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

ORGANIzED baseball has com
bined it's 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
tional 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
md 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
of the revolutionlsts, 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.
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
Gritfths 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
tho IA rrnu circuit will ho cot hit ~hxr
there. If not, Ebbets Field will be
utilized to smother Federal opposi-
ton The International League team
in Pttsburg 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. Il has not
been definitely decided whether to ex-
pand into ten-club circuit or to shift
some other of the lesser paying fran
chises to Cincinnati
In the same way the club owners
of the International League will have
TO 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
1ngton membership, two will remain
open unless a ten club circuit Is de-
cided 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 poor
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
mas held out tenaciously against ali
opposition. But for him Montreal
might have been eliminated years ago.
ne Canadian metropolis makes a
rather unwieldy circuit.
The International League could
scarcely modest Newark, a champion
snip club, Rochester Is one Of It's
best towns. Baltimore is a proposed
FEDERAL League fort. Buffalo would
ne snapped up by the outlaws" in
case of an evacuation.
While the sweeping circuit refor-
nations have been under way, organ
ized baseball has never for a moment
forgotten the necessity Of beating its
would be contemporary to the very
nest 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
Greater New York clubs have cor
rallied practically every star for 1914.
through its inactivity in the face OF
an the hustle by organized baseball,
me Federal League has lost consid-
cradle material within the past two
weeks. Fully a dozen major league
stars announced as deserters have re-
neWed contracts with their old en-
ployers.