<P> The war between the American and National caused shock waves throughout the baseball world . At a meeting in 1901, the other baseball leagues negotiated a plan to maintain their independence . On September 5, 1901 Patrick T. Powers, president of the Eastern League announced the formation of the second National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, the NABPL or "NA" for short . </P> <P> These leagues did not consider themselves "minor"--a term that did not come into vogue until St. Louis Cardinals GM Branch Rickey pioneered the farm system in the 1930s . Nevertheless, these financially troubled leagues, by beginning the practice of selling players to the more affluent National and American leagues, embarked on a path that eventually led to the loss of their independent status . </P> <P> Ban Johnson had other designs for the NA . While the NA continues to this day, he saw it as a tool to end threats from smaller rivals who might some day want to expand in other territories and threaten his league's dominance . </P> <P> After 1902 both leagues and the NABPL signed a new National Agreement which achieved three things: </P>

When did the modern era start in baseball