The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-27
CENTRAL LEAGUE
FUTURE WILL Be
DECIDED JAN. 20
Estimate of Possible Sport In
terest Next Year Biggest
Problem Before League.

problem Before League.
The future Of the Central League
and to a certain degree Of the old
Three-Eye league will be decided at
a meeting of minor league moguls to
to be held at the Hotel SEVERN in Indi-
annapolis Wednesday morning when
representatives of baseball clubs Of
these circuits assemble at 9 o'clock.
The call for the meeting was sent
out by President I. c. Ryan Of the re-
juvenated Peoria club, which was the
result of Fans Organization called
into being in that city last week. The
Indianapolis meeting will be Of great
importance to minor league cities in
Ohio. Indiana, Illinois and Michigan,
as the future of organized baseball in
these cities will be shaped by the de-
cision Of the owners OF the franchises
that are represented.
Cities that PROBABLY will be repre-.
scented are Peoria, Bloomington, Rock
Island and possibly Springfield. all in
Illinois; Richmond. Terre Haute. Ev.
ansville. and possibly South Bend and
Fort Wayne. all in Indiana; Spring
field and Dayton, Ohio; Muskegon and
Grand Rapids. Michigan.
Calls have been sent to all the clubs
OF the old Central and Three-Eye
leagues, and to a number of cities in
Indiana, Illinois. Ohio and Michigan,
that have shown interest in getting
minor league baseball for the 1919
season.
The greatest question before the
franchise owners now is an estimate
Of the interest that fans will take in
the sport this season. and an appraisal
Of this factor will be the determining
league, it is believed here.
Some moguls fear that not enough
young men have returned from mill.
tary service and that such large
number have been unable to re-estab-
lish them in business and industry so
far. that attendance and interest,
which are intimately related to the
economic status Of these young men,
will not be great enough to warrant q
resumption of organized baseball in
the small cities in 1919.
Others, according to information re.
ceived here. argue that the interest of
young men in baseball and sports gen.
orally has been stimulated to such a
degree by army life that minor
leagues will have no trouble in at
tracing crowds to the games.
Almost all the moguls are anxious
for compact league to cut down
travelling expenses, which in the past
have cut large slices In the earnings.
This problem will be met very east.
ly, as the number of cities that have
shown an interest in the new league is
large enough to enable the promoters
to choose their territory advantage.
ously.
Peoria, Richmond, Terre Haute, in
Indiana; Grand Rapids. Mich. and
Peoria and Bloomington. in Illinois.
seem to be ready to 60 ahead with
the new league. There Is some doubt
about Dayton and Springfield, Ohio;
Muskegon. Mich; South Bend and FIT.
Wayne. Ind; and Rock Island and Mo-
line. III. Springfield, ILL.,, it is said. is
anxious to affiliate with the new
league.
The situation in Ohio is still prob.
lematical. Dispatches from Spring.
field. where the Chamber Of Com
merce is active in promoting an Ohio
league. said that a meeting Of repre-.
sentatives from eight cities was to be
held at Mansfield this week.
The following cities have been ask
ed to send representatives: Dayton,
Springfield. Lima, Canton. Mansfield,
Youngstown and GAINESVILLE. Dayton
and Springfield seem inclined to let
their franchise rights in the Central
lapse in favor Of the new Ohio league
of minor clubs.
President Marsh, Of the Muskegon
(Mich.) Club, has let it be known that
he will not back club in that city
this year. Muskegon formerly was
strong Central league city. Efforts
are being made to establish Michi-
gan state league. composed Of Kala-
mazoo. Jackson. Lansing. Flint, Camp
Custer and Battle Creek.
No sentiment has developed in fav-
or of any one man for the presidency
of the new Central. President Ryan,
Of the Peoria club, who has called the
tive interest in the formation of the
account. 1t was reported here that he
was in Chicago. Saturday and Sunday.
obtaining data for presentation at the
Indianapolis meeting.
AL Tearney, president Of the Three
Eye league. active in the interests of
the minor leagues, is also mentioned. |
He formerly was president Of the
Three-Eye league and Is regarded by
club owners as an aggressive leader |
who may put ney life into the organi. |
cation that may develope at Indianap- |
CHS.
Harry W. Stahlhefer, Of Evansville.
former president of the Central, who
announced his retirement from base |
ball a few weeks ago. is taking little
interest in the formation of the new
league, and probably will be overlook.
ed in the election.