Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-21
TWO BIC MINOR
LEAGUES HELP
CHECK FEDS
Organized Baseball Musters Every
Resource to Break Up Strong
holds of Independent Circuit.
By w. J. McBeth

ORGANlZED baseball has COM
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
tiona 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
and Chicago.
This latest move of the o-called
trust is nothing more than the per-
lection of a little game of freeze
out" The idea is to break I'D as
many Federal strongholds as possible.
The great organization, which had
kept closely in touch with every move
Of the revolutionsts, learned a few
DAYS ago that Toronto and Buffalo
were but pawns for the game of the
Independents. Gilmore and his back
ers have all along figured upon
Brooklyn and Washington because o.
cities it is said.
The Jersey City franchise of the In
ternatonal League is to be trans
ferred to Washington, and will alter
nate in the Capital City with Clark
Grif1th's scrappy Senators.
IF arrangements can be made with
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
there If not, Ebbets Field will be
utilized to smother Federal opposi-
tion. 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 major
league attractions.
President Tom Chivington has
promised the major league moguls
that he will take care of the Western
wing by placing American Associa-
ton 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 al 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
lngton membership. two will remain
omen unless ten club circuit is de-
cided upon.
Providence's fate would in no wise
stand i'm the way of existing terri
toral 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.
Inc Canadian metropolis makes a
rather unwiedy circuit.
Inc International League could
scarcely modest Newark, a champion
snip club. Rochester is one of its
best towns. Baltimore is a proposed
Federal League fort. Buffalo would
De snapped up by the OUTLAWS" in
case of an evacuation.
While the sweeping circuit refor-
nations have been under way, organ
lzed baseball has never for a moment
forgotten the necessity of beating its
would be contemporary to the very
pest playing talent Every club in
me two major leagues and in the big
minor leagues has sent out agents to
whip the athletes into line. The three
dreater New York clubs have cor
rallied practically everv star for 1914
Through its inactivity In the face OF
~ the hustle by organized baseball
the Federal League has lost consid
erahle material within the past two
weeks. Fully dozen major league
tlars announced as deserters have re-
neWed contracts with their old en-
povers.