The Washington herald., 1912-02-04
EIGHT LEAGUES
BOOKED TO PLAY
Three Circuits Less Than
Last Year Under Anna
teur Commission.
TWO CLUBS DOUBTFUL
Capital City and R. R. Y. M. C. A.
May Become Outlaws-Bankers
Apply to Departmental.
TWO CLUBS DOUBTFUL
By c. w. SWAN.

Eight amateur leagues, from present
indications, will be doing business in
Washington this summer under the
amateur commission.
This is three leagues less than last
summer, the Suburban, District, and
Bankers circuits practically being out
of the running
The District League is hopelessly
gone, as Maurice O'Connor, the leader
of that circuit, has entered his team,
the Aloysius club, in the independence
League race, and with that team out
of the District League, the circuit is
no more. Then the field has been
chopped up, and there is hardly room
for real ball game.
About the middle of last season the
Bankers League was disbanded, and
the American Security and Trust Com
pany nine was declared the winner,
as the Bankers were so far ahead in
the race that the other teams were not
even good also rams. At this time the
teams were Withdrawing from the
league every day, and the only thing
that could be done was the disband-
ment OF the circuit In the post-season
series, the Bankers won the District
title by defeating the Cornell Tigers in
three hot games.
Suburban League Blows.
The Suburban League broke up toward
the close Of last season, due in most part
TO the inability of the managers to get
their players out to the games, and the
lead that the Petworth and Silver Spring
teams had in the race. When the sea-
son ClOsed-that is, after the league had
dwiRdled down to two teams-the Pet
worth club was in the lead. and was de-
clared the champions by the board of
arbitration after the Silver Spring tribe
had made several unsuccessful attempts
TO take the pennant away from the Pet
worth aggregation This dispute caused
the ruination OF the Suburban League. |
While il is not an assured fact that a |
circuit called the Suburban League will |
not be doing business this summer, there |
is hardly a chance in the world for any of |
the teams that composed the league last /
year coming within the fold.
At the present time the Independence /
League bids fair to be the fastest circuit /
in the District, as President Roakes has
secured three Of last years pennant win
ming teams, together with two strong
clubs that played great ball last summer.
The Aloysius team, pennant winners in
the District League; Southland, the title
holders Of the Olympia circuit, and the
Manhattans are the three championship
teams that will start the season in the In
dependence League, while the Pepcos and
LOffier teams will take care of two OF
the three remaining franchises.
There is a well-defined rumor that
should the Departmental League refuse
TO grant franchise to the Bankers the
Trust Company lads will enter the Inde-
pendence League, and should that be the
case President Roakes will have a cir
cult that will be second to none in the
District.
Bankers After Franchise.
1t was learned last night that the Bank
ers had forwarded a written application
TO President Clark, of the Departmental
League, for a franchise. but as no meet
ing of that circuit has been held nothing
definite could be learned regarding the
chances of the Bankers to enter the cir
cult The only way the Trust Boys can
obtain a franchise in the league will be
by the officers of the Clerks circuit do
ing away with. that part of the constitu-
tion that states that each club shall be
composed Of players who work in the de-
partment that they represent under the
government
The Commercial League, under Presi-
dent Page, will shortly be reorganized,
and il is understood that the Andrews
team will not be member of the league
this season, making three teams that will
be lost to that circuit this summer, as
the Pepco team has entered the Inde-
pendence League, and the Walford Club
IS no more.
In, the Marquette League. Capt Ed
wards promises to have six rattling ,
good teams, and with the Naval Medicos
and the st. Stephens clubs to start with,
his hopes seem sure to be realized
Little is known regarding the Depart
mental League, although Secretary An
derson stated to the writer several days !
ago that his circuit would be in the
running again and that this year the |
teams would be stronger than ever. The
Post-ofice team viii be there, as will
several other aggregatious that put up a
game fight for the pennant last summer.
sunday school shaI<y.
Out in the Northeast section OF the city,
where the Sunday School League holds
forth, there is a difference of opinion J
as 10 the makeup of the league. There
seems to be several financial matters /
that-wiIl have to be cleared up before
the league can hope to start business
again, and the sooner this is attended
to the better for all concerned. Ingram, :
Sherwood, Hamline. North Carolina, and z
Bethany are said to be the teams that 5
viii hold five Of the franchises, with the v
Ninth team. should it take UP its fran
chise again. completing the circuit.
Hal Thompson. the genial first sacker
Of the old Berry & Whitmore aggrega-
tien, who is now president of the Olym-
pia League. is confident that his circuit 8
win be composed Of six fast teams, and ?
that among them viii be seen the young
sters who viii make amateur ball the
pride Of the city. Hal wants all young
teams, boys who play the game for the
sport alone, and in this he has the back
ing of ell the true amateur fans of the
District A meeting Of this league viii I
be held IN The near future and then some
action as 10 the makeup Of the league \
will be known. Already one team, the
Park Athletic Club, has sent in a re-
ouasf for q franchise and with this as 4