The Detroit times., 1915-01-18
Cutting of Squads Higher Up to
Speed Up Bush Ball
i'm Michigan
TWO NEW PRESIDENTS
ARE TO BE ELECTED
Semi-pro and Amateur Game
Should Also Have Good
Year Ahead
BY HARoLD V. WILCOX.


Despite the chaos that marked the
close OF the 1914 season, minor and
bush league baseball in Michigan Is
slated for one OF its most successful
years i'm 1915. according TO the pre-
diction OF the Wolverine states lesser
magnates Early in February. the
Michigan State league will poke its
head out OF the snow, and unlike our
friend. the ground hog, will remain
with us. industrious and happy. II IL
finds even tiny gay OF sunshine To,
welcome les appearance, Retiring
President Dickerson, OF the state cir
cult, joyously predicts that the clouds
will be in hopeless minority at the
annual meeting early next month, and
he is going 10 hang on the pilot JOB
for q short time longer so that he can
give his old charge proper send-on
for a big season.
Maskegon. Manistee !.udington and
Cadillac are believed TO be certain TO
again appear In the circuit lineup and
several other north Michigan cities
are eager TO get the possible Vacan-
cies
Next Wednesday the South Michl-
gan magnates will assemble AT JACK.
son for their second confaO or the
year and it is predicted that at least
eight of last years clubs will be ready
with their bonds and lots OF enthusl-
ask Toledo and Kalamazoo will prop
ably be dropped, but that will only
rid the circuit of couple OF weak
brothers and make the old lO-club
league less unwieldly.
Manager Bill Essick, OF the Grand
Rapids Central league team, is mer-
Hily signing players and predicts an
other aggregation OF the 1913 vintage
which completely outclassed the best
that the Heilbronner organization had
to offer. There will soon be lots OF
activity In the bushes, too. The semi
pro leagues IN the upper peninsula,
Central Michigan and the Thumb are
all planning to do business al the old
stands, and the independent teams OF
the Charlotte, Albion and Hastings
type will reorganize as soon as the
spring floods are over.
Amateur baseball in Detroit should
have a splendid season next summer.
Three-score teams have enrolled In
the various classes OF the new Detroit
Amateur Baseball association. and in
terest in the sand lot game is eX-
pected to rival that shown In Cleve.
land last year, when the amateurs
drew larger than world series crowds.
Both the Southern Michigan and
the Michigan state circuits, will see
new presidents next year, according
to the present dope, although the old
heads are planning 10 stick on the
fob until plans for the season are
given good impetus. James Frank.
of Jackson, has announced his con
templated retirement from the admin
istration OF the South Michigan, With
Ed Smith. OF South Bend, manager OF
the Grand Rapids Central league pen
nant winners in 1913, as his probable
successor Harry Musselwhite. Man
istee editor and former sport scribe,
Isl slated 10 succeed Dickerson as head
of the northern organization.
All oi the Mich minor league
teams are eHpect,ns the cuts in the
squads higher dp To give them the
spee,iicst bunch OF players in years.
Becanse OF the economy wave tnat Is
eweeaipg the majors and the big min
4 ors, large number of cracking good
ball PLAYERS arr certain 10 lose Jobs
and the bush circuits have a sheaf of
contract ready for the discards.
MANAGER Fssick. az Grand Rapids, has
ALREADY signed several players who
have been dropped by clubs OF higher
r4tiE:%.
number OF the Wolverine state
Y! minor leaguers are also sure to be
dropped TO make room for these new
acqaisitions, and these players will
probably be seen in semi-pro ball
throu2hou, the state This situation
cannot help but make the non.big
show teams OF 1915 the fastest that
ever battled in Michigan Which IL
as II should be. for the bush leagues
ard tlieir fans are. after all. the
real backbone OF the national pas
time.
NJ. a. G.. students expect the present
legislature 10 pass appropriations
which VIII equip the new athletic field
recently purchased