The sun., 1919-04-27
NEW INTERNATIONAL
OUTLOOK Is BRIGHT
b
President Dave Fultz Predicts
Prosperous Year for Minor
League.
SEASON BEGINS APRIL 30
Jersey City and Newark Pre-.
pare for Old Time Gala
Openings.
ny FREDERICK @. LIEB.

william Carpenter. william Mc,Iowan.
N. J. Stockcalc. Frank Wilson.
Scott Chestnut II A Wagner
ny FREDERICK @. LIEB.
new era Is in store for the New
International League. That Is the nrm
conviction OF Dave Fultz. the newly
elected president OF the big class "A
minor league circuit. which opens its
championship season next Wednesday
in Jersey City, Newark. Baltimore and
Reading.
Jersey City is prepared to have
real old time opening next Wednesday,
when Wild Bill Donovan's Jersey
Skeetcrs clash with the Buffalo team
as an attraction. In Newark the In
dams will open the season at the old
Federal League grounds at Harrison,
with the Toronto champions as an op-
ponent Baltimore drew Rochester as
its opening card, while Bhghamton
plays In Reading.
While this will only be the second
year for the New International League,
1t really will be the twenty eighth an
nual season of tho circuit. for the old
International is the oldest minor league
IN the country. II was organized in
1s92 as tho Eastern League and
changed to the International in 1912.
Owing to the war conditions It was
necessary for the league to hold re-
organization in the spring OF 1917,
when the old league was dissolved and
the New International League organ
lied. But 1t Is practically the Same
league. Next TO the National League
this Hg minor has been In the field
longer than any other baseball circuit.
Does Not Look for Miracle.
Fultz does not look for any baseball
v,,ir orla h,,k hA tall 49,
baseball tide has changed and that
from now on the minors. especially the
International, will return to former
prosperity.
THE International League has had its
share of woes in the last five years."
said Fultx. land We had to work n I'd
last winter to whip the league in shape
90 that We could start the 1919 season
with eight well balanced clubs Hap
PLY the most difficult part OF our task
is behind US and we now see clear skies
ahead.
81 have confidence in the return Of
minor league ball to the former position
It held in the world OF sport, and espe-
cially in the International League. We
have the territory and It Is up to us to
deliver brand OF ball that will put the
league back on It's former plane.
Il do not agree with pesslmists who
say that the minors have seen their best
day and will never return to what they
were before the Federal League war in
the period between 1909 and 1913. I adj
nit that golf, tennis. automobiles and
moving pictures have cut into baseball
patronage, but that Is true Of the large
cities as well as the smaller ones. And
with the country back on a peaceful
condition I think the majors Will have
one of their greatest seasons.
Baseball Americas Game.
Baseball is Americas game and that
applies to cities Of 10000 and to cities
Of 100000 to cities Of 1000 and cities
Of 10000. The International League
was one OF the most prosperous baseball
organizations up to 1913. Many Of its
clubs made tidy profits, and when q
franchise was placed on the market II
brought real money. There is no reason
why an International League franchise
will not be as valuable again In tho
future as It was in the past Cities like
Newark, Buffalo, Baltimore. Toronto.
Rochester snd Jersey City are growing
fast and II Is up to us to provide the
calibrs OF ball that these cities will
patronize.
we will have 10 go through with q
period OF reconstruction slowly. One or
two good years will reestablish the en-
tire minor league business on a Arm
foundation. Many Of our players are
young, but they have the ambition. and
1 look for a splendid race.
IT think much of the strength in our
league lies in the managers appointed
by tho different clubs. They are alL
big leaguers. and with the exception Of
one or two managed clubs In the big
leagues think II you examine the
list OF our 1912 managers and COM
pare them with the International League
managers of the last few years you
will ind that the International League
is moving forward and is preparing for
better days.
I'm Newark We have Patsy Donovan.
who managed the Brooklyns Pirates
and Red Sox, and for years was a sue
cessful International manager The
popular Wild Bill Donovan. who had
the Yankees for three years. will man
age in Jersey City. He won the pen-
nant with the Providence club In 1914,
his last year in the international League
"Jack Dunn, the former Giant who
has developed such high class players
as Ruth. Shore and shawkey. rehAins
in Baltimore. while Charley Doom. man
aser OF the Phillies for six years, will
manage the new Reading team.
schuIte should Make Good.
"Binghamton has made very popular
move in engaging Frank Bchulte the
former Cub star. Frank is an upstate
boy. Schultz is still able 20 hit q ball.
judging from his work in Washington
last season. He will be one Of our few
playing managers.
George Gibson, the former star
catcher of the Pirates and Giants and
one Of the srnartest men in baseball. will
hold forth In Toronto. 'Gibby' will have
ouita "A task on his hands In Toronto
owing TO the record OF his predecessors.
Both LaJoie and Howiey. who managed
tho club in 1917 and 1913, respectively,
won the league championship. so Gibson
will have TO keep his team UP in the
fight TO retain his prestige. He should
make q great manager UP there. He 10
a Canadian. a likable fellow and popular
with fans and players. And lew men