The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-06-03
MINOR B. B. LEAGUES
REGANING STRENGTH;
NINE CLASS 'D" CLUBS

Dali league, at It's helgnt snort time
before the entry of the United States
into the World War and SO nearly
threatened with determination during
that period, is regaining its former
strength.
Baseball men have watched with in
terest and optimism the gain of the
many small leagues since the close Of
the war. They declare it is a matter Of
only one or two more years before the
small cities which in years past have
supported class c and class D organiza-
tions, again will back the numerous
leagues which formerly supplied the
majors with playing talent. The fire.
quency with which college and semi
professional stars of the past two or
three years have entered major league
baseball successfully, is declared to be
largely due to the paucity, during the
war times, Of the small leagues.
The high water mark of the minor
league was in 1914. That year, in ad-
ditlon to the two major leagues and
three class AA loops, the American AS
sociation, International League and the
Pacific Coast league, there were two
class A organizations, eight In class 3,
seven in class and q in class D. The
two class A organizations, the Southern
Association and Western League, with
stood the war shock, although at finan-
cial losses to directors. They were
joined in the classification last year by
the Eastern League and this season by
the Texas league. a.,
The decrease in the smaller leagues
from 1914 until 1918, when the minimum
was reached, however, was marked. In
1915 the class 3 group which the pre-
.yious year had comprised the central
Eastern association, Three-I, New Eng
land, New York State, Northwestern,
Texas and Tri-State league, the latter
composed a group Of Pennsylvania, New
Jersey and Delaware cities.
BY 1918 only three leagues Of this
class had survived, the Eastern, Pacific
Coast International and Texas leagues.
II was largely the vigor shown by the
Texas and Eastern groups during this
period that earned for them their pre-
sent classification in class A.
By 1920, the membership of the class
p leagues again numbered six, includ-
|. ing the Three-I, Michigan-O Ontario, Pa
cific international, Texas, Virginia and
Western Canada leagues. This season
the South Atlantic league was admitted
making a membership of seven in the
class as compared with the eight Of
1914
The class c and D groups have thus
far failed to come back" so successful
ly. Only two, Florida State league and
Piedmont league, are operating in the
class c this season as compared with
the seven Of 1914. according to Off
cial published lists. Only nine are op
Grating in the class d group as compar.
ed with the 81 Of 1914 OF these nine only
four, the Appalachian, Georgia State
Texas-Oklahoma and Western Associa
ton, have endured through the critical
years. The others now in this classified
ton are the Blue Ridge, Dakota, Miss
issippi State, Southwestern and West
Texas leagues.
Financially, however, the leagues that
have remained are on a firmer basis
than ever. Salary limits in 1914 in clas;
3 averaged s2,50O monthly; in class {
from $1,000 TO s1,400 and in class [
from $1,000 to sl,4OO. Only in 1918 die
they take 4 pronounced slump Then IL
the class D leagues the Blue Ridge lin
1t Of 5000 was the low level This sea
son. the class B salary figures rang,
from s2,50O to s3,250, class C s2,40t
to s2.650 and the Glass D leagues pa!
limit of $4,000 figure undreamet
of in 1914. The Dakota league, one or
ganization with such a limit, includes
Madison. s. D., with 4 population o
4,l44; Mitchell. s. d. s.47s and Red
field, S. D., with 1855 among its cities
Sioux Falls, s. D., Is the largest o
the cities Of the league, with a popu
lation Of 25,202. Baseball men declar
that such support for minor leagu
clubs from cities Of that size Indicate
surely that the game will regain IL
former strength throughout the cour
try, insuring for the major leagues
corespondingly higher grade OF base
ball. The table showing decrease be
tween 1914 and 1918 and steady increas
es since that year follows: