Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-20
TWO bic MINOR
LEAGUES HELP
CHECK FEDS
Organized Baseball Musters Every
Resource to Break Up Strong
holds of Independent Circuit.
Bv w. j. McBeth
n RGANIZED baseball has com
bined its every resource TO
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NRGANIzED baseball has com
J bined its every resource to
~ fight back the Federal League
invasion. The two greatest minor
leagues have responded to the call to
arms and joined forces with the Ma
rfonaI and American circuits toward
the common good.
In order to forestall the invasion of
sacred territory by the hostile
horde. International League teams
will be placed in Brooklyn, Pittsburg
and Washington, while the American
Association will operate in Cincinnati
nd Chicago.
This latest move of the so-called
trust is nothing more than the per-
lection of a little game of freeze
out" The idea is to break up as
many Federal strongholds as possible
The great organization, which had
kept closely in touch with every move
uf he revolutionlsts, learned a few
DAYS ago that Toronto and Buffalo
were but pawns for the game of the
independents. Gilmore and hts back
ers have all along figured upon
Brooklyn and Washington because o.
the major league prestige of these
cities, it is said
The Jersey City franchise Of the In
ternational League is to be trans
ferred TO Washington, and will alter
nate in the Capital City with Clark
Grihith's scrappy Senators.
IF arrangements can be made with
L Tim Hurst who holds an option on
Washington Park, the old home of the
Dodgers, some other representative of
the Barrow circuit will be established
-
utilized to smother Federal opposi-
ton. The International League team
in Pittsburg will operate at Schen-
ley Park, and. as in Washington and
Brooklyn, will so arrange a schedule
as not to conflict with the jor
league attractions.
President Tom 'Chivington has
promised the major league moguls
that he will take care of the Western
wing by placing American Associa-
tion clubs in North Chicago and in
Cincinnati.
The Association controls a park in
the Windy City, which was secured
in the days when that circuit had de-
signs upon the Stockyards. 1t has not
been definitely decided whether to eX-
pand into a ten club circuit or to shift
the St Paul franchise to Chicago and
some other of the lesser paying fran
chises to Cincinnati.
In the same way the club owners
OF the International League will have
10 decide upon the question of eXpan-
sion. As three new cities are to be
taken into the Barrow ring, despite
the transfer of Jersey City to Wash
ington membership, two will remain
open unless a ten club circuit is de-
c.ded upon.
Providence's fate would in no wise
stand in the way of existing terri
torial conditions. Frank Navins, who
owns the Detroit Tigers, is master Of
the Grays and he has had such POO"
luck with his minor leaguers that he
would welcome almost any change.
+ Sammy Lichtenstein, who owns
the Montreal club would con-
sent to a transfer to Pittsburg, that
would settle the matter. But Sammy
has held out tenaciously against ali
opposition. But for him Montreal
might have been eliminated years ago.
The Canadian metropolis makes a
rather unwieldy circuit.
The International League could
scarcely modest Newark, champion
snip club. Rochester Is one of it's
best towns. Baltimore is a proposed
he snapped up by the outlaws" in
case Of an evacuation.
While the sweeping circuit refor-
nations have been under way organ
yea baseball has never for a moment
forgotten the necessity of beating its
Would-be contemporary to the very
best playing talent. Every club in
the two major leagues and In the big
minor leagues has sent out agents to
whip the athletes into line. The three
Greater New York clubs have cor
rallied practically every star for 1914.
Through its inactivity in the face OF
AL the hustle by organized baseball,
the Federal League has lost consid-
cradle material within the past two
weeks Fully a dozen major league
stars announced as deserters have re-
heWed contracts with their old en-
ployors