lacquer know what a hopeless chance
the new concern would have. Would
he take a chance Of being placed per-
manently on the blacklist for a few
hundred dollars more than he is get
ting?
Besides. what demand is there for
third big league? There is none.
The larger cities have two leagues, and
many of the clubs are barely making
expenses. They talk of putting another
club in Washington. What chance has
a small city like Washington to sup
port two big league teams? They also
propose to put a big league club in
Baltimore. VIII Baltimore support a
major league team? 1t never did. The
Baltimore Nationals, even when he
team won championships or was high
in the race Later, when the Amer
lean League put team in Baltimore
the public failed to patronize l.. The
cost Of big league team is now about
twice the amount 1t cost to run a big
league team when Baltimore was win
ming championships.
IF these promoters think they can
give the public cheaper ball let them
try it. II we played twenty-five and
fifty cent ball now we would starve.
If the prices to our parks were low
cred many OF the best clubs would
find 1T necessary to dispose of their
franchises.
These fellows may argue that the
American League succeeded ten years
ago and they have an equal chance.
Do they realize the resources we can
draw on to fight them? They must
not only fight the two big leagues,
but they must combat the entire sys-
tenn of organized base ball. Who could
stand a war Of this sort better-we.
with our modern plants, fast teams and
patronage. or those promoters. who
have neither plants nor teams and are
not even sure that the public will take
kindly them