Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-25
OMAHA PROBABLY
OF AMATEUR BALL
Midwest Base Ball Association
May Be Started Soon;
Local Managers Scout.
+ ing Players.
BY WILLIAM o. BLOzIES.

by WILLIAM y. BLOZlES.
That the Midwest Amateur Base
Ball association. with Omaha as
headquarters, will be launched with
in the next few weeks seems almost
certain. although no immediate ac-
ton has yet been taken.
However, the officials of the Mu-
nicipal Amateur Base Ball associa-
tion are in favor of forming this
new association.
One of the chief reasons for
launching the new body is that
Omaha in former years has received
little recognition from the other
two associations, the National Base
Ball Federation of America and the
Western Amateur Base Ball associa-
ton, the latter body of which Oma-
hs was a member last season.
The Western association last sea-
son was a cast-off OF the old Ma
tional Amateur Base Ball associa-
ton. At the start of the season last
year it was promised that practical
~ all of the cities of the nauona!
body. had joined, but as the season
was winding to a close, only four
cities, Omaha, ST. Paul, Duluth and
Winnepeg, Canada, were members.
st. Paul eliminated both Duluth
and Wiifnepeg, while Omaha, rep
resented by the Murphy-D -Did-Its,
class A city and Greater Omaha
league champions defeated the. Cor
dom Fergusons of St. Paul at Omaha
tor the western amateur title.
Plans Fell Through.
The National Base Ball Fedora
ton at that time promised the Oma-
ha officials that they would play the
locals for the worlds amateur title,
but satisfactory arrangements could
not be completed, and the eastern
champs refused to come to Omaha
for the game.
By forming a Midwest associ-
alton with Omaha, Des Moines
Minneapolis. Duluth, Denver, Kan
sas City, St. Joseph and several
other western cities it would put
amateur base ball on the map in the
west and would be a great boast for
Omaha.
Several of the directors and Off
cials are in favor of extending well
come to several Of the far western
cities, Ogden, Salt Lake City and
San Francisco.
Local officials have been nego-
tiating with number of the cities
in regard to this plan and it is under
stood many of them have expressed
their willingness to join.
An organization of this kind would
be Logical here as Omaha is large
enough to support and handle the
situation in great style. since the
Chamber of Commerce, Rotary club,
and other business and social in
stitutions took all active part in the
amateur base ball circles last sea-
son. 1t would also give the city a
larger field to work in as amateur
base ball has held the center of the
stage here for the past six years.
Directors and officials of the
Municipal Amateur Base Ball asso-
citation will hold their first meeting
of the 1920 season, probably the
first week in February, at which
time final action will! be taken.
Season Outlook Good.
The 1921 amateur base ball sea-
son promises to be the greatest
ever experienced here.
Many of the old-time base ball
players and managers will organize
teams this season. Earl Higgins,
ABE Kaiman and John Dennison
intend to organize class A teams.
The Murphy-Did-Its, last season
Class A city,|Greater Omaha league
champions and western amateur
base ball champions will also be in
the field.
Class B managers are also getting
an early start. Sam Moore, has
organized the Nebraska Power Co.
The McCaffrey Motors and the
Omaha Printing Co. will play class
B ball, probably in the city league.
Meetings of the various leagues
will be held in few weeks at
which time plans will be discussed
for the season.