Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-11-09
THIRD Big LEAGUE
Is NEW PROJECT
May Mean Elimination of Inter
nationals; City Demands
Classy Sport

! New York. Nov. 9.-In order to i'm
prove conditions outside of the two
major leagues. the big magnates who
shape the destiny of the national game
have made plans for the formation of
a third big league. a combination of
| the best cities in the International
League and the American Association.
which will not be subject to the draft
rule and may have a representative on
the national commission someday.
The National Association of Minor
Leagues conveneS at New Orleans on
November IA. Delegates from big and
little ball clubs in all parts of the
United States and Canada will meet
for the purpose of building up the
sport outside of the major leagues.
The big scheme that will come up
for careful deliberation is the forma-
ton of a circuit to embrace Toronto,
Buffalo. Baltimore, Newark. Milwau-
kee, Louisville. Indianapolis and To-
ledo. If this plan meets with approval
the International League will pass out
of existence, together with it's clubs in
Providence, Rochester, Montreal and
richmond. while the American Asso-
citation will drop Kansas City. Mime
apolis, st. Paul and Columbus.
indianapolis. Milwaukee and Louis
vile have grown so rapidly that they
demand recognition as major league
cities. Indianapolis was member of
the National League up to 1890. Louis
vile also had National League fran
chise in the twelve-club circuit that
was dissolved in 1899. Milwaukee was
one of the original members of the
American League. Toledo made rapid
strides last season with Roger Bres-
nahan at the head of a pretty fair ball
club.
With Toronto. Buffalo, Newark and
Baltimore in the eastern end of the
new major league, the railroad jumps
would not entail heavy travelling ex-
penses. In the western end Indian
apoiis, Louisville, Milwaukee and To-
ledo would also be conveniently To-
Gated. A schedule of 154 games would
mean three eastern and three western
trips. with the season opening and
closing on the dates fixed for the Ma
tional and American Leagues.
1t would be necessary to adopt a
salary limit, perhaps. to keep the. new
American Association clubs within
reasonable bounds, but it would be
possible, under more prosperous con-
ditions. to carry many first-class play
ers dropped by the National and
providing room for the best men at
present reserved by the clubs that
would be left out of the proposed ar
rangement.
1t is the plan of the big magnateS,
including President Ban Johnson, of
the American League. who is the
prime mover in bringing about this
radical change, to call the new major
league the American Association and
to elect Edward G. Barrow to the
presidency.
The admission of Baltimore to the
new major league. it is believed. would
result in the withdrawal of the
100000 damage suit brought against
organized baseball by Baltimore Feds.
II the new major league should de-
velop high class playing skill next year
it might be possible to admit the PEN
nant winner to the worlds series of
1918. That would mean a three
cornered battle for premier baseball
honors which would interest twenty
four cities instead of sixteen. AS far
as the national commission is con-
cerned, the reorganized American AS
sociation might be allowed to have a
mem bership, but that is problematical
and would depend entirely on the
strength of the circuit.