Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-08

I sIBneu Enllddelpnla american
League contract.
But even this didn't disturb the
surface confidence of the National
Leaguers that the American League
was about through-that it surely
was doomed to bankruptcy.
Called Them Crazy.
Those American League people are
crazy declared the National League
moguls at that time. "They are pay
ing unheard of salaries to players.
They'll go broke the first year. They
aren't even established. They cam
get the public's support. We've got
1t, and we're going to hold It With
out patronage, they must fail-and
they will. Every time those American
Leaguers take a player from us and
pay him more money that acts Just
as another nail in the American
League coffin"
Listens familiar TOO, doesn't 1tT
One amusing little incident engaged
our attention while doing the perus-
ing act. We encountered an inter-
view under the date Of March IS, 1901,
which was credited to Ned Hanlon,
then manager OF the Brooklyn team.
Hanlon, In part, said:
How can the American League ex-
pect to VIM II 1t had known more
about the baseball business 1t never
would have entered It. It's easy
enough to figure out profits on paper,
but the American League soon will
know better"
The amusing part is that the very
same Hanlon who thought there was
no chance for a second league now is
one of the leaders in the third-the
Federal-league.
Just now everybody is OF the opin-
ion that the Federal League, no mat
ter how strong it grows, never can
make a successful entry in New York
osstble-absolutely impossible, -
tbs said.
And that's just what was said back
in 1901 when the American League
made efforts to break into New York.
War With Players.
Oddly enough, In 1901, Just when
the Americans were waging war like
the Federals are doing these days, the
National League was at swords
points with the Players Protective
Association. headed by Charles l..
thinner. the old Cleveland catcher,
who acted as president.
Up to the time the American
League declared war the National
League practically refused to recog-
nize the association. There seemed
no chance Of the associations de-
mands being granted. But when the
Americans doomed along the baseball
| horizon md began making overtures
| to the players, the National League
| quickly discovered that some of the
players demands were justified. And
they granted the major portion of
them.
Which is Just what the naughty Ma
tional Commission did the other day
relative 20 the demands OF the Play
ers' Fra ternity after ignoring and
sneering at them at first. But it
granted the demands only after the
Federal League came booming along
In many respects the baseball his
tory Of 1901 has been repeated in 1914.
Whether the Federals viii dupli-
cate the seat of the American League
beat the organized enemy, and be
come n baseball power is a question
that time alone can answer. But that
doesn't bar one from hazarding a few
guesses. One of ours is that the Fed
eral League, Jeers, sneers and ridicule
Notwithstanding, will give the organ
lied baseball crowd one of the mer-
riest little battles that has been staged
since Napoleon tackled a fellow
named Wellington at Waterloo few
years ba. h