South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-20
MENKE DECLARES
THERE IS MUCH
SPACE FOR FEDS
i ritter Asserts That Outlaw
League viii Not Die Because
of Lack of Opportunity in
Baseball Field.
BY Frank G. Mcnke.

NEW YORK. Feb. 20.-Those who
sDoofed us a year ago when we re-
marked that the Federal league was
here TO stay spool no longer. And
those who took exceptions to our
statements that there was room-and
ample rOOm-fOr third major league
aren't taking exceptions any longer.
They are beginning 10 agree with US.
Ten years agO there wasn't room
for three big leagues. Even five years
agO there wasn't. But there Is to-
day. There Is more room today for
three big leagues than there was for
two big leagues at the time that 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 ma
JOr 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 800, 90
enough TO support five major league
clubs-and still have over 100000
persons TO draw from.
Averages Are Same.
ChicagO's population in 1902-03 was
10000. That means that each club
had $4,000 persons 10 draw from.
The population today is about 2.4OO,-
600, which split three ways would
leave 100000 population for each
club.
Baltimore's population now is
around 60O.0OO-a population greater
than Washington. Cincinnati, Pitts
burgh or Detroit Baltimore certain
~ deserves the major league rating
that the Feds gave TO it. Buffalo Is
another city that the Feds gave a ma
iOr league status. They were justified
in doing il. BuffalO's population to-
day is about $4,000, a population far
greater than that OF Cleveland, De-
troit. Pittsburgh. Cincinnati or Wash
ingtOn back in 1902-03.
Newark, n. j., is more justly enti-
tied TO "A major league franchise to-
day than were Detroit, Cincinnati or
Washington back in 19O2-O3 New
arks population today is about $780,
600 while the population of Detroit
in 1903 was about 800, 900, Washington
around 290, 900 and Cincinnatis $780,
600.
Made Three Errors.
The Feds in their first year out
made three mistakes as to granting
franchises. Indianapolis and Kansas
City are too small for major league
ball. The population Of Indianapolis
now is around 100000 while that of
Kansas City is about $50, 600. The
Feds rectified the Kansas City error
recently by transferring the fran
chise. Probably in 1916 they will
transfer the Indianapolis franchise to
Cleveland or Detroit. Either of these
cities. with populations over the 60O,-
coo mark are able TO support contin-
uous baseball.
The other error was in placing a
team I'm ST Louis. The Missouri city
is "A great baseball town but il Is
doubtful il it can support three ma
ior league clubs within the next five
years. The population of the town
is only about 700, OOO-a bit too small
20 give baseball support 10 three
clubs.
May Keep LOufeds.
The Feds may decide TO continue in
st. Louis and let il be the survival of
the fittest. Two good clubs can Ope-
rate at a. profit in st. Louis and the
Feds may take a permanent chance
on their club being one OF the two.
If the Feds decided TO shift the st.
Louis franchise they could take in
Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati or Mil
waukee. Cincinnati with it's 400, 900
population would support continuous
baseball Milwaukee which hasn't
major league representation is a good
baseball ltOwn and probably would
support big league club. It's popUla-
ton is over the 100000 mark-a pop