The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-29
Grand Rapids Renews Inter-
est-Boost Three Candi-
dates to Head Rejuvenated
Middle West League.
fort wayne WILLING
Old Club Owners and Pro-
spective New Ones Anxious
to Get Back Into Game.

TO yet 0aCk INTO Odmc.
Reorganization Of the Central league
with Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and
Ohio cities in the circuit seems certain
now. Postponement Of the meeting
until Sunday, II was learned today.
was for the purpose Of permitting
club owners in some Of the doubtful
cities a chance to sound out sentiment
among the fans.
Reports from all over the league to.
day were optimistic. Grand Rapids.
which had been holding aloof, seems
overly anxious to get back into the
league, and Fort Wayne, where inter
est seemed apathetic. today not only
wants to get into the circuit but also
Is boosting for Louis Heilbroner to
head the new organization.
After going to considerable trouble
to frame a meeting, President Elmer
Eggemeyer of the Richmond club has
yielded to the request Of President
Jack Ryan of the Peoria club to post
pone the reorganization meeting plan
ned for Wednesday until Sunday.
All Clubs Asked.
Messages to representatives in
twelve cities in the combined terri
tory of the Three-I and Central were
sent out by Jack Ryan Of the Peoria
club. This message put the question
up to the owners If they want to re-
organize, and asked II they would at
tend meeting for this purpose in the
Indiana city next Sunday.
The league looks more certain every
day. and the Peoria club officials were
of the opinion today eight clubs ready
to start baseball will be present when
the meeting is held. There may pos
sibly be ten asking admission.
Here's the circuit which loks best
to Peoria right now:
Peoria, Bloomington, Evansville,
Terre Haute, Richmond, Fort Wayne,
Dayton, Springfield
But there are a few bumps to
smooth over before this league can be
formed. =
Ohio Towns Doubtful
In the first place, Dayton and Spring
field are flirting with the new Ohio
State league. Springfield prefers the
Central circuit. and if Dayton can be
brought back into baseball these two
cities are expected to be saved for
this league.
And President Ryan Of the Peoria
club claims to have an ace in the hole
which will save the Dayton situation,
and if this prediction comes true those
two cities are back in line.
Then over at Evansville there are a
few doubtful ones. The city is needed
to pair with Terre Haute, and the
owners must be whipped into line be-
fore the new circuit is formed.
The postponement will help things
adjust themselves just a little better
and by Sunday it is possible that there
will be enough cities ready to start
that the league magnates will have
little difficulty in assigning franchises.
Stahlhefer May Attend.
Eggemeyer's meeting has progress
ed so far that League President Harry
w. Stahlhefer Of Evansville had con.
scented to ONE out of his retirement
LINZ Jess Willard, Harry has been
very bashful about coming out Of his
she'll. The early flash OF spring wealth
er, perhaps, had its effect on the
Evansville man. Anyway. Harry's
presence will lend more Importance to
a meeting.
Bert Noblett. part owner OF the
Grand Rapids franchise, has been vest
ed with the authority to act as he
sees fit for the club. and Bert is
among those baseball persons who are
seeing nothing but silver Innings these
days. He has his own ideas with re-
gard to the 1919 makeup of the league,
too. Along with Grand Rapids, Mus
kegon, Fort Wayne and Richmond,
Noblett would include four Illinois
cities. Such circuit could be i'm
proved upon, Bert admits, but right
now this appears to be the territory
which the Central will cover this sea-
son, unless unexpected support is
born in other cities which formerly
held franchises. Muskegon. OF course.
is still doubtful quantity, and no
choice has ben made of four of six
candidates in Illinois.
Vandagrift's Idea Of u.
Carl Vandagrift, president and man.
ager of the Fort Wayne club, has a
different idea of what the makeup OF
the league should be- In a letter he
ventures the prediction that there
Is no doubt but what the game is CON-
ing back stronger and better than
ever"
At the same time the Fort Wayne
magnate Is inclined to be conserva.
tive. He doesn't want to take in the
world in the effort to enlist live towns,
lit feels that a compact circuit will
do better in the long run.
Here is part of the warning that
vandagrift peddles in his letter. which
he is sending to all cities that have
been mentioned as possible candidates
for franchises: I'm none of the pro-
nosod new leagues has the question