Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-02
National League
To Celebrate Its
Golden Jubilee

1NcW 1OTk, req. l-(by A. ~
Club owners Of the National league,
basebalrs oldest circuit. will go back
to the cradle Of their organization to-
morrow to celebrate the start Of the
fiftieth year Of its history.
They will meet in the ancient par
Tors Of the old Broadway Central
Hotel, where on February 2, 1876, the
National league was born with rep
resentatives Of clubs in Boston
Brooklyn. Philadelphia, Hartford,
Conn.,, Chicago. Cincinnati. Louis
Louisville have been replaced by New
York and Pittsburgh in the present
circuit, but the other six charter
members still hold franchises, al
though therer have been some breaks
in their membership.
Tomorrow's meeting, a prelude to
the mid-winter business meeting Of
the magnates Tuesday. marks the
| official opening Of The National
leagues golden jubilee and is only
| one Of series Of commemorative
events planned. The jubilee celebra-
ton will eliminate in an elaborate
| affair in February. 1926, when the
semi centennial date Of the leagues
existence will occur.
Minutes of the first meeting Of the
| old National league shed an interest
| ing light on the aims Of the club
| owners Of that day. Two Of the OBJ
jects OF the league. as it was formed
half century ago We're ito establish
and regulate the baseball champion
ship OF the United States" and a
| provision that mo club shall be ad-
, mitted from any city whose popula-
| ton is less than $4,000. except by
unanimous vote Of the league"
I Formation Of the National league
at that time was prompted by a
group OF baseball men who broke
away from the national association
OF professional Of baseball clubs.
A resolution was adopted "lamenting
the abuses which have insidiously
crept into the exposition of our ma
tional game and regretting the un-
pleasant differences which have
arisen among ourselves, coming out
of an imperfect and unsystematic
code"
; The National league, the resolution
| further set forth, was formed with a
view Of relieving ourselves from the
incubus of such abuses, promoting
harmony and good fellowship among
ourselves, of elevating and fostering
our national sport and protecting the
interests Of the players"
| Morgan G. Bulkeley, former COVER
nor of Connecticut, who represented
the Hartford club at the meeting, was
elected first president of the Nation
al league.
! Representatives Of the four western
clubs previously had met in Louis
willie and taken the initiative that led
to the National league formation
here.
John A. Heydler. present head OF
the National league. has taken a
prominent part in arranging the
golden jubilee plans, in cooperation
with a committee Of club owners, in
GLIDING William Veeck, Chicago:
Barney Dreyfuss Pittsburgh: Christy
Mathewson. Boston; and Charles H
Ebbetts, Brooklyn.
President Heydler has invited many
prominent figures in the National
leagues official and playing history
to attend tomorrOw's meeting, In
nor OF Pennsylvania. who first was
familiar to the game as pitcher
and later as president Of the Ma
tional league.
Old time playing stars expected to
attend include John NJ. Ward, one OF
the first pitchers to hurl a no hit
game; Peter Westervelt and Johnny
Evers. who has maintained major
, league connections up to the present
time.
Jack Manning, who played right
field for Boston in tho first Ma
tional league game. on April %. 1876
also has been invited to attend the
meeting. Tommy Bond. old Hart
ford pitcher; Alonzo Knight and
George w. Bradley both pitchers for
the original Philadelphia Athletics
also have been asked 20 be guests OF
the league.