Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-04
EASTERN BASKETBALL LEAGUE
DISBANDS; DE NERI TO PLAY
INDEPENDENT BALL AT PRESENT
Will Also Try for Berth in Pennsylvania State
League-American League Opens It's
Season Before Good Crowd

THE Eastern Basketball League has
Il disbanded. This was the action
taken by the magnates at special meet
ing held last evening in which the sub
jects were discussed at length.
Never in the history OF the organiza-
tion has 1t worked under such adverse
conditions Tho season should never
have been started, as many of the mag
mates had little or no interest in the
game, and q bad move made when Grey
stock was allowed to play at Musical
Fund Hall contributed to the doom of the
organization.
At last nights gathering the Jasper
club presented It's resignation and
dropped out. Greystock was in favor of
disbandng, but was willing TO remain
with five teams, but considered this
poor move.
Trenton. De Neri and Camden were
very much in favor of continuing, with
Reading not voting. II was suggested
to withhold tho decision until another
meeting on Sunday, when Mr.. Buff. of
Reading, would give his final decision.
This was considered n poor move, and
then De Neri and Reading voted to dis
band, and the motion was carried. Man
ager Myers, OF De Ner, stated that as
far as his club was concerned, it would
be kept intact and there would be games
every Saturday night at Musical Fund
Hall He anticipated playing Camden
this week. and will try for a berth in
the Pennsylvania State League
American Opens Season
The game of basketball has been
bumped pretty hard since last spring
and many of the best players connected
with the sport are now in the 'erVice
Of Uncle Sam. And still larger per-
centage of the followers of the indoor
pastime are at the various cantonments
Under these circumstances one does not
anticipate as large turnouts at the
games, but all expectations were ecllpsed
last evening at Traymore Hall. Frank
lin street and Columbia avenue. where
the American League opened Its season.
In previous campaigns eight clubs have
composed the circuit, but at present six
teams are enrolled. At the games last
evening the hall was packed.
The contests are cageless ones. II
would be an impossibillty to erect
one, as the floor is used for dancing.
Play was just as fast as IL the players
were in a cage and. Furthermore, they
were minus many hard bumps and
bruises which they may otherwise have
= received.
Prior to the start of hostilities Will
liam j. Scheffer, president of the Eastern
League. and Ira Thomas, Of the hth-
letics, made speeches. Scheffer praised
the officials for keeping the organization
intact under adverse conditions. Thcmas
referred to our boys at the front and
pointed out that the American soldier
has done his work so well In a measure
because his interest In athletics has beer
a factor in his perfect physical condi-
ton. He urged the young men at home
to continue In sports. so that when they
are called upon they. TOO, will face the
foe In perfect shlp
An orchestra livened matters with pa
triotic airs and dancing was feature
after the games.
Hancock and Girard Win
Hancock, champion of last year. de-
feated Y. NJ. Fl. A. "a to II. and Girart
Alumni won from ST. COLUMBIA 30 to IT
The players were handicapped trife b!
the slippery floor, but they will be bette
prepared to meet conditions next week
The lighting facilities are by far thu
best of any ever seen In this city.
ST. COLUMBIA had such seasoned player
al ALLY" Fisher. "Midge" Moore ant
McNamee in action. while the Girard az
gregation was an entirely new combina
tion with the exception of Jamison an,
White. Gallagher and Schaal, the for
wards, gave as pretty an exhibition a
has been seen this season. Girard score'
nine field goals to four for the Saints
and they went TO Schaal, 4 Gallagher
/: Fowler, 3; White, !: Dietrich,
Moore, 1; Fisher, I: McNamee, l.
The Hancock-Y. NJ. ii. a. game turne,
out to be a rout in favor of the cham
pions in the final ten minutes of tn
closing half They registered eight fielt
baskets to Ave for their opponents. The!