The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-10
BASEBALL
SIMPLY IMPOSSIBLE.
Owing to the Trouble Between the Big Leagues
and Late Training Season the Personnel
of the Teams Cannot Be Forecasted.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY
Owing to the postponerlent or the GATE
of starting on spring training trips ana the
all-round rnix-up between the National and
American Leagues. it Is impossible to IN
| dulge in the usual more or less interesting
a., spring representations about the personnel
or strength of the National League cams.
Both leagues and many clubs in them fire.
quently assert. and as frequently deny. that
they have signed this or that player. whose
services. under normal circumstances,
would belong to q certain CLUB. for IN
stance. half the recognized ST. Louis play
| ers arc claimed by clubs in the American
| League though the Individual club owners
deny that they have signed any of the men
in question. Hence it is simply impossible
to indulge with any degree of accuracy in
discussion bearing upon the playing
strength of the st. Louis club. The same
holds good with regard TO every club in the
country.
Under any circumstances, 1t Is quite GER
tain that the St. Louis club will be weak
behind the bat and at third base. McGraw
and Robinson will not play in st. Louis
next season. That much at least is as
sured. Third base must be filled and Mr..
Robinson must find a man man to do 1t.
Criger is the only backstop of class st.
Louis has. Not only are Buelow md
Schreckengost ungovernable characters, the
former Is at best n third-rate catcher.
Buelow. who has been ~titularly farmed to
Kansas City. Is a better mechanical artist
than Schreck. but quite as Irresponsible IN
every way. Just who will play third base
Is not plain. 1t is said that Lave Cross will
be sent back to st. Louis by Brooklyn. In
view OF the fact that Brooklyn has just sold
a good infielder in Demont. and Is not by
any means long on defenders of the inner
garrison, it does not seem that MIR. Hanlon
will permit Cross to go West. AS the club
stood when it disbanded last season It needs
a catcher and a third baseman. me Re
public cannot hazard u guess as to where
either will be found. Mr.. Robinson must
get capable men. and men of any kind are
hard to get just now. Even If he does buy
amount Of trouble in getting them TO sign
for a reasonable salary. owing to the pres
ent competition. real or alleged. which eX-
American League may not actually bid for
4 National League player, 1t is rumored
and stated, in newspapers that it Is doing
so and will continue. This alone. would he
responsible for 'bulling" salaries. even If
there was no actual transaction in the
market. The Republic cannot even hazard
plexion or ability of the st. Louis team
OF 1901.
There is no theory or practice of existence
S, thoroughly sound, perfect and admirably
just as the inexorabie decree which pro-
videS for the survival of the titteSt and the
destruction of the unfit in the battle of eX-
1t seems Il harsh ana cruel doGma
but ii is not any the less fcTcible and sound.
1t cannot be contravened with success. Ine
application of laws, remedies, practices and
means calculated to maintain the existence
of the unfit at the expense of the fit are in
variably followed by failure and disaster.
This is made especially plain by the appar-
ent failure of the National League, Il very
strong organization indeed. In the early
of its fight with the National Aineri-
can League Two years ago the American
Was an impoverished organization.
only in the possession of men poor
in purse but rich in ability and experience
and with 4 very able man. Ban Johnson. in
the position of President. The clubs of the
League We're and are financed by
millionaires. 1t had all the best players,
the best cities, the best Of everything In
every way that an iron-bound trust could
give it the best of it.
In one particular the National League has
been weak. 1t has not an able executive
officer. President Young, a very pleasant,
and considerate man, is its very COM
oetent secretary and treasurer. He has been
obliged to fill the position of It's President.
is regarded as unfit for such a position.
1t is said that he lacks initiative. executive |
ability end confidence in himself. He has
not inforce1 the rules. HIS failure to do SO
has resulted IN the application of mandatory |
of elective rules to cases where dis
rules applied best. In their effort !
TO maintain Mr.. Young in his difficult posi- !