BASEBALL

Evening Star, Issue 23175, 26 January 1939, Page 4

BASEBALL

MEETING OF OTAGO LEAGUE A general meeting of members of the Otago Baseball League was held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms on Tuesday evening, the chairman of the league (Mr C. J. L. White) presiding over a largo attendance. During the evening opportunity was taken by the Chairman, on behalf of the league, to bid farewell to Elder Del. M. Beecher and Elder A. Stirling, who are shortly leaving New Zealand and returning to the United States of America. Mr AVhite referred particularly to the services given by Mr Beecher to baseball in Otago in his capacity as official coach to the Otago Baseball League, and said that in many other ways he had done a great deal towards establishing the game here. Mr Stirling had been a worthy colleague to Mr Beecher, and as a member of the Management Committee, player, and coach, had also rendered good service to the league. Mr C. Campbell Dawkins (lion, organising secretary), in thanking the Americans for their enthusiasm and hard work in the interests of baseball in Otago, stated that Mr Beecher was tho first person ho had approached when he had decided to start baseball here, and it was entirely duo to Mr Beecher’s expert knowledge and his enthusiasm for the game that tho Otago Baseball League was formed and had gained such strength in so short a time. Both Air Beecher and Mr Stirling had been valuable workers of the Management Committee, and he regretted that tho time had come to say goodbye to

them. It gave him great pleasure to move that Mr Beecher and Mr Stirling bo elected the first honorary life members of the Otago Baseball League. The motion was carried by acclamation.

During the evening Mr H. Duncan, of Wellington, gave an instructive lecture on the game. Mr E. Logan (of 'Wellington) also addressed the meeting, and gave many valuable suggestions and tips in regard both to the playing of the game and its organisation. The question of affiliation with the New Zealand Council was held over in the meantime. An invitation was rccevicd from the Now Zealand Baseball Council to send an Otago representative team to the New Zealand championships, to be held at Wellington at the end of March.—lt was clecided to, leave the matter over until the next meeting. Mr B. M'Connell, sports director of 4ZB, who was welcomed by the Chairman, stated that the station would do all that was possible to help the league to establish the game of baseball in Otago. The Chairman gave a report on his recent tour of the North Island, where he stated very many teams had been formed within the last 18 months. Wanganui was outstanding amongst the smaller towns, having formed and equipped 20 teams in six weeks. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr White for his report. Two matches are to be played at Bathgate Park on Saturday—Sargoods v. Y.M.C.A., and Mormons v. Hillside.