Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1937-01-29
PLANS ON FOOT
TO RESURRECT
FORMER LEAGUE
Eastern Shore League Proposed
To Function AS Farms
For The Big Leagues
POCOMOKE MENTIONED
FOR A FRANCHISE

Plans are on foot to resurrect the
old Eastern Shore League of Base
Ball Clubs. but under somewhat diff
ferent management from that which
held sway during the years the old
league was in existence. .. -.
Back in the 20's the clubs played
the game under "Class D" rating.
They furnished an excellent quality Of
ball, drew large crowds, and develop
ed some fine material for the high
er-ups in the national pastime. Not
ably among these was Mickey Coch-
rane, long with the Athletics, but now
the peppery player-manager of the
Detroit "Tigers," one Of the strong
est outfits in the American League.
The Eastern Shore League finally
succumbed. Its passing was largely
due to local rivalries; every town
wanted a winner, and the supporters
plunged too heavily in the matter of
salaries for good men, nothwith-
standing that the pay for Glass D
material was strongly defined by the
rules of the professional organiza
ton. Pocomoke City was in the cir
cult, and did well, but interest SEEM
ed to wane, when the team slumped
in it's standing.
The proposed revival of Peninsula
professional ball will, so it seems, be
considered under a new phase. The
big league teams appear to want this
section as a EARN" on which to grow
material to take the places of stars
whose luminance seems about to wane.
This section of country has, apparent
~, appealed to the club owners of big
league clubs, as good territory to es
tablish these training teams.
Accordingly, the majors have ex-
pressed a willingness to establish
clubs in eight towns: Dover, Centre
vile, fredericksburg, Cambridge, Eas-
ton, Crisfield and Pocomoke City.
Financing and supplying players will
largely be matter up to the "big
boys, the towns being called upon
for only comparatively small contri-
button. While just what this will be,
has not been definitely settled, but the
Philadelphia National League Club in
correspondence with William Miller,
Esq, of Pocomoke, mentioned a SUBJ
stantial ball park, including an enclos-
ed field, with grandstand."
The meeting of the Business Mems
Association tonight (Friday) will
take up the matter, and will have
some instructed delegate at a meet
ing to be held in Cambridge on Sun
day next.
J. Thomas Kibler is tentative presi-
dent of such organization as has al
ready been effected. He is director
of athletics at Washington College.
The fate of the new proposition will
be settled on the 31st.
With the sports relieved from pc
cuniary drain on the local fans, a club
should flourish in Pocomoke. The
two counties of Virginia contain many
lovers of the game and they could be
depended upon for a fair share of
patronage, since no club will be- in
their territory. Pocomoke has a con-
venient park, the old Eastern Shore
League grounds which would need lit
tie or no grading and a fence and
grandstand might ba financed from
advertising space on the former.
Pocomoke should be ripe for base
ball and with the majors sending big
league talent to these farms, the
quality of ball played should attract
even better than the old Shore club.
Furthermore, the players would be
kept under better supervision and con-
dition, as their showing in the circuit
would mark them as timber for ad-
vancement, or else not. Fans are
hoping club will be located here,
and from a business aspect it is also
seen as a good investment.