Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-02
GOOD SEASON ENJOYED
BY SANDLOT ATHLETES
Basket Ball Grows in Popularity, Base
Ball Is Better Organized and Foot
Ball Is of Higher Caliber.
+ Y Y1TH basket ball increasing

w YITH basket ball increasing
n in popularity. sandlot base
NV ball teams better organized
foot ball teams of caliber
higher than usual on the
field and participation in track ath-
letics greater, 1926 was a big year for
Washington's independent athletes.
Although basket ball and foot ball
commanded a deal of public interest,
it was the sandlot base ball that really
assumed first place in the independ-
ents' activities. Despite reports of a
decrease in interest in the so-called
national pastime among the youth of
the Nation, base ball among the sand
letters here appears to be growing
steadily and healthily.
I For some years Washington has or
ganized its sandlot base ball splen-
didly, but in 1926 it's league cham
pionships and struggles for city lau-
rels were conducted better than ever
before. Again the Capital City
Lea sue's numerous divisions went
through well contested campaigns to
sectional titles and the fights for di.
visional laurels were brilliant affairs
that attracted numerous fans.
The twilight leagues outside of the
Capital City pale also enjoyed most
successful seasons, and their conten-
ton for the all-leagues' title was a
worth while event.
Main interest, however, was in the
struggle for supremacy among the un-
limited mines of the Capital City
League. Seventeen of these teams
fought through the lengthy season in
three sections, with honors finally
going to the Knickerbockers in section
A, the downtown Rialtos in section B
and the Auths of East Washington in
section c.
Kniclks Again Triumph.
In the finals the Rialtos handily
disposed of the Auths, but bowed
to the Kniekerbockers. Playing
on the field at Washington Barracks
on September 26, the Knicks knicked
Gutenberg. Rialto hurled, for 10 safe
ties and clinched the title with a 7-to-2
victory. 1t was the Kniekerbockers'
second straight triumph in the cham
pionship series and their thirteenth
without loss in league contests.
Much of the Knieks' success
throughout the campaign was due to
the fine slabbing of Chase and the
strong batting of Taylor and Jenkins.
In the insect division of the Capital
City League the Kid Kelleys swept to
the championship, clinching the title
was more bitter in the midget division,
In which the Auth Midgets finally tri-
umphed. There also was keen scrap
waged in the two sections of the junior
division, where the, Corinthian Juniors
section A victors, at last gained the
crown by downing the Aztecs.
Five mines fought in the Intercity
League series, conducted by the twi-
light circuit not affiliated with the
Capital City League. They were
Fashion Shop, Commercial League
flag winner after stirring warfare
with the Printers; Pullman team of the
Terminal Y. NJ. C. A. League, General
Accounting Office of the Government
League, Public Buildings and Public
Parks of the Potomac Park League
and Postoffice OF the Departmental
League.
On September % Fashion Shop gar
nered the championship by pummeIing
couple of General Accounting Office
pitchers and winning, Il to g. Claude,
who did the hurting for the Haber-
iashers. limited the Accountants to
hits.
No Unlimited Champion.
After the Knicks won the Capital
City League unlimited title, they were
| challenged by the Fashion Shop team
to battle for city championship. No
series was played. however. as the
Knfcks decided to disband for the sea-
son after completing their league ac-
tivities.
Several leagues did not enter any of
the city series, although they had
staged entertaining races. Prominent
among these circuits was that organ.
lied by teams of Washington banks.
In this Bankers League Riggs tri-
umphed after a spirited fight with
American Security and Trust. A senior
league In Petworth also went through
good season.
While Washington sandlot mines
scored a fair amount of victories in
clashes with Maryland and Virginia
teams. 1t was the Union Printers that
again brought the sandlots of this
city into national prominence. En-
gaging in the annual tournament of
the International Typographical
Union Base Ball Association, at st.
Louis, the District Typos swept to
their fifth successive championship in
this circuit and gained fourth leg
on the-iarry Hermann Trophy.