The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-10
REVIVAL CERTAIN
FOR Great SPORT
Missoula Fans Hoping for a
Comeback National Pas
time This Year.
A TWILIGHT LEAGUE
Garden City Eagerly Awaits
the Crack Of the Bat
Against H0rsehide.
A TWILIGHT LEAGUE

Despite the war, despite the increase
in the price Of material and other in
fluenceS which have anything but "A
salutary effect on sports in general,
baseball the only really great Ameri-
can pastilne, seems due for a revival
in Missoula during the coming spring.
Though the attempt to revive dor
inant interest through the medium Of
the Bitter Root valley league In 1915
failed, the rally 10 watch amateurs
compete last summer was sufficient to
reveal the fact that underneath this
apparent indifference. the Garden city
fans wants baseball, even though il he
OF the corner lot variety.
Years ago Missoula had Twilight
league, an organization composed of
business men, clerks, shop hands and
workers engaged in various fields OF
Industrial activities who found time
after their days labor was completed
to Join their comrades for an hour or
two of recreation under the cool. blue
summer sky of western Montana.
After the attempt 70 promote league
baseball IL the Garden City. which was
an Rrtistical but not a financial. sue
cess. had been concluded with few re-
grets from any quarters, baseball in
tereet slumped, though a few brave
sports made valiant effort To keep the
game alive during the years immedi-
ately following the passing Of the High
landers. The failure OF these praise
worthy enterprises was more due to
the back of rivalry and heated compe-
tition than to lack Of hish-class exhi-
billions ON the diamond. Even among
the youngsters of the city. whom. like
the average American kid grow up
with bat and ball in their hands, lit
tie enthusiasm was displayed
Valley Leagues pscease.
Then the Bitter Root valley league
was formed, with teams in Hamilton,
Stesensville. Corvallis. Bonner and two
In Nissoula. But the league, which had
It received the support II deserved from
Missoula, might have left the teams
with a balance on the credit side of the
ledger, gradually declined and died, be-
cause Of the inability Of the two Mis-
sOuaa teams to obtain diamonds within
easy access Of their supporters. who
disdained the long ride to the fair
grounds an hot, dusty summer days,
preferring to let the organization pass
out from dry-rot.
Last year city junior league was
organized, with a quartet of teams rep
resenting the different sections Of the
city, composed Of lads ranging from
l6 10 20 years of age, and "A schedule
was played. Interest was high among
old and young, hundreds of people
gathering to watch the games. even
after the race was decided, and roofing
for their favorites in the most approved
fashion.
With the coming of spring this year
the prospects seem to be of the best
for the staging of many exciting inter
city contests during the long summer
months. providing not only sport for
the competing players, hut entertain
ment for the people who vainly seek
Amusement elsewhere during then
spare moments.
bowling died in Missvula, but met
with most enthusiastic reception on
its revival and affords winter enter
etainment for hundreds. Baseball the
most vigorous, stirring and exciting
form of athletic competition on the
hemisphere, will meet with even II more
enthusiastic reception IL properly
revived, with home favorites contend
ing for honors and the approval of their
neighbors and friends.
What matters it whether the price OF
the horsehide is to increase slightly
or whether the diamond on which the
games may be played happens to have
an outfield composed of a brick paved
street, or a slightly sloping infield, AS
long as there are two teams moved
with the impulse of victory contendins
for the lcurels and glory which comes
with the knowledge that the Fourth
Street Roughn. cks downed the Car
shop Raiipushers by the score OF IA
10 5. or vice versa
Missoula fan. want baseball of the
honey" kind. and indications are that
they VIII get ii, war or no war