The Washington times., 1902-01-05

bne sifGIttOE.
With the inside ranks Of their formerly
impregnable organization torn and dis
rupted; with what secmed at first glance
puny adversary in command of all
or nearly all-of the very best baseball
players, could it be possible that anyone
eonvcrsart with baseball should surmisc
that the magnates of the former great
mogul of baseball. the famed Ma
tional League, could see before ii a happy
new year?
Far be il from ne to suggest such a
probability. The National League will
have no merry boisterous season of 1902
As a follower OF baseball in all the years
during which baseball was baseball,
must say that the National. to which all
OF the players and the multitude of fol
lowers oi the game were so loyal, has al
last succeeded in killing that fabied
goose, a task which the B,asnates have
apparently had before them for four
years past, and now what are they going
10 do about it?
Has rindc ~ Fool Of Itself.
The situation is this: The National
League has made fool OF itself. 1t had
all the chance in the world. 1t had
everything its own way. 1t owned base
ball in this land as surely as the Rookie
lciIers own the oil combine.
Had there but been a Rockefeller TO
pour some Gil upon the waters Of discon-
tent before the surf had subsidized into
pitigtle fcanl, something might have been
saved. But there was no Rockefeller
The men who had the reins We're not
builders. but wreckers. They didn't want
tn League to succeed. They were looking
after tine interests OF We. Us & Co.
And all the time the little giant was
getting to be a big boy-he was getting TO
be great. big giant. He has arrived. He
is now 1t. OF course we mean the Anleri-
can League.
Ned HanIOn's Change of Mind.
Not long ago l had the pleasure of an
hours conversation with Ned HaGlon. the
brainiest manager who ever ASSUMED con-
troll over a baseball club and one OF the
hest players who ever donned the shoe
with the steel plate riveted to the bot
tom of it. And Hanlon knew.
Il told you year ago he said 10 me.
that the American League would never
win Cut. l thought so at the time, bu.
! didn't know then what l know now. At
that time the National had the American
beat 10 4 finish. We had them dancing on
gridle and we were shoveiing in the
Goals
But now?" / suggested.
Said HanIou: Now it is different.
There are some people whose names
-. 4.
think as much of baseball and of the Ma
ronal League as they do of their own
selfish interests. The League at this min
NE" (ar9 this hasn't been so very long
agcl doesn't know Just where it is at.
The American Has Becn Busy.
Enough of that. though. That is simply
part Of Hanlon's opinion, ard my expe-
rience with Hanlon is that Hanlon knows.
As for this little giant - the American
League. While the dogs of the National
are fighting over the bone the American
is not only getting away with one bone,
but with many bones and also with some
sincws which made the National the real
giant Of the days which have gone from
!, and the days which, to a clear headed,
f2r-sccing mind will ne er return to IL.
The American has swiped practically
ell OF the good players in the land. The
raid upon thai once fameUsly strong bat
Ting club. the Philadelphias - in which
raid Washington has shared-has left the
remnants of the hard-hitting Quakcrs
looking like few dead flies on a sheet
of last summers hypaper. And so with
New York. And SO. more so. with ST.
Louis. the club owned by Frank De Haas
Robson, prince of good fellows and one
OF The very best baseball men in the
country Until he came under the baneful,
ipH Of Tp;,p },
ana the Honorable Mr. Freedman.
Birds Have Flown Away
But Robson team has gone away from
him 10 the American League. And the
team of Rogers ct al has gone away from
Ihen!-also to the American League And
The team OF the one time celebrated triuIn-
virate, Conant, SGden and Billings, OF
Boston, is fast taking the same popular
flight. Then there is New York. and
there might be mentioned also Cincinnati
and Chicago. and some others. They have
all last some OF their birds and the
birds have all fitted in the same direc-
zion.
BROOKLYN sin Has Two Stars.
And now for Brooklyn. Inroads were
made early in the season which made the
Brooklyn people pause. think, spar Tor
wind and then launch forth into the minor
leagues - treated outrageously, by the
Way. by The big League in its inexcusable
abrO@aJion OF the national agreement
or Di mics TO I'LL the SHOES of the giants
OF he green diamond. Two men Brooklyn
siiil claimed for it's own-two men than
whom there afe no TWO better ball play
ers IN the country. l mean Joe Kelley
and Billy Keeler.
baltimore May Get Even Them
saw McGraw. Of The Baltimore Ameri-
can League team. not few days ago AMI
he gave me TO understand that Kelley
world play for Baltimore this summer;
risat he would play first base. which would
give Donlin his chance TO stay in left
field, where lie belongs. Three hours later
net Kelley and joe told me that Kceier
would play whore he played.
Are YOU going to play in Baltimore"
was thrown at Kelley.
Did Mac tell you that? ." he asked
told him that McGraw had told me no
such thing. but putting fourteen and If
teen together. ] wouldn't be surprised if
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