Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-12-22
TRI-STATE LEAGUE
MAY Join OUTLAWS
FederalS Said TO be After
the Circuit as a
Farm
CLUBS TO MEET
EARLY NEXT MONTH

There is bound TO be something in
tercsting happen at the coming meet
ing of the Tri-State League in Fhila-
delphia sometime next month. The
date for the session of the club repre-
seniativcs has not been announced by
George NJ. Graham. president of the
organization. but is expected to be
about January 10 Definite plans for
next season will be arranged at that
time and the future of the league de-
cidcd on
The latest development in Tri-State
circles is the possibility OF the league
Withdrawing from organized baseball
and seeking shelter under the wing of
the Federals. II is reported that there
is a movement on foot among the out
law magnates to interest themselves
in the Tri-State and use the league as
farm for players who are not yet
ready to break into faster company.
President Graham denies that he has
been approached on the matter but
admits the possibility Of Federal in
/ terest.
The Federal-Tri-State rumor orig
mated in Pittsburgh last week during
visit to that city of r. B. Ward, own
er of the Brooklyn Feds. and his son
Ralph Ward. The Wards, who are rec
ognized as the financial lights of the
Federal circuit. are said 80 have been
making inquiries through Pennsylva.
MIA relative to the possibility Of &C.
quiring the Tri-State and when the
league meets next month there is g
probability that some definite Offer
will be extended.
The Federals could probably acquire
the Tri-State League for the price o
one player. as prices go in the pres
ent baseball war. A move Of that sor
would unquestionably put the Tri
State on its feet Organized baseball
. has done nothing for the Tri-State o
b any consequence and the league owe
nothing TO organized baseball. II Fed
eral interest could be injected into tn
= Graham circuit, with an eight-clu
route, there is no possibility OF tn
season being unsuccessful.
If the Federals did acquire the Trl
b State the fact would instantly REGAL
the early days of the latter organiza
ton. when It was itself an outlaw an
= fighting the majors. Although the Jai
3 tie between the Tri-State and the bi
leagues did not last as long as th
present war II was just as bitter an
waged with as much success. TheI
= was no star I'm baseballdom whose Sc
. vices we're assured to his club as Ion
J. at the Tri-State owners had any none
a at all. Jumps we're as frequent at TN
" time as they are now, In fact, mu'
N moro so.
A big league manager and the lea
= ed Of a Tri-State club at that time hi
no assurance when he went to sleep
4 the evening whether he would awal
y with a ball club or without one.
81 player might put up a remarkable @
a hibition Of baseball with a loadiI
81 American or National League club {
u day and tomorrow be found contentc
a ly playing with a team in the II
q State. Day after tomorrow he mig
be back with his former team agal
n Or a Tri-State manager. on the 9th
a hand, might develop what he felt su
was ptnnant winner at much CO
81 to himself and his backeIs and on d
eve Of most important series su
3 denly awake to the fact that his sta
X had acquired the jumping habit al
n were nesting under the protecti'
arm Of major league aggregation.
q Finally. the Tri-State forced orga
lied baseball to give il protection a
it is a well-known fact that the leag
has not amounted to very much ev
since. II may be that the propos
action by the Feds would restore
terest in baseball in the Pennsyl,
mia cities which would have team
and the fatherly interest of the oil
= laws as well as their financial h,
n would beyond any question Of dot
e make baseball pay for the cities
IL the circuit.