The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-11-09

Baseball
Circuits
Z

IL IA n 49,
Territorial Changes to Be
Proposed at Meeting of
National Association OF
Minor League Clubs As
Solution Of Minor League
Difficulties.
New York. Nov. president John
K. Tener of the National League,
President Harry N. Hampstead Of the
Giants, President Jacob Rupert of
the Yankees, President Ebbets of
Brooklyn, Manager John J. McGraw,
Miller Higgins, the new leader of the
Yankees, and Manager Robinson Of
the Dodgers, will all go to Louisville
next week for the annual meeting of
the National Association of Minor
Leagues. The fact that these base
ball men are going and also baseball
men from all over the country is hint
enough. that important developments
are expected at the concfave.
Nine minor leagues were put out
of business last season. and IL the
minors intend to operate next season
it will have to be under new condi.
tons, which will insure better busi-
ness. President Mike Sexton OF the
association will go to the meeting
with a proposition that none of the
minors be allowed to start next year
unless they can show financial sup.
port which will guarantee their fin.
ishing the season. Few of the minor
leagues would be able to do this un.
less they received assurance OF fnan-
cial support from the major 1eaguea
AS a training school for major
league players, the minor league men
will make a fight to get more co-oper.
alton and assistance from the majors
than they have had in the past. For
years they have sought practical aid
but 1t was not until the Federal
League crisis that the major leagues
came to the front with assistance.
Just as soon as the Federal League
was put out Of the way, the minors
were left to shift for themselves. but
the war conditions which now con-
front the country have brought the
AiAAtoAo ~ UhotiA0E fGA 26ASs D~iAd OaAu
which will have to be solved by the
aid of the maj leagues.
10 Propose New Alignments.
President Sexton will suggest some
kind of a territorial readJustment for
the minors. That is, he will propose
that the stronger clubs of various
minor leagues combine to make new
leagues. 1t Is only a. burden for the
other ,clubs to carry several of the
weaker minor league organizations.
The leagues which operate next sea-
son." President Sexton declares,
SHOULD be we'll selected geographic
ally and properly financed before
March l."
To bring about readjustment of
territory In the minor leagues is go
ing to necessitate radical changes in
the fundamental laws of organized
baseball. The surrender Of territorial
rights by any of the minor leagues l.
sure to meet with opposition, for al
though they may not be able to OPP
crate under the present conditions
all minor leagues want to protect
their territory for the future.
President Sexton will advocate the
appointment of a committee to map
Jul now QAoGp6ll Cb1CuiI6 anu SollCCt
data as to the financial status of the
clubs. which believe that they will be
able to operate next year, 1t Is also
planned to limit the number of minor
leagues the coming season, This plar
is the first serious war measure which
the baseball people have been able tc
take, and 1t 10 said to be only the
beginning of radical changes which
will follow in the game.
If the expected financial aid is not
Forthcoming at the Louisville meet,
ing. it is not at all improbable thai
the minor leagues will decide not tie
operate next season if the war condi-
tions are as serious as they promise
to be-
Expect Game to Expand.
What the baseball men are look.
ing forward to is the Great increase
in popularity the game Is going te
take when the war Is over. Al
baseball men predict that the nation
al pastime will then enjoy popular
ity greater than 1t has ever enjoyed
before. On account Of the increased
participation in the game among the
soldiers IN France and in the train
ing camps, a great baseball reviva
is sure to follow the end of the world
war.
st lock fora wonderful revival OF
all kinds of sport at the end Of the
war; said Walter Camp of Yale, re-
Gently, land especially prefessieaa
baseball This game got its star
just after the civil war when the boy
| returned from the front and were
all in such fine physical trim, tina
they had to find an outlet for theil
athletic enthusiasm. That Is wha
started baseball in this country"
Another cause for much WEIR!
among the major league club owners
is the war tax on railroad fares
which will cut into their profits mex
season. Ehe mileag, of the biz
league clubs reaches unusually high
figures each year, and the amount o.
the war tax on the railroad tickets IL
going to be a surprisingly expensive
item. This added expense will be ONT
of the strongest arguments toward E
retrenchn1ent policy when the major
leagues convene next month.
Whether Dayey Robertson play
next. season with the Giants or enlistl
In the army, the Giants will probabl,
r4o., I, csc vnuup in picht Ae,d 70,