Pace Set by Number of Teams Past Season Too Speedy–New Ulm Dropped Out.

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BALANCE IN

TREASURY $561,

ATTENDANCE 50,046

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New Ulm Again

Probably Member if Player Limit Is Cut, Says J.P. Graff, Who Attended Meet.

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A slower brand of baseball than that played during the past season will rule the Southern Minnesota league in 1926 of the board of directors which held its final meeting of the year at Owatonna Sunday has its way. With it will come a reduction in the outside player limit, probably to allow two or three non-home men instead of five as was the case this year. That the league as it went through the 1925 season cannot maintain the pace another season was the sentiment of representatives of all league towns except Albert Lea. Delegations of the Tiger club favored a wide open policy, allowing nine outsiders if desired. Albert Lea would not support slower ball, was the contention.

New Ulm Willing

If the speed is reduced New Ulm will probably be a member of the1926 loop. Dr. J. P. Graff, head of the Brown club was present at the meeting and declared that his organization would undoubtedly be willing to again take a Southern Minny place if the number of outsiders was reduced. The club withdrew early in the second half because it did not believe it possible to compete with such clubs as Mankato, Albert Lea, Rochester and Faribault, each of which had a team playing weekday ball. Agreeing that the pace was too fast for the league, Mankato representatives at the session suggested that the five mile limit be eliminated and that each team be allowed to draw men from the entire county in which the home city is located. Definite plans for cutting down will be made at the first meeting of 1926, to be held in February. All were of one mind on the point, however, except the Tiger club.

Balance in Treasury

The league closes the season with a balance of $561.88 in the treasury, which will be prorated among member clubs with the exception of $20, which will be kept in the treasury for incidental expenses during the winter season of inactivity. The association had a balance of$3.52 a year ago. All club representatives declared themselves well satisfied with the past season excepting as to the number of outside players used. Next year will find practically every club ready to again take a berth, delegates declared. Attendance at games this year exceeded by nearly 6,000 the total at Southern Minny tilts last season, despite the fact that seventy games were played last year and sixty-three this season. The total for 1925 was 50,046, while last year 44,335 witnessed the contests.

Brown County Journal,

October 9, 1925

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