Evening journal., 1921-01-10
negro PLAYERS
IN new LEAGUE
Continental to Put Teams in
Massachusetts, Jersey
And Pennsylvania
ATHLETES TO
BE UNIONIZED

NEW YORK, Jan. i0.-George Her
man Lawson, president OF the recent
ly incorporated Continental Baseball
Association. was here yesterday in
.specting park sites for the new league
clubs which he hopes to install in or
near This city. He said that during
his present trip, which will take him
as FAR South as Richmond. he ex-
poets bo place the State franchises
for New York, New Jersey and Mary
land.
The promoter and executive OF the
new outlaw league said that three
OF the eight franchises for the eight
club league had been granted, as fol-
lows
Indiana. with the State club playing
at Indianapolis; Massachusetts,, play
ing at Boston; Ontario, playing at
Toronto. The New Jersey State fran
chise was practically clinched for
Camden, Lawson stated.
In connection with the New Jer-
sey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts,
franchises Lawson stated that he was
strongly considering The installation
OF Negro or Cuban clubs. He pointed
out that the Negro population OF Bos-
ton and Philadelphia formed a large
percentage Of the city population and
that there were at least 100 Negro
baseball players in this country who
equaled In playing skill the best
average Of the major leagues and
Yho, although they are citizens Of
the country. were barred from play
ing in either The major or minor
leagues under present conditions.
Among sites to be inspected in this
Nfafpffu xtrara fha forrnor EQdQfsqI
League parks in Brooklyn and New
ark. Lawson said II was not the in
tenton to build new parks this sea-
son where former parks were avail
able and that the Continental League
would purchase parks and ball clubs
outright IL they were available. AZ
ter the new league Is established he
said ne favored the plan OF recruit
ing new players entirely within the
limits Of the State represented by the
club in order that the team might be
really a state organization instead OF
collection Of baseball players from
all sections Of Che country.
II a ball park Is not available In
Brooklyn, a site in Buffalo will be next
considered and il is possible that the
various State teams may play In va
rlous cities Of the State from time 70
time.
The New York State franchise is re-
ported to be held under option by a
syndicate Of local theatrical mer
whose Identity will be disclosed a
the first scheduled meeting OF The
league 10 be held in this city, on Janu-
AIRY 81. Lawson intimated that the
Cinlinenial League would sign desir-
able players without regard 10 theil
former league affiliations except thai
all major league players involved ir
the recent expose in ChicagO were au-
tOmaiically barred. There Will be nc
salary limit or limit on the number
Of players a club can carry, and the
contract will have no reserve clause
A player will be signed for one full
playing season and at the end OF this
contract will become a free agent
again.
Application has been made, accord.
ing 90 Lawson, for an American Fed
Grafton OF Labor charter for each
club. the players thus becoming
uh.onized and on a par with organ
lied skilled labor.
The president OF the new league saiC
that While the Continental League
had been incorporated less than lw'
weeks. 30 per cent. OF the franchise
had been placed, $4,000 subscribed
several prominent players signed an,
arrangements made with umpires fOl
the coming season. He refused &
give the names OF the players signed
but said-that they were from BIZ
league clubs and that others were II
line for berths in the new circuit.