New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-09
THREE-CORNERED
WORLD SERIES
TOO UNWIELDY
Many Plans Suggested to
Improve Baseball Blue
Ribbon Event
By W. J. MACBETH.

The great problem OF organized base
ball to-day is the world championship
series.
This blue ribbon event has grown
beyond the financial grasp OF the pro-
motors. A hundred remedies have been
suggested. Not :he least foolish Of
these is an alleged attempt to create a
third major league from the best cities
of the American Association and the
international League.
1t is very doubtful if the powers Of
organized baseball ever gave this propo-
sltion one serious thought. An indorse-
ment of the scheme would destroy all
of the virtue of organized baseball's
declarations against the invasion of
| the late Federal League. II the coun-
try were not big enough for three ma
Jor leagues two years ago, then in its
war-torn, war-racked state of this day
and date 1t is not yet ready.
Three Is a Crowd"
The third major league proposition
destroys one of the fundamental prin-
ciples upon which the whole organized
structure rests Two is company;
| three is a crowd. A three-cornered
world series would be too unwieldy to
be considered for a moment. And un-
less 1t was given an opportunity TO
contest the world championship with
the established majors a third circuit
of the highest class would be joke.
1t would be such in name only.
Now there is no doubt that the minor
leagues are somewhat dissatisfied with
existing conditions. The grievance of
the lesser bodies has to do with salary
and roster policies. The small fry
wishes TO discourage extravaganza. No
doubt il will support the National
Leagues idea of limiting major league
clubs TO twenty-one men. The Tener
circuit at present is handicapped in
this respect because Ban Johnson's
teams are permitted to keep twenty
five athletes under contract at all
times.
Important Meeting
One of the most important baseball
meetings of all time will be held in
New Orleans next week Policies Of re-
trenchment up and down the line will
then be adopted. The major magnates
who amount 10 anything will all be
there. There is an inside tip that the
National Commission will be on hand
to sidetrack Barney Dreyfuss's con-
templated reform However the com
mission remains, the impression is set
that the world championship series
should be a two-team affair One of
the main arguments against the Fed
eral League was that there was no
room for three majors. A three-cor-
nered world series was held up as an
utter mpossibility--one that would rob
the classic of its chief charm.
A reform in the world championship
series is likely to develop before an
other season, perhaps at the minor
league meeting in New Orleans. II has
been suggested TO cut down the tariff.
Ban Johnson has gone on record as
favoring a gate tax not TO exceed the
popular prices that prevail throughout
the regularly scheduled championship
games.
Two Reforms Suggested
There are two outs to this reform.
Either must minimize the players pool,
which has thrown a shadow Of sus-
picion on the integrity of the game.
One scheme advanced is to declare fiat
rate of $1,000 and 81 900 each 70 the
winning and losing players, respec-
lively, that figure in the annual fall
classic. Another is to extend-at popu-
lar prices-the series from best four
in seven to best FIVE in nine games.
Getting back to the suggestion Of a
third major league at this time, the
exploited theory suggested trial Of a
year or two TO see if the venture would
make good. The third major was to be
such in theory only. Salaries were not
TO be the same; privileges were not TO
be the same. The extra circuit was TO
be free from major draft, and that was
TO be its only distinction.
In rebuttal it may be said that the
Federal League attempted this expert
ment and failed. There are only so
many major league cities in the coun-
try, and they have been covered. No
one can assign a bunch Of towns and
call them major league and get away
with a major league show. Conditions
have not improved one bit since James
Gilmore and his associates failed. Gill
more and his associates had as much
gray matter per head as can be found
in the ranks of organized baseball.