The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-01-17
FEDS. HAVEN'T
OPPORTUNITY OF
JOHNSONLEAGUE
New League ID Years Ago
Found Much Less Opposition
To Battle Against
NATIONALS WERE WEAK,
BUT NOW ARE STRONG
American League Found a Great
Deal of Territory Wide
Open 10 Ii
BY J. ed. GriIlo in Washington Star

BY J. Ed. Grillo in Washington Star
|~ HE contention that the Federal
League has as good a chance
- 10 succeed as did the Ameri.
can League when IL expanded in 1900
and 1901 is not based on facts Con-
ditions have vastly changed In the
years that have passed since the Am
erican League forged into major lea
que ranks. In those days there was
little or no opposition encountered
by the invaders for the National Lea
que at that time was torn by fierce
internal commissions and IN no condi-
ton for a fight
Ii was IN 1900 that the Western
League became the titular American
League The circuit was then made
up of Chicago. Milwaukee Indiana
polls. Detroit. Kansas City, Cleveland,
Buffalo and Minneapolis. Major lea
que status was really reached the fol
lowing year. when the circuit was eX-
banded IL consisted OF Chicago. BOs-
ton. Detroit. Philadelphia. Baltimore,
Washington, Cleveland and Milwau-
kee.
Cleveland. Baltimore and Washing
lOH NklO CiuDiGSS NllltS ~ luhl AAAhNs
the National League having cut down
a twelve-club circuit 10 eight clubs,
leaving Baltimore, Washington. Cleve-
land and Louisville without represen-
tation. Every one OF the cities had
previously been identified with major
league ball and naturally welcomed
the invasion OF the American League
with open arms.
The proposed Federal League has
no virgin territory TO invade. There
is single opposition in six cities OF
It's circuit and double opposition In
two. From an artistic viewpoint the
poorest OF this opposition is sure TO
be or higher grade than that OF the
Federals.
When the American League came
into the field there was room for an
other major league. The game had
deteriorated under the mismanage-
ment OF the National League, and at
tendance had fallen 10 the lowest ebb.
There was public clamor for opposi-
ton and the American League really
had easy sailing.
The American League which today
shares with the National League the
hegemony OF the base ball world, Is
the only organization in the history
OF the sport TO conduct successful
war with the National League without
subsequently losing the fruits OF it's
victory through diplomacy or legisla-
ton. The time was ripe for the In
vasion which the American League
made, which accounts for its success
and subsequent prosperity.
The handicap which the Federal
League will have to shoulder when
It's chances are compared with those
OF the American League few years
ago are perhaps best realized when a
comparison OF the two circuits is
made The American League had liz
tie or no opposition when IL came
into the field. 1t had some virgin ter
rltory, while the Federal League IL,
confronted with strong opposition and
conditions which do not demand
change. Not only IL the game on a
higher plane nowadays, but the ac-
commodations are OF the best The
circuits OF the two invading Leagues
are Given below
American League circuit. 1901
Chicago. opposition; Boston, ESpposi.
ton, DETROIT, no opposition. PJladel-
phia, opposition; Baltimore. NJ oppo.
sition Washington mo opposition
Clveiand, no opposition; Milwaukee.
no opposition
Federal League circuit, i9l4-Chi-
cago. double opposition indianapolis,
opposition. ST. Louis double Dpposi-
ton Kansas City opposition. Baltl-
more opposition, Bumalo, opposition.
Toronto. opposition Pittsburgh. OPP
position.