Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-18
HOT RACE ANTICIPATED THIS SEASON
AMONG TEAMS OF EASTERN LEAGIJE
President Shelter Thinks Fives Are Better Balanced
Than Usual-New Blood in Several Clubs-Other
Comment on Sports Events

-. eastern Basketball League win
~ ne the centre OF attraction among
~ eollowers during the coming season
es.ss,s,te with the scores of other leagues
oi .,..s m In the various sections OF Phil
le,,s,s ley,., and vicinity IL was estimated
.l', season that there were nearly 100
S,t etball leagues in the city, and judg-
n Nv the increasing popularity of the
.a@ nastime, the chances are that there
"a, he al least 125 organizations In Phila-
s',nhia County this season.
.,crv section Of the city there will
~ i,ee,,es OF varying strength, from the
" lar school organizations to the
t,.a. tx.ssern League, and having In their line
- amateurs, semipros and pros, accord
" 81 the class and standing of the
hague.
r.es,dent william J. Shelter, of the
....,arr League, believes that this organi-
is,icn viii be not only the strongest since
=. ,rcention, but will be more evenly ball
.sced' than 1t has ever been. Il think
~, the Strengthening of the De Neri and
,.soer teams" said Mr.. Shelter, rs go
~ ~ mean a season OF unprecedented
.sss ~ for the league this year. BY the
.SslsIon Of a number Of good players these
~. teams should round out well and be
!. she fght with Trenton, Camden, Read
~ and Greystock right up to the finish.
~ 'iooks TO me as If all the teams are
-.,ne ~ be fast and have accurate play
s y. on them, which can mean nothing else
A., n well-balanced league, and that is
shst makes the game popular"
,s., season the De Neri team started
~, with a rush, but there was some
,ronble in the ranks, and the five did not
,rske the showing that was expected of
4 iudeing from their early season form.
a, that the league was a complete sue
,sss up TO the last game. Camden and
pssdlng were tied at the end of the 40
me schedule, and the league officials
decided to have a play-off of three games,
one on the Reading floor, one at Camden
ana the other on neutral hoor Each OF
M league leaders won the game played
IN their own floor and the final and de-
cdina contest was scheduled to take place
IN De Neri's cage, at Musical Fund Hall.
There were 5000 fans clamoring to get in
ode and the officials had to close the
doors when the building became crowded
10 rs utmost seating and standing
capacity. At the last moment Reading
refused to play because the management
of the upstate five declared that the fans
from Reading had not been provided with
The tickets that had been promised, them.
THIS resulted in the, return of the game
money and a no-deeision battle for the
championship of the Eastern League.
Last years race was almost as exciting
As that of l913-1914, when the season ended
with Jasper Trenton and Camden tied
for first place. In the play-off that year
hsper won the championship
This years schedule of the Eastern
League will be virtually the same as it
was last year There will be a meeting
at the Bingham Hotel tonight, to be pre-
sided over by President Shelter. with all
Of the managers and officials of the
league present. Mr.. Shelter will present
bis tentative schedule for ratification by
the six clubs. This is a mere formality,
but the schedule will not be published
until ii has been adopted officially. The
schedule will provide for 40 games. as
usual. for each club, 20 at home and 60
abroad With the exception of a few hol-
day dates the teams will play on the
iame nights at the same places they did
last season. Trenton plays Monday night
Camden, Wednesday; Jasper, Thursday !;
Greystock' Friday; Reading and De Neri,
saturday,
The first game will be played next Sat-
urday week between the De Neri and
Reading hves at Reading. 1t has not
been determined yet who will referee
lhe opening contest. Whitley Mallon and
Fred Baetzel will be arbiters again this
year.
Manager Ambrose Dudley, of the De
Nen hye, says that his team this year
VIII make a fine showing He still has
% land another regular player, but there
Y no doubt that he can corral the player
ne wants and also some good substitute
material Dudley has now signed Doc