New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-09
new LEAGUE TALK
CROPS OUT AGAIN
International League and Amei-
can Association May Consolidate

New York, Nov. 9.-The formation
CT third major league. consisting Of
the leading cities in the International :
league and American Association and
sanctioned ~ Organized Baseball, will
he one Of the leading topics to come
up for discussion before the annual
meeting of the minor leagues, to be
held in New Orleans next Tuesday.
Such a league would take in Balti-
more, Buffalo, Newark and Toronto
from tho International league, and
Louisville, Indianapolis, Milwaukee
and Toledo in the American Associa-
ton. Kansas City, which drew well
in the Federal league in 1915, would
ne favored over Toledo but for its
geographic location.
Baltimore, Buffalo, Newark and
Indianapolis we're all represented in
the defunct Federal league; Milwau-
kee was in the American league until
903, when its franchise was trans
ferred to st. Louis and also put in enc
year in the National league while
Louisville was in the National league
for quite spell before the parent
major league was reduced from a
twelve to an eight club league in 1900.
baltimore, Buffalo and Indianapolis
have all been represented at varfous-
times in both the National and Amerf-
can leagues.
johnson Knows of League.
Ban Johnson, president of the
American league, and Ed Barrow,
president of the International league,
already have talked over such a mer-
ger and it also has been discussed with
men prominent in the American Assoc
; station and Barrow would be elected
president. ~tsd
If such a move is undertaken it will
be the direct offshoot of the Federal
league war of 1914 and 1915, which
left the international league a. wreck
and still is being felt throughout the
l entire minor league belt. Prior 70
, The big baseball war the international
, league was one of the most prosper
Gus in the country, with franchisegr
, valued at from $4,000 to 5000, 680.
, The Federal league put big league
+ notions into the heads of the fans in
= baltimore, Newark and Buffalo, and
; when the baseball war was over they
, refused to go back to the Interna-
tional league.
Something drastic must be done for \
= the big minors, and major league
rating may be the only way OUT Of
, the difficulty. Should the Interr@
= tional-American Association merger
2 go through the new league would im-
ncediately be exempt from the draft,
and it may be given several years to
build itself up to real major league
strength. After such a term OF years
the league would be eligible for the
worlds series, and it would immedi-
ately have a representative on the
! National Commission.
New Baseball Map.
Such a merger would mean an en-
tirely new arrangement of the minor
, league baseball map. The Western
League was in bad straits last year
and it could be propped up by the
cities left over by the association-Stx
Paul, Minneapolis, Kansas City and (
Columbus. A new league, taking In /
Providence, Rochester Montreal and
the best cities in the New York StateJ
League, could form a new organize
ton, which would retain the name of
the International League. Richmond,
which has had two years experiences
in the International League, could
be returned to the Virginia League
or given a berth in the Southern AS
ISOLATION, taking the place of Mobile. \
the weak link of the Dixie circuit.
That a great deal of interest is be- /
ing manifested in the minor leagues
annual conference is evident from
large delegations OF local magnates
who will attend the New Orleans
gathering. President Barrow and
Capt. Huston, half owner Of the Yan-
KEGS, already are on their way to the
meeting, having stopped at Dover
Hall, Ga. President Tener of the
National League, Business Manager
Sparrow of the Yankees and Presi-
dent Ebbets of the Brooklyns will also
be in attendance. I