Daily Kennebec journal., 1924-04-17
SEVEN TEAMS SIGN PACT. FOR
maine STATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
GARDINER MAY Be EIGHTH OUTFIT

Prospects for an eight-team baseball
league in this State frightened consid-
erably last night when three new teams
signed with the Maine Baseball Asso-
citation, as the new body is called The
meeting was held at the Chamber of
Commerce rooms and when the meeting
was called to order representatives
from eight clubs We're present. The
eight clubs at this meeting are what
usually make up the cream of Maine
baseball.
Forrest (Baggy) Allen of the Ticonic
Baseball Associations II. NJ. Hodgkins
who represents Bar Harbor; Ben
I:ouser of the local team. Z. L. Phelps
of the Oldtown outfit, w. A. Kiah and
f. Fl. Morrison OF Brewar Pat"
French Of Lewiston. d. L. Kelley of
Lisbon Falls WorImbos and Jewell
Soucie of Great Works. were the prin-
cipals of one of the most important
meetings held in Maine baseball circles
for many years. Pat" French repre-
sented the Lewiston club and was there
merely to listen and carry the idea of
the Thing and see how it sounds to the
s;riTd,c City directors. He therefore
neither favored nor condemned the
,e9cuc.
In the eVent that Lewiston cannot
see its way to enter the league. the
league officials are prepared to substi-
tute another team. Gardiner is the
most likely city to he taken on. Feli-
able reports from the Gownriver city
indicate strong sentiment for this
class of league ball aud should the
league signify it's Willingness there
ere fans there ready to make drive
for funds. No secret is made of the
fact that the league wants Lewiston.
but viii not bulge from the 5000 SAL
arN limit.
The meeting started with the usual
preliminary discussions, which wan
dered to the subject of a proposed
splitting of the gate along with the
SIS guarantee to the visiting team.
The teams We're unable to come to any
decision on this matter and the meeting
wore on, discussing the league from all
angles. A letter from Stanley st. Jonn,
who manages the affairs of the Milli-
noclets, was read before the gathering,
in which st. John favored the forna-
tion of the league and seemed very
willing to ally himself with that or
ganiZation.
William Kiah of the Brewer Easterns
dropped a bombshell when he requested
the four teams still unsigned to end
the discussion by putting their sigma
Great Works and Bar Harbor A mo-
ment of silence followed but was
broken by Ben Houser, who announced
that he was very willing to sign for
Augusta. Forrest (Baggy) allen of the
Ticonics and D. f. Kelley of the Lis
bon Falls Worumbos followed Ben to
the table and these three teams became
members of the Maine BASEBALL Associa-
tion.
Evidence of the great interest shown
in this league lies in the fact that
there were over 80 of Names big base
ball men present. representing some OF
the best that the Pine Tree state can
offer in semi-pro circles. fi'
The following out-of-town directors
and enthusiasts We're present at the
meeting: J. J. F.adie. Frank Whittier,
Harry Lord. Oliver Moses Srd. +. c.
Warren, Fred Weisterman and ID. r.
Kelley of Lisbon Falls; II. Fl. Morrison
and William A. Kiah of Brewer: H. NJ.
Hodgkins of Bar Harbor: Jewell Soucie
of Great Works: E. j.. Phelps of Old
town: Ben Houser of Bowdoin; Pat
French of Lewiston. and Forrest
i (Baggyl Allen of Waterville.
French considered very carefully the
arguments put up from all angles and
will report to the Lewiston heads. 1t
is possible that Lewiston may join and
. has ample time to do so, as the teams
of the State are given until May first
to make up their minds. Should Lew
iston be unwilling to become member
of the association it is probable that
. another team in this vicinity Will cast
! in it's lot with the league.