Evening journal., 1915-04-08
TRI-STATE history
RECOUNTS STRUGGLE
Footprints Of Noted Stars
Left in Leagues
Past
WAS LIVELIEST
OF THE OUTLAWS

A story OF struggle, surmounting OF
obstacles and final triumph, only to gol
down into oblivion, is hidden in the his
tory OF the Tri-State baseball league
now peacefully lying unconscious under
the influence OF amaze ,theties admins
tered at the meeting OF the manager, in
Philadelphia. last month. Battling
against the odds Which confronted all
minor leagues when the Federal League
declared war upon the majors; changed
conditions which no longer resulted I'M
profits from the sale OF players to tnel
bic leagues. and forced to slash its sal
arv limit from time to time TO bring
baseball down to the basis of support
given the game in the smaller towns ON
the circuit, after i years existence. the
league has. temporarily at least, given
mp the ghost
For eight years the Tri-Statc League
was member OF organized baseball, and
for three years. prior TO 1907. was the
lNeliest outlaw ever given birth.
thorn in the sides of the two major
leagues II was forced to give up the.
fight when the height OF enthusiasm
reached ia the small towns failed teI
bring remuneration TO the managers fer
the big sums Of money they were spend
inc for their finn. II is predicted by
some of the managers that the lcagney
will. after a year or two of retresling'
sleep. he again revived and once more
furnish the paramount baseball for
which IT was noted i'm the old days.
Time alone can tell. Nothing, however,
can rob the organization of the distinc-
tion OF having had the footprints Of now
far famed stars of the game, left in its
history.
The league went through the storm
period grabbing stars of the day front
the two big leagues. and seeing them
lice back the next day for a higher
price, much the same as the fight is
being. carried on today between the Ma
tional and American and the Federal
leagues. Players of their day like Harry
Wolverton. Janes Scbring Curt Wei
cand Doc Rcisling, Red Owens, and
many Others were tempted to Jump to
the ranks Of the little outlaw and many
of them were punished by spending their
remaining DAYS in the minor league,
while they apparently had a bright tu-
turc before them. Managers were al
most required 10 sleep with their ball
club in those DAYS 10 he sure of having
n lNli team UH ANf hhiu A'A AiN ''hhhr =
day.
The league got under headway in
1908. when several Pennsylvania
towns got together with a number OF
amateur and college players and
staged a series of games. In the fall
Of that year the Wilmington and Har-
risburg and Chester teams had some
lively rivalry, playing off series in
Philadelphia. and this series really
suggested the name of the league,
"rho Tr-State,' with the intentions
then Undertaking. to take a Jersey
a team into the fold. In 1904 the league
q begun operations in earnest, and al
Z ways made a game fight for existence.
York has been well represented in
the league from its organization. and
the fans have been rewarded by the
winning of two pennants. Harrisburg
has won two WilliamspOrt three and
Lancaster. Altoona, Reading and Will
mington each one Among the cities
n which have been represented in the
league from time to time are Harris
burg. Williamsport, York Lancaster,
n Johnstown, Altoona. Atlantic City,
Wilmington. Trenton. Reading, Allen
town, Lebanon. Coatesville. Shamokin
81 and Chester, 10 towns in all, which
has given the league wide representa-
81 tion in the three States
The circuit has been the browsing
81 ground for many of the big league
u stars of the day. and il is doubtful
81 ii any class B league in the country
B has turned out a greater number OF
brilliant performers.
j. Franklin Baker the home rur
4 king of the Athletics. was a member
I cr he in, TOnN ayhnr
81 Connie Mack learned about him alit
& went personally to look the big thirC
sacker over. Baker took care of I
territory on the Reading grounds
where there was a sharp picket fence
about four feet high to keep th'
: bleacher crowd back and one of hii
specialities in those days was to benz
his body over the fence after higl
5. fouls.
Birdie Cree was graduate Of tn
# Nilliamsport team; Bert Daniels wen
up from the Altoona team: Eddie Fos
ter was one of the Williamsport grad
81 yates; Jack Lelivelt Reading: Georg
81 Twombly. Reading; Harry Coveleskie
Lancaster Harry Fritz, Wilmington
Marty Kavanaugh, Trenton; Loui
# Litchi, Harrisburg: Pep" Young
a Harrisburg; Dave Rath. Reading. an
e many others went to the big leagues
where they have been making baseball
history.
The league produced several man
81 ayers, who have also attained succes
In the leagues OF higher classification
u Harry Wolverton. who was at on
6 time manager of the New Yor
Americans. was the most prominen
in this latter class.
The league has had two presidents
81 Charles +. Carpenter, Altoona VIII
X ruled its destinies until 1914. who
i George NJ. Graham. of Philadelphi;
took the helm
In the years 1904 .O5-O6. the leagu
knew no salary limit and it was
that time that it was stealing th
stars from the National and Amer
can leagues. When it came under tn
organized baseball fold in 1907, it ha
a salary limit of $500 a month. /