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The 1925 Baseball Season Commences To-Day.

The thirty-fourth programme of the Baseball League will be begun to-day, May 5, 1925, with a full slate of fixtures featuring all 88 teams across the four divisions.

The sport continues to rage in popularity throughout the kingdom, and although not approaching association football in any but isolated instances, certainly eclipsing that of cricket, at least as a sport for spectators. Last season saw yet another high mark for attendance at League baseball matches, as almost 34 millions of “fans” streamed through the gates of the various grounds of the clubs. It was the eighth consecutive League season for which a gate record has been set. The optimism of clubs for continued success in turnover continues unabated, leading many clubs to have increased the capacity of their grounds. Chesterfield, winners of the EOI Cup for the first time last season, have built grandstands all round the pitch at Saltergate and can now boast the third largest ground in the League at almost 30,000 seats. Accrington Stanley celebrated their promotion to the top tier by doubling the size of Peel Park to 10,000 seats. Leicester City, Lincoln City and Portsmouth have all added capacity as well.

The League has also arranged for Second Division clubs to join those of the First Division to conduct their spring practice in Portugal, and have been negotiating with the ruling Democratic Party as well as with President Gomes for the construction of additional practice sites for the additional 22 clubs. While the final terms are still in discussion, there will be sharing of current facilities which have been used by top flight clubs since before the 1922 season. This confirms the move to full professionalism for the Second Division, by dint of creating another six weeks of obligation for players which now extends to 27 weeks throughout the year. This move also alleviates a problem of inconsistency from year to year as clubs who trained in Portugal as First Division clubs suddenly found themselves out of luck for spring practice abroad the next season after having been relegated. As things stand, there is no discussion of including Third Division clubs in Portuguese spring practice as the modest finances attended to that level simply prohibit such relative extravagancy.

Speaking of Chesterfield, the club may have formally ascended to the top of the game as their hoarding of splendid young baseballers during the past several years may have finally come to fruition. Even though they were outplayed in last October’s EOI Cup tie, having been outscored by Walsall by the margin of 52 runs to 23, Spireites finished far more strongly in September than did Swifts. This rise to the top seems to have been confirmed in Portugal this spring as well, as Spireites won sixteen of the twenty four practice games whilst Walsall lost as many. Such circumstance does not always augur in-season form and results accurately, since spring practice is also a method by which reserve players are assessed for suitability for inclusion into the season squad; however, this play of Walsall’s does raise concern. Swifts’ vulnerability has been predicted for many seasons now, however, all of which have come to naught. It remains to be seen whether this season will be any different.

In the Second Division, a few London clubs appear strong enough to contend for promotion this year, specifically the Fulham and Chelsea clubs. The Cottagers are relying on the pitching pair of Wrenn and Pujara to put them in the top tier for next year, while third base man Kirk is seen as the linchpin of Blues’ chances for advancement this season. The Watford club, who rose to the Second Division prior to last season but showed mediocre form once there, are nonetheless seen as a dark horse candidate for promotion. Other top contenders appear to be:— The Wednesday; Leicester City; Blackpool; and Sheffield United.

There are no London clubs seen as strong contenders to reach the Second Division from the lowest level’s Southern Section, as the top clubs appear to be Swansea Town, Gillingham, and Birmingham. The Third Division’s Northern Section will probably be led by one of either Hull City, erstwhile EOI Cup winners, or New Brighton.

The most significant change for the 1925 season is the implementation of the qualifying match among clubs drawn level for promotion or relegation at the end of the season. This will take the place should two clubs finish level for the final spot; should two teams finish with the same record at the top or bottom of a table, there will be no need of a qualifying match and both teams shall be crowned co-champions and advance forthwith to the next level up. One qualifying match has been played, in 1912, when Bolton and Everton finished level for the second spot of the EOI Cup series. Bolton won the match, 5 runs to 4, and went on the win the Cup outright.