Evening journal., 1922-02-02
CAMDENITE FOR
ORGANIZED BALL
Suggests New League With
Wilmington as Playing
Member
OLD TIMERS
DOUBT SUCCESS

Edward NJ. Higgins. Camden. y.
J. real estate broker. writes to the
Sports Editor Of The Evening Jour
nal requesting an opinion on the
formation OF a new baseball league
which would include Wilmington
and New Jersey cities in this sec
ton. Mr.. Higgins letter in part
reads:
"A few weeks ago I attended a
meeting held for the reconstruction
OF the old Tri-State League. am
convinced that a circuit OF this kind
would not be a success because OF
general conditions and because OF
the fact it would extend over too
great an area for a Glass B League.
II I remember rightly. wilmington
was 10 have been represented. but
no one was present from your city.
Acting In conjunction with local
sportsmen, I am trying to form a
New Jersey State League, or a league
20 be chosen from nearby cities with
D populations ranging from 10000 TO
about 100000. This would include
such cities as Trenton. Hoboken, At
lantic city, Wilmington, Chester
Camden. etc. Either a six or eight
club league would. 10 my mind, be
feasible think that II could get
a few wide-awake men in each town
interested in this project. we could
start the ball rolling. I am assum-
ing that each city has an available
and up-to-date ball park. ."
Mr.. Higgins also calls attention 10
the shortness OF the jumps between
the cities named He feels that II
the affairs OF the proposed league
were put into able hands and carried
out economically and wisely it most
likely would result in a stable minor
league Organization.
Old timers in the game know that
baseball on a larger scale. especially
league ball, was seldom a payinf
proposition in Wilmington. II Is mol
fair TO judge from the bygone sea
sons, however. as the sport publ,
may have an altogether different at
titude today. The Sports Department
OF The Evening Journal would lik
TO see Wilmington represented in
real circuit, but believes that presen
n conditions would not warrant an al
e tempt. Perhaps II would take tn
better part or a season to get N
public interested sufficiently 10 sur
:, port a big team. and whether III
interest could be promoted is yer
doubtful.
: II seems now more than ever tina
.s Wilmington fans have their inter
= est centered on local teams. Tn
: following for team representativ
: OF the city would have 20 be draggel
away from the clubs. II this couil
8 be done the question would be an
u swered, but the fans seem firmly So
!. for one team or the other in th
local aggregation OF clubs The,
y have community, neighborhood o
e club favorites in whom their inter
s est is centered.
= Then again in the past few season
J. independent and industrial teams
e many OF them from the outside
= playing in Wilmington, furnishe
e better baseball than could be ex
~, pected in Glass B or better. tn
a makeup OF the clubs was stronger
i or course this brand OF the nationa
% recreation can be expected as par
J. OF the coming summers prograI
II and league ball would have 10 com
= pete with IT,
Last, but not least. is the quesuo
d OF an enclosed playing field. Their
are two in Wilmington. Pennsy Fiel
= and Harlan Field. both privatel
owned. Are they available? This
beyond answer. although it is unde
stood that one OF them is not. viii
the other would require the erectio
, OF stands before fl would be sui
able.
All in all, The Evening Journi
10 Sports Department Is in sympath
with organized ball for wilmingto
u, but is doubtful concerning its SUI
II cess. There are very few among II
lv sporting men who would risk bacl
In ing a club in this city as a buslnei
!, proposition.
o Perhaps some OF the readers wou
N like to voice their opinions on n
subject. They may do so throue
\. these columns. The Journal wou
- like to know how the sporting pu,
- lie OF Wilmington feels about havir
=, organized baseball here with quite
or few in other cities wishing to inclu'
no 81 in a league