The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-08
THAT 3RD LEAGUE.
Would New Major Circuit Have
Amy Effect ON TOpekag
G.. n. Moon of Nebraska May
Buy Out John Savage.

In the event that a new major
league is organized by taking the best
cities out of the International league
and the American association. what
effect would such a move have upon
Topeka's baseball prospects?
Since the discussion of the third
major league has carried the PROPOSE
ton beyond the wild dream stage
local fans have been asking the above
question rather frequently, and, I'M
doubtedly, fans in many other cities
are concerning themselves with this
contingent in a serious way.
The combining of the best cities in
the American association and the In
ternational league would leave the
weaker cities of both organizations
out in the cold and so far removed
from other places that could fill the
vacancies made by the change that
ball map would likely follow with the
left overs" of every league grabbing
at the best towns in the league just
under them in classification.
Start Leagues to Raiding.
Should the American association be
disrupted it undoubtedly would at
tempt to remain in operation by TAX
ing in such cities as Omaha and Den
yer, Western league members that are
American association made inroads
upon the Western league. the latter
undoubtedly would resort to the same
tactics and would try to get Oklahoma
City, Tulsa, Fort Smith and the other
big towns of the Western association
into its organization. And, if this
should be done, Topeka and Wichita
would hive a much better chance of
holding their own than they have in
the past, many assert.
But close students of the game are
inclined to believe that this raidfng of
the ranks of the underlings and this
tenn ptation to throw the whole minor
league baseball world into a state of
chaos are the things that will prevent
the organization of the third major
out of the best cities of the big minors
until the scheme can be worked out in
detail and every thing arranged so
that all other circuits can be adjusted
in satisfactory manner
Future Very Uncertain.
AS to what is likely to be done in
either Topeka or Wichita next season,
II there is no shakeup, it is impossible
to make a prediction. Aside from the
passive interest the dyed in the wool
fans are showing the situation seems
to be In a state of coma in both
Kansas towns. No one is attempting
to make a move to insure baseball in
1917, so far as is known, and in Wich-
tia the business men who formerly
packed the game seem tobe blocking
it now by refusing to surrender their
sack for any reasonable consideration.
John Savage. who holds title to the
Topeka franchise, has not been here
since just after the close of the season,
ana II ne is making any definite plans
Tor 191I, he has made no special effort
o-let 1t be known here. 1t is reported
that he hopes to take the club to Kan
sas City, KAN, Pueblo or some other
place, but he himself has never con-
firmed the report.
Nebraska Wants Club?
Also, it has been rumored that c.
N. Moon, former secretary of the Lin
coin club, now a business man of
Hastings, Nebraska, has been decker
ing for the purchase of the franchise,
either with the :dea of leaving it here
or transferring it to Hutchinson or
Pueblo, Colo.
Fans here do not believe that the
league will attempt to get along with
a SIX club circuit, and they seem to
nave the idea that the league will, in
some mysterious manner, arrange to
give them baseball just to keep the
circuit intact and to hold the Kansas
territory. Where the idea came from
or why they think the league will con-
tinue to keep them on the map is not
known. but nevertheless it is preya-
lent and is probably partly response
bic for the lack of interest that is be-
ing shown.