Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-17

THE moguls of the Eastern Basketball
l. League were handed rude Jar last eve
ming when during the midst OF a discussion
on the schedule for the season Joseph L.
Bailey, manager of the champion Greys, an
nounced that there would be no more pro-
fessional basketball contests at Cooper Bat
TALON Hail.
Bailey explained the situation and said
Il was due to the fact that the entire ar
mory Is now occupied as headquarters OF
the Ship and Tent Club, an organization
which caters to the wants of enlisted men
in the service of Uncle Sam. was SAID
that a new owner would likely be secured,
his identity not being disclosed at present.
If he accepts, however, the name of Grey
stock will likely be retained and the club
retain its identity Bailey has known for
a long time that the hall would be unavail-
able, and announced in these columns three
weeks ago that the franchise was for sale.
The league has called meeting for next
Monday evening, when the new owner will
attend, and IL not the franchise will be
awarded elsewhere.
Rule Is Changed
At recent powwow the moguls jammed
through a rule barring any player who ever
played in n professional league, and on
reconsideration II was amended to read
that any player of the Eastern, Pennsyl-
Vania, State, Interstate or Intercounty
Leagues participating in more than ten
games shall not be eligible"
Whether a team should be restricted to
three professionals was again debated, and
It was decided to make three the limit, even
in case of accidents. The disposition OF
bench men such as Frost, Hargreaves,
eastman, McGregor, Haney, Greeley, Will
son and the like was discussed Manager
Kennedy, Of Jasper, said 1t was a crime to
legislate these fellows out of a livelihood.
The Kensington pilot wanted a compromise
and offered a proposition whereby each
team would be allowed the services of one
of these veterans, who could not necessarily
be classed a regular. Jasper and Grey
stock alone favored the motion and it
met defeat
There has been virtually a halt made in
the drafting of the schedule until the dis
position OF the Greystock franchise. The last
business transacted was the election of a
vice president in S. o. Grauley, who has
long been identified with the game as owner
of the North Phillies and De Neri. His
selection was unanimous and should
strengthen the league.
Manager Kuser announced the release of
Andy Sears and De Neri reported that Joe
Dreyfuss would return.
Charley O'Donnell Retires
The fans of the Eastern League will miss
the familiar figure of Charley ODonnell
this season. The big Reading forward was
regarded as the brainiest player in the
game. Each season he has announced his
retirement and has always been lured back,
and even at that he may participate in a
few games yet.
When Andy Sears was sold to Trenton
last season this pair severed an association
of almost ten years continuous service. 1t
was Sears who brought Charley to the
Central League years ago, when McKees-
mort was In need n CaDtain and fOrwa d..
and while O'Donnell was suggested to Man
ager Foster by Andy as the proper man to
captain his club, Charley never acted in the
capacity, but insisted that old tow-head
run the team on the floor. O'Donnell was
member of David Williams's famous