El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-22
5EMI-PR0 BASEBALL FOR FL PAS0;
CITY NOT IN RIO GRANDE LEAGUE
Colorado Springs Trinidad Pueblo and Either Amarillo
or Las Vegas Will Form Club Circuit; FL PasO Also
Were 1t Not For Long Distance From the Other
Towns and Consequent Heavy Travelling Bills

~ L PAsO will not have professional
baseball this year. That much
now seems certain. The Rio
Grande league is going through but
I'll PaeO Will not have q franchise The
league will consist OF four cities. Colo
RADIO Springs, Trinidad and Pueblo in
Colorado, and either Las Vegas, n. NJ
or Amarillo. Texas.
Albuquerque couldn't make the
grade" and raise the funds necessary
TO insure a clubs finishing the sea-
son, while the jump Of over 500 miles
from FL Paso to Trinidad was out or
the question because OF the high cost
Of transportation
After going into the matter fully.
John J. McCloskey decided to accept
the offer Of the Commercial league TO
rent the park for the next Is Sundays
and he will take charge OF the Pueblo
franchise in the league, leaving his
son. John McCloskey, jr., here to man
age the park.
Gan Exchange seasOn Books.
NcCloskey has tried hard to give the
fans professional baseball this year but
he has been given very poor support
from a financial standpoint. Season
books were placed on sale some time
ago but these solo slowly and MT.
McCloskey has decided TO drop the Idea
Of a professional team here this year
and holders of season books can ar
range to exchange them for CONNER
ciRl league tickets or can have their
money refunded.
Had Albuquerque entered the league,
II would have been possible for Mr.,
McCloskey 70 get by" with the local
club on a small capital but, facing the
long jumps, he had to have proper
financial backing or drop the idea OF
No Even Break In Sight.
II had some very fine offers from
class AA and class 3 league clubs
this spring." said the veteran manager.
but / had incurred certain oDiiga-
lions here and I felt that IL was my
duty 20 remain Ny home Is In El
Paso for all time but ] cannot see that
we can have professional baseball this
year and stand chance OF anything
like an even break.
''The emount offered me by the Com
mercial league is large and il is that
much certain and will enable me TO
nav off considerable OF my indebted
ness incurred IN building the park last
semf-PrOs Deserve Support.
II wanted to be sure that the Com
merical league teams would give the
fans some pretty fair baseball before
would enter into any contract with
them. The semi-pros have given the
fans some real treats during the past
three or four weeks and I believe that
they will meet with good support all
season. They certainly deserve it.
Texas League May Come.
"a great many Of the local fans are
yelling for Texas league baseball here.
However, that will cost money and
haven't the capital to take a chance
on Texas league propositions this
year. Next year II is possible; yes.
even probable, that the Shreveport or
Beaumont franchise may be switched
70 III Paso. I believe that the league
win be ready to make us a much more
satisfactory proposition than was out
lined by president Morris through The
Herald last fall.
Rio Grnnde League Opens May 20.
The new Rio Grade proposition
looks good. The three Colorado cities
already have their organizations com
nlete and q new ball park Is under way
u Pueblo. It viii not be ready for
O. month or 20. II Is probable that the
opening games will be played May 26
zone enthusiastic Amarillo fan
has written that he is prepared to
finance the club there this year and 4
am already negotiating with him
while the business men Of Las Vegas