Evening journal., 1913-04-30
President Carpenter Pre-
diets Successful Year for
Teams on His Circuit.
Clubs in Good Condition

league Is managed by man COM
paratiyely young in the service. BIZ
Coughlin, once Detroit star, who
will lead Allentown this season, is the
veteran after Heckert He made his
start In Williamsport In 1909 and was
there again i'm 1910. In 1911, with.
George Cockill, he took charge OF the
Reading club and that hustling pair
captured the flag for the "Pretzels
Cockill and Coughlin split last sea
son, the former going to Harrisburg,
where he won the penant, and the
latter to Allentown, where he landed
his club in second place. Those cap
able leaders will have charge of the
same clubs this year.
Bert Conn. who will guide Trenton
this year, Is another man VINO mas
won his spurs in the Iri-State lie was
a player for several years, and TOOK
charge of the JohnstOwn club In lelo.
That year he finished nth. the next
year third and last season, being
shifted around the country. part of the
time with no home, his club ended the
season in last place,
Jackson made his debut as a Iri-
State leader here last year. He
ended in nfth place Johnny Castle, a
philadolphian, who will lead Atlantic
City Tor the second year, finished 1917
in fourth position
Since the Tri-Statc League was
founded, in 1904 only two clubs have
won more than one pennant-Wil
Transport captured three and York
two Lancaster, Altoona, Reading and
Harrisburg have each won the nag
once Allentown and Trenton are
the clubs in the organization which
have never been called champions and
they are after the honor strong this
season.
Carpenter is Hopeful.
Discussing the season outlook Pre-.
sident Carpenter says:
"The Tri-state League will enter It's
tenth season on April 80. with much
better prospects than have attended
IL for several years.
"Since the termination of the 1871.
season. the circuit has been restored
to six clubs, an arrangement prevail
ing in 1906, which was probably th'
best year we have experienced
"When membership in the nationa
Association OF Professional Baseball
leagues was embraced in January
1907 we were requested to take car
2 OF the territory of Trenton and VIII
mington which increased the circui
to eight clubs
"Since that time experience ha
shown conclusively that minor lea
] que comprised OF cities such as IN
r Tristate is handicapped by such
e cumbersome arrangement
{ "The apparent reasons may be tras
c ed to the necessity for a schedule nc
r extending over four months. III
patrons of the game having demon
strated that is sufficient baseball 4,
e one year for cities of the populatio
y of the Tri-states.
g such a schedule admits an attrai
. ton but one visit each month, and
= rain interferes the patrons are denie
seeing a club, which may be a pa
u ticular rival. for a period of tW
months, in which time changes in n
= clubs standing, may completely ~
move IL as the strong attractic
- rivalry for a certain position MAKE
:, possible.
e with a six club league. naturally
o more compact circuit, each town SCI
d its five opponents frequently whic
is the best plan to promote rivalr
.e the predominant requisite in a ra'
& for the pennant. to maintain the II
o, terest necessary TO have a successf
ie season.
At Heretofore each club had seven a
II fractions during the four months.
infrequent intervals. which Was und
sirable and interest badly aifecte
s. whereas at present the schedule cal
e for FIVE attractions at frequent inte
vals during the four months, whit
-n in the absence of Sunday ball. plac
81 the league on a basis approachil
- other circuits with advantages q
=, Tristate has not had.
40 Each club in the league has S
in cured an able manager and an e
s. ceptionally promising number
a players. which guarantees high-cla
al baseball. the cleanest outdoor anus
lis ment. which we confidently expe
will be approved by greatly increas
he attendance over preceding seasons.