Evening journal., 1915-03-01
Federal LEAGUE
SPOOFED NO LONGER
Fans Agree There Is Ample
Room For All
Clubs
OFFER HOPE
OF BASEBALL

inOhc VINO spOOled a year ago Witn
II was remarked that the Federal
League was here to stay, spool no
longer And those who took excep-
tions 10 the statement that there was
room-and ample room-for a third
major league. aren't taking exceptions
any Longer. They are beginning to
agree with us.
Ten years ago there wasn't room
for three big leagues. Even five
years ago there wasn't But today
there is. There is more room today
for three big leagues than there was
for two big leagues at the time the
American League horned its way into
the big league show.
The population of Greater New
York was 3.437 2O2 in 1900 The pop
ulation at that time was figured to be
large enough to support three major
league clubs Yankees. Giants and
Brooklyn Dodgers. Splitting the pop
ulation three ways meant that each
club had about 100000 persons TO
draw from. The population of Great
er New York now is about 5,700,000-
enough TO support five major league
Aiuhn- anu SUN nave OftI IsVNNsNNN
persons to draw FROM
Chicago's population in 1902-03 was
100000. That means that each club
had $4,000 persons to draw from. The
population today is about 100000,
which, split three ways would leave
100000 population for each club.
Baltimore's population now is
around 600,000-a population greater
than Washington, Cincinnati. Pitts
hurgh or Detroit Baltimore certainly
deserves the major league rating that
the Feds gave TO IT, Buffalo is am
other city that the Feds gave a major
league status. They were justified in
doing It. Buffalo's population today
is about 100000. a population far
greater than Cleveland. Pittsburgh,
Detroit, Cincinnati or Washington
back in 19O2-O3.
Newark, n. j.. is more justly en-
titled TO a major league franchise to-
day than were Detroit, Cincinnati or
Washington back in 1902-O3. New
ark's population today is about 375.-
900, while the population OF Detroit
in 1903 was about 100000 Washing
tons around 100000 and Cincinnati's
335 600
The Feds in their first year out
made three mistakes as to granting
/ franchises. indianapolis aud Kansas
/ City are too small for major league
ball. Thepopulation of indianapolis
now is around 250.000, while that OF
Kansas City is about 260, 900. Tho
Feds roctihed the St Louis error re-
Gently made by transferring the fran
chise. Probably in 1916 they will
transfer the indianapolis franchise to
Cleveland or Detroit.
Either of these cities. with popula-
tions over the 100000 mark. are able
to support continuous baseball
The other error was in placing
team in ST. Louis. The Missouri town
is a great baseball town, but il is
doubtful if it can support three ma
ior league clubs. within the next five
years. The population Of the town
is about 100000 bit too small to
give baseball support to three clubs.
The Feds may decide to continue in
/ ST. Louis and let II be the survival
of the fttest Two good clubs can
operate at a profit IN st. Louis and
the Feds may take permanent
chance on their club being one Of
those two
II the Feds decided to shift the st.
! Louis franchise they could take in
Detroit. Cleveland Cincinnati or Mil
waukee, Cincinnati with its 100000
population would support continuous
baseball Milwaukee. which hasn't
major league representation, is q good
baseball town and probably would
support big league club. Its popu-
lation is over the 100000 mark-a
population bigger than Washington or
Cincinnati
The interest i'm baseball is keener
today than il was 10 years ago and
the ratio OF fans per 10000 population
is far greater today than it was 10
years ago. Those are facts that can
not be disputed.