Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-05
PLAYERS NEEDED
BY CAGE TEAMS
Lack of First-cIass Men Is Big
Drawback to Eastern
League


THERE is little for basketball fans in
this city to enthuse over when the
Eastern League is up for discussion.
That Is. so far as the Phillies are con
cerned and unfortunately for the entire
league In many instances. The moguls
had compact six team circuit for
years, and apparently the expansion into
an eight-club circuit was poor move.
The biggest drawback to the game Is
the lack of first class players. Man
ayers are willing to pay almost unheard
or salaries. but players are not to be
had. Years ago the best in the busi-
ness could be secured for five or six dol
lars a night, and even less, but today
figure.
Were the Phillies able TO secure a
Few. decent players, the best bas-
ketball city in the world would not be
a joke as at present. The Eastern
League for years centered in Philadel-
phia and when It composed half Of the
teams, they were the happy days. The
rams saw real basketball and knew the
players, something not in vogue today.
Trenton Way In Front
Trenton continues to hold first place.
The Potters have now run off thirteen
straight victories, new league record,
but the first half is not settled by any
means. Camden Is not yet out and
Scranton will have something to say .
Since. Sunny" Deegler Joined Reading
the Bears have won four straight and
haye managed to get In to the first d.
vision.
What will become Of the, Philadelphia
team will in all probability be made
known. in. a couple Of days. And in the
meantime the New York situation Is a
center Of comment. Those on the in {.
side predict the Celtic and Giants will
cobine and that the. team to play at
the Garden will be the Eastern
Leaguers.
II the Celts were to retire it would
put enough first class players on the
market to make several Of the weaker
teams pennant contenders, and the
games would be more interesting. Up
to date only q few contests have resem-
basketball, and an awakening is anx-
iously awaited by the fans.
Terminal and F7eisher Tie
With three weeks already in the back
ground In the Philadelphia Manufac- :
turers' League, Philadelphia Terminal
Division =. II. r. and Fleisher are still
on top Of the heap, each with three vir :
tories out Of the same number Of starts.
Both leaders have classy quintets, and
to date have shown marked superiority
over their rivals.
Keystone Telephone, Monotype and
Art Loom have capable teams, and with
the institution Of the 1.-TWO nom en-
ploye" rule should be materially
strengthened. Dobson is struggling
along with younger material, although
it's former stars are still working at
the carpet mills. Factional troubles
have upset the former champs. Ameri-
can Railway Express and international
Harvester are unquestionably the weak
teams Of the circuit.
Passon, Gottlieb and Black and
Twentieth Century divide first place
honors In the American League, and
the sporting goods five, although new
team, Is picked to win the pennant by
many, although they are considerably
outweighted by the majority of the
teams
Several close games are expected to &.
night. The p. G's tackle East Ger
mantown. which crashed into the select
column last week with n sensational
win, and in the other game Merrill meets
Broadway. Manager Van Austin. of
the cycle five, was disappointed at last
weeks reverse, and hopes to get started
again this evening Mt the expense of
Marty Wolfson's team.