Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-30
AMATEUR BALL
PLAYERS PLANS
Federation TO Hold It's Sixth An.
nual Meeting at Cleveland,
Ohio, Next Month

bail governing body. of the United States,
Is 10 be held on Friday and Saturday,
January 1917, Mt the HoIlcnden Hotel IN
Cleveland, q This city IS the biggest and
most enthusiastic sandlot baseball center
m the world. holding the record for base
hall crowds Of 10000 to 5000 on df-
fercnt occasions at it's famous Brooksldc
Park stadium, and SCORES of arnste'r base
b,ll PLAYERS officials and enthusiasts arc
expected to attend the annual convention
al the federation The directors mect on
Friday afternoon To close up their nffnirs
for tho past year, and the convention
proI,er opens on Saturday morning
Prorninent officials OF Cleveland viii wei-
come tn VISITORS and the conference VIII
Close. with a banquet given by the Cicvts-
land Amateur Baseball Association.
The National baseball Federation Is
strongest at the present time IN Gne Zen
tral and Middle West. 1t Is estsbiisShine
footing 10 about so cities As working
hasis The objects and purposes OF the
orqan,xation quoting from Its constit'i-
t,5n. ar, th. promotion, PRONUNCIATION and
,,ertsrtuation Of non-CommerciaiiHed base-
hali throughout the United States, TO sur
rornd i, With proper safeguards; to AID and
asstst IN fostering developing and regulat-
~, ~ I,coJ associations In accordance with
the spirn Of craftsmanship, honesty and
fair MAY. 10 AID and assist IN the further
ing N inter city contests and An annual
rhaulpIons hip IntPr-cIty SERVES; and to
foster an annual convention for friendly
oprn discussion of the purposes outlined
The annual intcr-CIty championship
SERVES has become a classic already, and
thousands az amateur tall. players follow
the games About 300, 600 haliplsyers of
al acts are registered with the city 1850
sIxtIoa.. connected with the National
Baseball Federation.
tSrIfrR-skCTloHAI CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Is fast ss the National Bssebai Fcders-
sion can extend the scopr OF its activities
and influence, rntcrscctlonai Champion
sbirss will l~ arranged for and carried out.
The plan Is tO first arrange Tor sectional
championships along geographical lines
Then the WINNERS viii be brought to-
r,thcr ii the semi finals and finals II r
MANNED 10 arrangc for tho sectional COM
pctllIons along about the following lines:
Central " est Cleveland, Detroit, To-
lcdA. Indianapolis, Columbus, Dayton,
Cincinnati, Akron, Canton, Massillon,
etc
Middle Atlantic -Plttshurg, Buffalo,
Rochester, .Ioiusto~p, Irr, Altoona,
Wh,tlng. etc.
Fastrrn Baitimorc, Washington,
Richmond. Wilmington Trenton. Phiis
dclphia. Scw York, bethlehem, Harris
burg. NiIkcs Barre Scranton, etc.
Middle West Kansas City, St LOUIS,
OuahR. Lincoln, Dcs Moines, Louisville,
Nashville, etc.
Southern New Orleans, Houston, Mo
bIlc, birmingham, Atlanta, Savannah,
Memphis. etc
Minneapolis, S. Paul. Mil
~-IIkre, Duluth Chicseo, Winnipeg
E~nsis, etc
rNKi=r cIAssrs oS PLAYERS NO"
Az the present time the federation Is
-v-,rviiinr for three olssscs Of sandlot
plavers Il finds TO be thriving N the Unit
~ ~tatrs Thcrr Il Class 4 aInstesirl for
tho strictly an.atesTr player, the young
man or ioy who rccfTyoss no monetary
remuneration for his scrylccs as = ball
playrr AZ any time during the season,
Cla.ss A lDd,lstriall for the PLAYERS Who
do not rccscIve IN any form Whatsoevcr any
,~,,-,,.latxsi remuneration for their services
as pIavers with the Chits with which they
s.rc registered IN their city associations,
hut ~ho =, cut now and ahen with picked
tcarrS and ert q few dollars as part oi the
dIyyy on the games; and Cl lass AAA tsennl
pr,nf <Sloral1 Tor the PLAYERS who get
money or Other rewards for playing with
ibeIr teams. hl.t have a bona noe means OF
c-a-nIur thilr livelihood apart from playing
baseball
AfeiSG no FRpTEcT REAL AMATEURS
Tn, of cers of TIE National Baseball
Federation ar, much concerned shout the
expinliat!on ot the amateur baJl-piayers
nv individuals and organizations for
financial C.AIn For some time past u hss
ls-,n vvrv ard TO find a simon pure
amateur hallplaver, except among the
younger lads The more skilled players
dc-.landcd and received sums Of money
s-,d other rewards for their SERVICES SIS
ballplaycrs Teams playing II enclosed
marks participated IN the division Of the
I,et gate receipts. and many firms and
individuals hacking clufs have pnid play
erS on the SaId clubs The federation
while recognizing that the more skilled
PLAYERS arv entitled - whatever they can
1, .lIre for their skill as ballpiayers, m
sIsts that these kind of players he segre-
gated from those who play the game for
the love OF thr sport. and that more at
tfntlon ne pad Ia the Young boys pIst
taking mp the game
The federation officers favor municipal
control u saEdiot baseball rs part OF the
public recreation ana welfare movement
60 that baseball p'aylng flties Will be pro
ylded and maintained unpires fees paid
Gt., UA bLlC uluLlitt EIAukNs llIS Rlsto
every boy and young man an opportunity
OF PLAYING on open fields under the best
auspices without an heavy expense 20
himself IL also provides wholesome
recreation without cost to the men.
women and children ol the community In
witnessing the sport
PAID SECRETARY FRorOsED
The officers and directors 81 the Nation
g. Baseball Federation the past year, in
clude,d the following President, William
S. Haddock Pittsbug, Pa, FIRST vice
president, James H Lowry, Indianapolis,
Ind second Yice-presldent, Joseph ID.
Thomas, Akron, O.; secretary, Tom
Nokes Johnstown. Pa; treasurer, Virgil |
j. ZetterIlnd, Detroit. Mich. counsel, |
&. 6. Townes. Cleveland. O.; directors,
Ralph :. DAVIS, PlttsburE, Pa, A. c. |
febrev. Buffalo \. y; Doik Novario, |
Cleveland. o.; A. e. Chubb, Chicago Ill,
and Cliff r. Martin Cincinnati, 0.
Owing 10 the press Of his business af- |
fairs, Secretary Tom Nokes has announc-
ed his retirement as an executive officer |
OF the federation after five years Of volun- |
ter effort IN helping TO build up the |
organization. II Is planned, if conditions |
warrant. 10 name q paid secretary TO de |
vote all or part Of his time TO the fedora
ton, with headquarters at Cleveland