The sun., 1919-02-26
NEW HACKERS AFTER
NEWARK BALL CLUB.
Mcconnell, Montclair Broker,
Would Erect Park and
Rehabilitate Team.
BY FREDERICK @. LIEB.

With one franchise without q hacker
ana another with no place to 20 the
International Baseball League directors
VIII meet here to-day at the Hotel I'm
perial for what 10 supposedly its sched-
ule meeting. However. the ironing out
Of the circuit Is q bigger problem for
Dave Fultz's league and the schedule
VIII have to wait pending the compile
ton of the circuit.
The Maynard Hamilton, Ont, fran
ch'se still 10 looking for a place to roost
next season. II was hoped to place the
franchise In Scranton. Pa, where for a
time Billy Clymer, the famous minor
league manager, considered taking It.
But Billy got an offer to manage thS
rewly organised Seattle team OF tho
Fhcific Coast League, and since then the
persons who were willing 10 back . club
in Scranton have lost much OF their tn
terest. II may be found necessary to
shift tho franchise back to Montreal.
though Montreal always was the load
stone Of the International League.
Newark still remains q problem. No
ono has turned up to pay Joseph Lannin
the $4,000 he wants for the Newark
franchise. A new organization was
planned In Newark yesterday, which will
endeavor to get possession Of the fran
chise. The hackers are willing to pledge
Themselves to build a new park, build up
strong club and resume baseball In
Newark. but will not agree to pay for
the franchise.
Driscoll Heads Syndicate.
It ia headed by Dave DriscolI. former
president of the Jersey City club. who
yesterday severed his connection with
the Skeeters Driscoll IL backed by
Howard F, Mcconnell. a broker and fan
Of Montclair, N. J. Mcconnell Is willing
to back the club alone or take one or
more Newark men IN with him.
To-day Mcconnell and Driscoll will
appear before the International League
meeting and ask for permission to back
a new club in Newark. McConnell's
proposition IL to erect a modern baseball
plant at Frelinghuysen avenue. north of
Meeker avenue, Newark, twelve minute
trolley ride from Broad and Market
streets.
Mcconnell also is willing to spend all
the money necessary to get the season
started He says he will hire a live
manager and some real ball players
Lannin. who backed the Newark club
last season. wants $4,000 for the New
ark players. his lease on Wiedenmayer's
Park and the franchise.
To this Mcconnell Gays the players
now on the Newark reserve are OF little
account, the lease on Wiedenmayer's
Park is useless to him and that he
would make the franchise valuable by
building up the club.
Longs for Fighting Team.
Tie Yankees will he a fighting ball
club next season II Miller Higgins. the
midget Yankee pilot. can eject some OF
his fighting spirit into them. What
baseball needs is a return to the old
time rivalry" said Miller yesterday.
THE old fghting spirit disappeared
from the big leagues around the Fed
eral League days and 1t has been absent
ever since. Ten years ago. when ball
club called on It's opponent, there was
little handshaking or smiling at one an
other. Instead OF grasping hands, we
would stick our chlns at each other and
there used to be some pretty hot verbal
tins. Now when players OF rival teams
meet on the field they generally stop
each other to have a pleasant chat
Il don't stand for rowdy!sm, and I
recognize old rough stun. such as treads
ing on umpires' toes, is not wanted. But
tho public likes TO see a team fighting
all the time and acting as II It is fight
time rivalry that filled the ball parks
whenever such teams az the Giants,
Cubs and Pirates used to meet.
1T was the same with the old st.
Louis club whenever they had chance
for the pennant. When We played the
Giants you simply could feel It. There
was a different thrill to 1t,
II believe It Is the club that gets a
reputation for being a fighting team and
one that Is constantly on its toes that
draws the fans. You couldn't do much
last year In view of conditions which
then existed. Men had their minds on
other things than ball games. But start
ing In next season I hope 10 have the
Yankees fighting all the time"