The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-07
JOHNSON GIVES
LEAGUE HISTORY
Ban Writes interestingly of
Pet Organization in
"June Baseball"
L RIGHT
Press and Public Welcomed
American in Every City
Invaded.

Ban R. johnson. writing in the June
Baseball Magazine. gives an interest
ing o of the origin of the Amer |
lean league. He says. in part:
The birth of the American league
marked the beginning Of the most i'm
portant era in the annals of baseball
its expansion, ut the cost of d
conflict with the National league, was
the f%orerunner to a period of popular
iy which the national game could not
have attained while conducted as a
monopoly, The issues on which the
American league made and won its
night for recognition as tho peer of the
National league were clcanly played.
closely contested am between high
class teams. a square deal for players
and patrons n n bottermcnt of ON
ditlons in the minor leagues. ON the
establishment of peace the former
foes became friendly rivals and have
cordially co-operated for the advance
ment of the game in all departments
with so much success as to exceed the
expectations of those whose interest
IN the peoples pastimc did not extend
beyond the revenue from games. Sor-
didness has been subordinate to
craftsmanship i'm tho operation of the
American league from it's inception.
and its clubs have invested their
earnings i'm the purchase of grounds
and in the erection of agniticent fire
proof stands. pretentious i'm appear
ance and equipped with conveniences
and comforts for patrons without con-
sidcr|tion for cost.
Every western and each eastern city
in our circuit, except New York, has
an American league park owned in
/ tntn y tho ~ ~, e1,,1. -.-,J
with ~rapacious structures. The High
anders handsome new home will be
completed in mid-scaSnn. The Boston
and Detroit plants We're dedicated in
April.
Change in Conditions.
Viewed from the standpoint OF re-
suits, mono can g%ainsay that the
been largely due to the conditions
created by. the graduation of the
American league from n minor to n
major league. When the younger or
ganization became national iii scope.
baseball was in d stagnant state. The
National league. rent by factions and
neglectful of its patrons and PLAYERS.
was in so pitiful a plight that it played
only a passive part in the war that
instilled new life into the sport. After
the reorganization of baseball on a
peace basis. and the adoption of the
rational agreement. popular entllus-
lasm was evidenced in minor league
circles, as we'll as in the principal
cities of the country. AS A result of this
healthy impetus to the game. and of
competition between the major leagues
the National association had a MEM
hership of f~orty-seNen leagues in 1911.
many OF which are stable. In some of
the minor leagues Of the highest class
sitication. franchises are held at prices
| which wore rn,ciHnraJ nrr1,;I;%;,-1 L..
parties contemplating the purchase of
a National league club during the lat
ter part of the last century.
Organized baseball has not reached
the pinnacle OF success, but it has
progressed to such a degree that it
covr"s the field so fllls that it is
practically Impossible for an orgHni-
zation. not under the national agree
mcnt to achieve success in any pnrt
of the country.
An opposition league. launched as a
rival to the American and National
leagues, would have to build up its
playing strength and patronage in
cities provided With parks. covering an
expenditure of 100000 or more. and
represented by M OF more teams or
high class players, satisfied with their
salaries.
Patrons of this period and the play
ers under contract to major league
GIBBS are not disconnected. as they
We're when the American league as
serted its independence and invaded
N"tional league territory.
League Generally Welcomed.
EeSs and public welcomed us in
cTery city n ball players greeted us
as liberators. We succeeded from the
start because of the splendid support
in all walks of life. who realized that
we had a mission. the failure of which
would have a disastrous effect on their
~favorite sport. That widespread senti-
ment was the American leagues most
valuable asset throughout the war
period.
The gross capital of the American
league in 1901. plus the of
all its clubs. would not equal the
equal the value of the 1912 holdings If
several of lis individual clubs. The ag-
eregate amount expended in financing
the American league during its strug-
gle with the National league would
not suffice TO equip M club up to the
1912 standard of the Of the leading
organization of the country. More
over. promoters. although provided
with ample funds. would discover that
there is no demand for a third league.
The system under which the American
league is opeated is not understood
by tho public. Our methods vary little
in theory from those set forth in the
constitution of every National agree
ment league. We insist on the strict
observance of the spirit as we'll as of
the letter Of our laws. and absolutely
require our club owners to regard the
welfare of the league paramount to
the interests of the individual clubs.
Empires Carefully Chosen.
Our umpires are the representatives
of the league and must observe in
stuctions in the discharge of their
duties. 1 exercise extreme care in the
selection of my staff and when nnd
a competent official 1 give him sub
%stantial evidence of the appreciation
of the league and of myself.
The national commission is the ce-
ment of the baseball structure. It's
province is to compel every league UNI
der the national agreement to obey