Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-22
BOYLE PROPOSES
COMPACT LEAGUE
AFTER.THE.WAR PLANS SuG-
GEsTED FOR NEW CIRCUIT
FOR MiDDLEWEsT.
WOULD INCLUDE c. A. AND
WESTERN LEAGUE TOWNS
Proposed League Would Include Des
Moines, Sioux City, MarshaIltown,
Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Davenport,
Rock Island and Burlington-PIan Is
Favored at Des Moines.

Suspension of the Central Baseball
association this year, with an absence
of professional baseball in Iowa another
year should the war continue, may re-
suit in the formation Of one of the
strongest minor leagues in the country,
| in the opinion of Frank Boyle. man
ager of the champions Boyle, like many
others who have followed Central as
| ISOLATION affairs, believes that the sus-
pension this season will prove .of in
| estimab BILE benefit to the game in Iowa.
A suspension naturally tends to whet
the appetite for the game, and a re-
sumption always finds the fans more
eager for the sport. Indirectly the col
lapse of the circuit this year is ex-
pected to result in a new league being
formed which will be the strongest or
ganization ever attempted in baseball
circles of Iowa.
Boyle sees in the restoration of the
game circuit including Des Moines,
Sioux City, Marshalltown, Cedar Rap
| IDS. Davenport, Rock Island, Burling-
ton and Waterloo, or a majority Of
| these town with one or other suhsti-
tuted for cities not ready to enter into
an organization such as has been plan
ned. The cities named, however, proba-
/ oiy are the hest baseball towns. year
| in and year out, under good conditions
and bad the best in Iowa and bordering
on this state.
| Others Favor New Circuit.
| That Boyles proposed league is not a
| fanciful dream is shown by the interest
such a proposal has met in the larger
cities included. In fact a circuit of cities
| such as are mentioned already has been
advocated in the larger csnters. It is
stated authoritatively that Des Moines
would welcome the formation of such
an organization. The Western league
as now constituted means many long
and expensive jumps. Sioux City was
| unable to weather the conditions exist
ing this year and surrendered it's fran
chise Yet Sioux City is good base
ball town. In compact league the
game would thrive in Sioux City.
The suggested towns are all excellent
baseball towns, as has been proved.
Davenport and Rock Island, especially
SO if both are included and thus To-
cal rivalry is developed will have no
difficulty in such an organization Sew
cred from their old Three league con-
nections, and re-organized under new
management, these towns would hold
up their end Of the burden as well as
any. Des Moines and Sioux City both
would benefit by the change, with
great decreased bill Of maintenance
without any sacrifice in attendance. The
excellent showing of Central associa-
ton players in the Western league has
convinced managers and fans alike that
the Western was a higher class league
than the Central association in name
only.
at Cedar Rapids, and Marshalltown and
Waterloo have proved their right to
membership in such a circuit. Burling-
ton is said to be ready for baseball in
another year and Burlington was a
good baseball town until the manage
ment and control Of the club passed in
to the hands of single individual.
Long Jumps Eliminated.
The feature which appeals to the
Western league cities Is the elimina-
ton OF the long jumps. AS at present
situated the profits are eaten I'D by
railroad fares. Imagine jumps from
Des Moines to Denver In a league
which has shown attendance. records
slightly above those Of the Central as
ISOLATION in its better days
1t is further argued that with larger
cities In the circuit, and a change of
classification. undoubtedly to class C,
the attendance in the former Central as
ISOLATION cities may be expected to in
crease instead of showing any decrease
When the national association holds
| its next annual meeting the question Of
| long and expensive jumps will receive
much consideration. 1t is freely pre-
dlcted that number of territorial
! changes are to be made and a circuit
such as now proposed probably would
meet the hearty approval Of the asso-
| citation and the national commission.