El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-25
ORIGIN OF THE
AMERICAN LEAGUE
(BY BAN B. JOHNsON)>

The birth OF the American league
marked the beginning Of the most i'm
pOrtant era in the annals Of baseball
and its expansion, at the cost OF con
flict with the National league was the
fOrerunner 10 a period OF popularity
which the national game could not have
attained while conducted as mOnOp-
Olyy.
The issues on which the American
league made and won its fight for rec
OgnitiOn as the peer OF the National
league were cleanly played. closely
contested games between nlghclasS
teams, a square deal for players and
patrons and a betterment Of conditions
in the minor leagues
On the establishment of peace the
former foes became friendly rivals, and
have cordially cOOperated for the ad-
Vancement OF the game in all depart
ments with so much success as TO ex-
coed the expectations Of those whose
interest in the peoples pastime did not
extend beyond the revenue from
games.
Sordidness has been subordinate to
sportsmanship in the operation Of the
American league from its inception
and its clubs have invested their earn
lngs In the purchase OF grounds and in
the erection Of magnificent fireprOOf
slanuss pretenuous in appearance and
equipped with cOnveniences and com
forts for patrons without consideration
for cost
Every western and eastern city IN
~--NN@A-s NANGRA -NEM LQEhr mas an
american league park owned in fee
by the home club and ornamented with
capdclous structures The Highlanders'
handsome home VIII be completed in
mldseason. The Boston and Detroit
plans were dedicated In April
Graduation Did II.
viewed from the standpoint of re-
suits none can gainsay that the
game growth I'm recent years has
Deen largely due to the conditions ere
ated by the graduation Of the American
league from a minor TO a ma iOr league
Nnen the younger organization De-
came national in scope. baseball was in
a sIagnant state The National league
rent by factions and neglectful Of its
patrons and players, was in so pitiful
a plight that IL played only a passive
into the sport After the reorEaniza-
uon of baseball on a peace basis. and
the adoption Of the National agree
ment, popular enthusiasm was evil
denced in minor league circles as well
as In the principal cities of the cOun-
try. As a result of this healthy inn
petus TO the game, and of competition
between the major leagues. the Nation
az association had membership OF
81 leagues In 1871, many of which are
stable. In some of the minor leagues
OF the highest classification. franchises
are neld an prices which We're COnsid-
cred prOhibitiVe by parties cOntem-
plating the purchase OF a National
league club during the latter part OF
Organized baseball has not reached /
the pinnacle of success. but 10 has pro- I
crossed TO such a degree that 10 covers F.
the field so fully that it is practically I
Impossible Tor an organization. not un-
der the National agreement TO achieve 3
success in any part OF the country
Opposition Difficult.
Al opposition league launched as 1
rival TO the American and National
leagues, would have TO build up its
playing strength and patronage IN 7
cities provided with parks covering an /
expenditure of 100000 or more and I
represented by one or more teams OF I
EIghclass players satisfied with their
salaries
Patrons of this period and the play
ers under contract to major league I
clubs are not discontinued. as they
were when the American league assert
ed its independence and invaded Ma
tfOnal league territory
Press and public welcomed us in
every city and ball players greeted US
as liberatOrs- We succeeded from the
start because of the splendid support
accorded TO us by baseball enthusiasts
i'm all walks of life, who realized that
we had a mission. the failure of which
would have disastrous effect ON their
favOrite sport That widespread sem
t.meut was the american leagues most