The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-18
La 49, Up to the Minute 80 |
IXNA SPoRTlNGNEws6 SS926
| LNggN From Everywhere. l
1G0OS BNrcIUon ]
new BALL zelda new BALk RULE
Amateur Game Will Boom if
Savage Quits Topeka.
Application May Be Made to
Enter National Federation.
From EVervWhere.

( If John Savage moves his Western
| league club to Pueblo or some other
high dry city it will probably be the
biggest boom amateur baseball in To-
peka could receive, and already those
who are partial to this kind of game
are beginning to contemplate the OPP
portunities that will be presented to
them if the thousands of Topeka fans
have to dc without their accustomed
baseball entertainment this summer.
There are probably 200 first class
amateur and seni-pro ball players in
Topeka and two years ago, even with
the Western league drawing good,
they were able to operate a city
league. Last season most of the play
ers of the old city league were affili-
ated with independent organizations,
and there were enough good teams in
the city to make crack players in de-
mand. Both he Santa Fe shops and
general offices have teams and many
| of the larger business concerns give
the independent teams their support
and enough financial backing to pay
for their equipment.
Into National Federation.
Should there be no organic d base
ball here, it is probable that steps will
DE taken to affiliate Topeka with the
| National Baseball Federation which IS
attempting % put non-commerciai
baseball on a solid foundation and
which promotes a championship series
every year The plan, if application
to the national organization is made,
will probably be to organize city
league and have the winner of the
league pennant enter the big series
The National Federation will hold
it's second annual meeting at Toledo-
Ohio, Friday of this week to make
plans for the coming season and to
take steps that will allow clubs affil1-
ateG with it to use players VINO nave
formerly been connected with organized
baseball it being expected that rule
will be passed providing that all eX-
professionals can become amateurs
and semi-pros again after they nave
been in retirement certain length OF
time.
A New Amateur Idea.
The National Baseball Federation
does not insist upon the rulings, 'ionce
a professional, always professional
or professional for ambitious young
PLAYERS to secure tryouts in the pro-
fessionaI ranks and for former pro-
fessionals to keep on playing ball even
after they have retired from the Dig
league.
The federation takes the view that
the Younger players are better off for
having experienced veterans to coach
them. But the federation does not
wish to have a loophole for profess
sional players to get into the amateur
and semi-professional ranks by the
allurements of easy jobs with firms
fostering and supporting representa-
tive clubs.
At present the National Baseball
Federation has two classificatons OF
DIayers: Glass A-thOSe players VINO
receive no monetary remuneration for
their services as a player during the
current season Gin other words anna
teurs) ; class AA-those players who
do not earn a livelihood by their
services as players Gin other words.
a player who receives small sums of
money for playing ball with his own
or another club but earns his living
in another manner entirely, these
players being commonly known as
professionals.
Play Championship Series.
Last year the National Baseball
Federation conducted championship
inter-city series for both class A and
class AA teams. Fourteen cities from
the west, middle west, south and mid
die Atlantic states put forth their rep
resentative clubs in the class AA COM
petition. Johnstown, Pa, Cleveland,
| O., Cincinnati, O., and Louisville, KY,
| competed in the class A series.
The Kelsch team of Cleveland won
| the honors in the class A division,
with the Knights of Columbus team
of Louisville, KY, runner-up.
After an exciting and interesting
elimination series the Norwoods, of
Cincinnati, O., won the class IA title,
with the Rail Lights, of Toledo, O.,
| as runner-up. The other cities par
ticipating included Des Moines, Ia;
Chicago, ILL.,; Detroit, Mich; Cleve-
land, O.; Canton, O.; Akron, O.: Day
ton, O.; New Orleans, La; Birming-
ham, Ala; Pittsburg, Pa; Columbus,
O., and Johnstown, Pa.
The purpose of the National Base
ball Federation, as outlined in its
constitution, is to promote, promul-
gate and perpetuate non-commercial-
! lied baseball turnout the United
States, to surround it with proper
safeguards; to aid and assist in the
fostering, developing and regulating
/ of local associations in accordance
with the spirit of craftsmanship, hon
esty and fair play; to aid and assist
| in the furthering of inter-city con-
tests and to foster an annual conven-
ton for friendly open discussion for