The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-04-07
MISS0uLA ASKED
TO JOIN LEAGUE
Great Falls Fans Would Like
to See State League Or
ganized in Montana.
GARDEN CITY WANTED
Little Interest Displayed Here
or in Butte in Organiza-
ton Of Circuit.

Great Falls fans, hungering for base
ban. have proposed the organization o
Montana State league, according +
reports from the Electric city. The cir
cult would include besides Great Falls
Butte. Missoula, Helena Billings. Lew
istown, Bozeman and Anaconda. TIL
Tens Of the Electric city. after hayin
enjoyed two years of Northwestern
league ball. do not fancy being force,
to rely upon corner-lot bali, and ar
eager TO start something In the stat
diamond circles.
Great Fails regretted its action in dis
daining Northwestern league fran
chise for the 1918 season at the eley
enth hour. but, as Butte rositiycl,
would not come in this year. the north
ern Montana town was left completeI,
out in the cold by the magnates. VIII,
refused To make the long trip to tn.
Treasure state for only one week o,
games.
Butte Doesn't Care.
There Is little interest in Butte. ac,
coiding to reports. and. as the big min
ing camp, together with Great Falls
would be the backbone of the leapue
there appears to he little possibility Of
the state circuit matcrializingy II is
over decade since the last stat,
league expired after playing but a few
weeks, the lack Of patronage being toe
evident TO suit magnates or players
and since that time there has been bu,
on, attempt made to revive the national
game in the central part of the state
which was artistically successful al
least.
In 1913 Billings and Lewistown Joined
hands with two Wyoming towns and
played through brief schedule, which
provided only two or three games a
week, Billings coping the flag after a
heated race. The Beet city team had
a number of fast players. among them
being 'Rlondy" Leise. the big outlaw
southpaw Mike Hodgins, Art Smith
son and others well known in brush
league circles in the west. Lewistown
had Jimmy McQuaid of Hamilton fame
Mckeen, Fink, SINNERS and a number
OF others, while a couple of former Mis-
SCUBA players, Outfielder Bunny"
Cortz and Pitcher Finch played with
the Cody team, one of the two Wyom-
Ing teams in tine circuit.
The Bitter Root League.
In 1916 the Bitter Root valley league
played 20-game schedule. though this
circuit could not be considered a pro-
70 &C
posed TO be composed strictly of anna =
teurs, though at least two, PERHAPS
more of the members broke the rules
by importing salaried performers. who
earned their salt, by the way. How
ever, attendance was slack at the Bit
ter Root valley games and there was
no attempt made to revive the circnit
in 1917. and it is doubtful If much en-
thusiasm will be displayed in the valley
ers of past years have enlisted in the
service of Uncle Sam.
so If the valley wants baseball il
seems to be up to Eddie Hammond. Ed
Marx and other veteran FASTENERS of
the diamond to rally the waning forces.
and, grasping their bludgeons once
more. lead the cohorts out for spring
practice. Hamilton once had what un-
douhtedly was the best baseball team
in the state, back in 1911. when
Moose" Whaling. now a submarine
chaser. was catching. with "Weiscr'
Dell of Butte pitching. aided by Gray
and Joe Gebeau. Both of the first
named players later played with Ma
tional league championship teams.
Whaling with Boston in 1914 and Dell
with brooklyn in 1916. Snyder, who has
been performing in the eastern part
Of the state the past few years. plaved
first for Hamilton. with Raftery on
second and Nally on third Jimmy
MeQuaid, the pride Of the Bitter Root.
who. for years, ranked next to the Nc
1ntosh Red apple in the minds of val
ley residents, played short with Eddie
Hammond. yale" Williams and Ed
Marx cavorting in the gardens.
Many Have Departed.
Stevensville has lost most of its dia =
mond artists. with Plummer and Eng
strOm leaving the largest vacancies,
while Corvallis also has lost most of its
best players.
Missonla fans SO far have revealed
but Passing interest in the national
game. but with the coming of real
spring weather 4 different attitude may
be expected though il is certain that
n state league will receive but little
consideration here.
'0wnio' Kelley is still avaiIa bic for
service around the keystone sack and
may also be expected to act as leader
of one of the teams that will perform
here this summer 4 poll Of other pas
timers who have performed here dur
Ing Iast seasons reveals that n large
percentage are in the army. though
som. Of the old time war horses and
a few youngsters are eagerly awaiting
the call.