Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-09
NOT SURE, after
ALL, THAT We ARE
TO Get BASEBALL
Ned Egan, Head of ottumwa
Team, Left to Finally De-
eide the Matter.
HERE SOUNDING SENTIMENT
Says He Wants TO Be Sure Of Wei
come Before Cutting Loose
From Present Contract.

II Is not yet settled. after all. that
Rock Island is TO have a professional
baseball team. The prospects really
are dubious. despite the fact that the
Central association directors yesterday
AZ Cedar Rapids voted to transfer the
Ottunwa franchise to this city
Manager Ned Egan OF the o;tumwa
club IS now in the city making a final
canvass OF the local situation before
deciding as TO bringing his club here
and IS anxious to get an expression of
the people who patronize baseball as
10 whether they will welcome him with
sufficient patronage to insure his team
finishing the season without a big de-
felt
Mr.. Egan IS in a peculiar position.
He IS at present under a two-year con-
tract with Ottumwa which protects him
from personal loss. The association
owes $500 TO him and is willing to
turn the team over to him together
with half the $500 guaranty in the
league sinking fund to call things
square. II he accepts and brings the
team TO this city he cuts loose from
his compact and must stand or fall on
his fortunes here.
Ottumwa is losing $50 a day now.
Last year the attendance was $4,000
and this year IL will be less. Win or
lose. the support there has been poor
for the last two or three years and all
agree that a mistake was made in
starting in the circuit this season. Wis
iting teams are guaranteed $50 per
game. Fourteen men are now carried
and the salary limit is supposed to be
$1,4O0 per month.
Says Pace is Fast.
For four years the city has had a !
frst-class team, winning three pen
nants. Last year IL out OF 13 men |
were sold to faster company in order to |
break even and start was made to |
build up a new team. Mr.. Egan insists !
that he has gathered some fine mater /
ial and that there should be no trouble |
from now on in winning at least half /
the games played.
We are really playing class B ball !
Instead of class c." he said today.
Central association patrons get every
bit as good sport as those of the Three
Eye league and we have a better bal
anced race. While the salary limit is
supposed to be 81 400 IL is actually
nearer $1,000. Other cities are drawing
a great deal better than Ottumwa is.
Cedar Rapids will come close to 100.
600 for this season and we have been
greatly handicapped in meeting teams
supported BY such patronage.
i can guarantee to Rock Island a
grade OF baseball which will do the city
credit. but of course / want to have III j.
ted support II come here. don't want
TO be considered merely as an outside
promoter. ! shall expect the people to
ADOPT the team and to pull for it and if
can't get assurance of that kind of
treatment / shall not come and it will
De up TO the league to find a home for
me club elsewhere.
Is Getting Better.
"Ottumwa is playing much better
oaL now than II did early in the sea !
son- We have done considerable ,
strengthening and are prepared to do
more II patronage warrants. The play
efS are all young, between 10 and %
years OF age. and include some OF the
most promising material that / have
ever handled The club is sure to be a :
inner In another season, at least, IL
Kept together and properly managed.
an not trying to grab a franchise
~ Rock Island and certainly will not
~ 70 give the people here something 7
hey DO not want. What do desire is /
% ma out and without loss of time /
.oN tne people feel II will take every
-4S nom now till July II when we ex-
Deet 10 open here with Burlington, to
ss' tne park in shape. would be out Z
. pocket from the very start and Il '
-oulo take an average attendance OF \
~ a. least 70 give me an even break {
% me remainder of the season. II the c
'@uons OF baseball here do not want 4
- 70 bring the team here ! would y
'isSuy appreciate being frankly told @
mere are 80 home games for the Ut
team between July II and Sep
s-noer l. when the last contest on the
,one grounds takes place. -Four OF
I'm are Sunday dates The season
-Oses Sept 7 with Ottumwa on the
Open With Leaders.
II Is planned, IL the team comes here.
'pen With band. a parade and the in