Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-31
Cage Game Made Great
Comeback During 1920;
Commission a Failure;
Many Little Leagues

BASKETBALL during the year just
- closing was elevated to the plane
on which 1t rested prior to the war
in at least one respect. the number Of
big professional leagues that once more
sprang into existence. The East is
the hotbed of the cage sport and no
where does one observe the interest
displayed hercabouts. One of the en-
cOuraging factors was the remarkable
growth of basketball in the vicinity OF
New York. where the public has taken
TO the game and crowds Of 5000 to
10000 are witnessing Sunday night
contests in the armories.
The "big wheels" in operation were
the Eastern, Penn State. New York
State and Interstate, the latter cover.
ing New England. The professional
bodies were few compared to the
smaller leagues. A number that we're
compelled to dsband owing to the boys
being in the service were revived, and
with the advent of September, there
we're more organized basketball bodies
doing business than ever before.
Camden Was Supreme
Camden captured the highest honors
in the Eastern League. The Shooters
did the unusual in winning both the
first and second half titles and only
one club gave them opposition. That
was Germantown and the suburbanitcs
managed to split even with the title
holders on the season.
At the start the Camden management
was in a Quandary for forward. as
Friedman and Scdran refused to com"
TO terms. but Roy Steele imported
newcomer in James ("Soup'b Camp
4 FROM IpmpStpOH IN
The new arrival proved real find,
and under the coaching of Bill Kennedy
and Roy Steele developed into SEN
sational player. He led the league in
points scored with a total OF 2I1 for
twenty seven games, and ninety -one
of these were field goals.
There was one change in the circuit.
North PhiIlies dropped out after two
months and the place was taken by
bridgeport, Conn. League basketball
was new there and it failed to pay and
proved a bad move on the part OF the
magnates. 1t was necessary Tor the
local players to lose an entire day in
making the trip.
Form Cage Commission
During the season there had been so
many disputes about players playing
IN several leagues that a movement was
launched for the formation Of cage
hody on the same order as the national
baseball commission. Tn" idea ap-
pearpd to be n good one and the organl-
zation was formed, but already has
practically fallen through for lack OF
a responsible head. ,
At various times Germantown and
philadelphia in particular appeared
with a club composed of number OF
1 thnir -
forming elsewhere. Germantown and
Philadrlphia were practically stripped
of thc best players. The three leaders,
Camden. Reading and Trenton, re-
mainpd intact and with veteran teams
had littlc trouble in taking com
mandng lead.
De Of the drawbacks Of basketball
| is that il is worked on too small q
scale. When the commission held it'
first meeting il was agreed to post /
| sum of 500 as good faith money OF
October |. This figure was ridcu'
| lously small il the body was TO m"nI
| ANYTHING. But the Penn state League
never made its deposit,
After two or three wranglcs, re
lationS became strained and a brcaI
| WAS imminent. When tho br"Acl
finally arrived Eastern League mOgul
| were lnIOTIHtU lIdt NV NNuN' 'hSNNl
had nothing nt stake, as they haC
never posted any money, therefore th'
National Cage Commission was hardl!
ever a reality.
Little Leagues Prosper
All the interest was not Centrrcd II
the professional cage circuits. Durinl
the war the cage sport was KEEP. gOnl
through the efforts Of such we Icon
Quoted bodies as the American anc
Northwest Leagues and the smaller
wheels are now in full blast.
In this city more than one dO2er
leagues are playing regular schcd
ule Of weekly contests and all the citie
in the East have industrial organiza
tions and other club teams in organ
lied circuits.
The teams playing independent bal
are among the hundreds and through
out the nearby states some Of tn
small towns boast OF star quintet
that are every bit as proficient as tn
professional leaguers. In the vicin
ity of New York the fans do nc
relish league ball, but prefer TO Sc
two good Independent clubs playing. =
'.-. " = " !.