The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-04
~ Up 10 the Minute
~ SPORTING NEWS
II FROM EVERYWHERE.
BY "CLUG-
WANT A SHAKEUP
Big Minor Leagues Plan Some
- Baseball Sensations.
Look for a New Major League
After the War.
BY JACK VEIOCK.

New York. July 4-Look out for a
big shakeup in the minor leagues
shortly after the close of the war.
~ 1t is bound to come, and when it
arrives there will be some surprising
developments, If the dope sheet reads
correctly at present.
a For the past five or six years there
has been a wave of unrest sweeping
thru the minors. The big toads in
the bush league puddle are not sat
isfied with conditions by a long shot.
and the more aggressive ones among
them are planning to start a revolu-
tionary movement that will change
the complexion of the baseball map
considerably.
FIRST of all. there is a plan afoot
for the establishment of a third major
league. 1t is an old plan, almost as
old as Methuselah, but it is still alive
and kicking like bay steer.
Work on Plan Now.
Less than a month ago feelers went
out in American association ana In
ternational league ranks to test the
temperature of the club owners on the
third major league proposition. The
result of the test was not satisfactory,
probably because of the uncertain out
look for baseball in these warsome
times. But the baseball men who are
fostering the plan have not given up
hope, and within a year, maybe two
years, there is going to be something
bidding among the minors.
The writer has had an ear close to
the ground for several months. And
the murmurs that have been skating
hither and thitner were not whisper
ings of a will-o'-the-wisp by a long
shot. Baseball men prominently con-
nected with the game, even in the
major leagues, admit that the baseball
map is in need of alterations. They
admit that third major league is a
possibility in the near future and 1t is
limited that the plan will get support
from several unexpected quarters
when the right time comes.
The new move to revise the base
ball map is not a move that has been
made with an idea of stirring up FUR
Their strife in the game. If it is &C
complished it will be done regularly
and smoothly, and there will be but
little friction
Plans Look Feasible.
Quite naturally, the third major
league idea embraces cities in the
American Association and the Inter-
national League. Which cities will be
chosen to form the new top-notch cir
cult is still matter of argument, but
it is said by those who are closely con-
nected with the plan that circuit
which will be more compact than eth
er of the two big leagues is to be sug-
gested.
Such a move will necessitate the
redistricting of other minor leagues,
and raise in rating for at least eight
cities now in Class B company. Other
details of the plan have been told be-
fore, but in all the change will be a
sweeping affair when it comes, and
there are any number of baseball men
who admit-some unwillingly and
others willingly-that it is coming.
1t sounds like n bum note on the
trombone, this revamping idea, but
it isn't. Baseball needs a shaking up
and if it can be accomplished along
peaceful lines it will be the best
thing that could possibly happen for
the future of the game.