Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-22
LITTLE LEAGUE" BALL
MAY SOON PROVE THE
CENTER OF ATTRACTION
Prevailing Idea That shpyards Have Secuted for
Players Is All Suppositon- Chester
Captures Pennant

MINOR league baseball, which holds
Av1 forth on Saturdays and holidays.
may shortly play the leading role in the
sporting field. When the season started
a number OF little leagues" were among
the missing and those that braved the
apparent adversities have gone along ih
fine fashion. and any one familiar with
the inside workings Of these organiza-
tions knows they are enjoying one OF
the best years and will close the season
In great style.
Managers of shipyard and steel league
mines are flooded with telegrams from
players seeking positions, but as far as
the Delaware River Ship League is con-
cerned many are doomed to disappoint-
ment. Despite much caustic criticism
the shipyards have not been as active in
securing the services Of major league
ball players as has been supposed. Only
at the last meeting. less than two weeks
ago. one manager sproduced correspond
ence showing he would have the services
of nine men. nearly all regulars on one
National League team, and another told
of the visit of six players OF an Ameri-
can League club to a local shipyard,
but all went away jobless.
The managers Of the various clubs IN
many instances produced kilograms from
players asking positions. but requested
the Information be held In confidence. as
they thought any publicity might lead
the public and baseball owners to the
idea they were dickering with the men
To secure a position for a ball player
in shipyard is no cinch for the man
ager and he often journeys to dozen
department heads and wastes considera.
BILE time in SC doing. And the idea that
said player is placed in a hammock with
hours from 12 to 1. with sixty minutes
for lunch, is all supposition. Any ball
player In the local yards is doing his
bit the same as all the others.
There Are Many Essentials
But shipyards and steel mill are not
the only industries ball player can
seek for essential employment. They
have been the logical turning point for
big leaguers. because they realized the
competition there was the keenest. There
are numerous manufacturing leagues
and with few exceptions every firm IL
doing Government work. A glance at
the standing Of little leagues shows
who these teams are. They represent
the Manufacturers League. Philadelphia
Manufacturers League. Nortneast
| Manufacturers League, Railroad League,
and ebsides these there are Industrial
leagues throughout the State, Then
there are hundreds of firms with fast
teams playing Independent ball and hoid-
ing Government contracts. Ball players
should find little difficulty IN securing
ready employment lin this locality doing
their bit" at essential Government work
and at the same time playing the ma
tional game on the eide.
The Field May Broaden
Industrial baseball may broaden its
scope as a result Of the 'work-or-fight'
order. but whether 1t will come this sea-
son is a problem hard to solve. In the
Ship League the matter was recently
discussed apropos Of playing two games
a week, and the subject may again be
discussed at tomorrow evenings bi-
monthly gathering.
The season is due to reach a con-
clusion on the second Saturday in Au-
gust Another round of games, both
at home and away, would necessitate
fourteen weeks and run into the football
season. Two games week would pro.
long the schedule just long enough to
wind up in September. Twilight base.
BALI would afford those who have
worked hard all day few hours rec
reation, and 1t may soon be with us.
The scheme was tried out In Frankford
last week In a Northeast Manufacturers
League game, and without almost nc
publicity a good crowd was on hand
Other twilight" games as a result have
been scheduled.
Chester Gets Pennant
Frank Miller and his crowd of Chester
clouters have captured the champion
ship Of the Delaware River Ship League.
They visited Bristol on Saturday and
had a sluefest at the expense of Mer.
chants. The offerings Of Lefty" Lloyd
were easy and the visitors simply ran
wild. First Baseman Williams. who was
removed the previous Saturday because
Of weak stickwork. came back strong and
led in the attack with a pair of homers
Tommy Long. the Memphis (Southern
League) pitcher. for Chester, had Mer.