The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-19
baseball Gossip.

According to several of the New York
PLAYERS Davis w2s not brought West be-
cause he proved in the few games he
played in that he was far from being in
condition and entirely unfit to take Babb's
place at short. Babb Is believed to be the
better man for the team. Davis. it is said.
is throwing miserably. and may not DO
asked to play another game this season.
If such is the case 1t is strange indeed.
that the New York Club should have
caused lot of fuss about player II can
not use. But the ability OF the player IN
question certainly has nothing TO do with
the controversy.
A New York critic declares that Ban
Johnson would like to see war. and says
that warfare could not make his league
any worse than it IS to-day. While the
latter statement is being daily proved
true, yet it is rot improbable that john
son would prefer peace. 1t mus be re.
what they were when the American League
made its former raid upon the ranks OF
the National. stealing stars by wholesale.
oh. no. things have changed greatly within
the past year. He laughs best VINO laughs
last, and. while the American League was
srinning last season at the ease with when
hiGh-priced men fell victims to the goide.
bait they are howLins now with anger az
seeing their league fast going to rack ana
ruin. 1t is not making any money; a
glance at the attendance figures VIII snow NOV.
draws crowd of 1900 is playing to pig
business. and you must accept the printed
figures with the proverbial grain OF SAT-,
for the attendance is given out by the cup
management. and no American League
owner is willing to admit that he is being
beaten.
the New York Nationals insisted on play
ing George Davis in the st. Louis series:
for declaration had been made that II
Davis appeared in the lineup in the Mouno
City against the Cardinals the St. LOUIS
American management would at once MAKE
application for an injunction against BOW
erman and MattIewson, with whom they
claim to have CONTRACTS which anteoa tS
those of Brush. But Brush was wise, ana
Davis was kept successfully hidden CUTIE
the Giants stay in that city.
I agree with a number Of other citizens
in their claim that George Davis is not
worth the trouble his case Is oecasionins.
Even If he were the best ball player IN the
world. he should not be permitted TO make
war between two big organizations like the
National and American leagues AND there
are men wearing uniforms to-day who can
give Davis several points, and still make
him look like three dimes. I cannot see that
his addition to their lineup has helped
that Babb had been playing better ball than
Davis is capable OF at present. for the la t.
ter has not been actively at work all
season.
There is no doubt that President Harry c.
Pulliam has the support Of every one OF the
| National League Tagnates. and the stores
| to the eIect that ne WILL De ouSttu Az an
| false. Nothing is farther from the minds
| of the club owners. Pullam has proved
; himself ruler OF ability. He has shown
; that he has a mind of his own and that he
| uses It. He has made decision which Is
! momentous. but he has demonstrated tina,
; he has backbone andZ grit enough to stand
| by what he has done, regardless of the per
I sonal consequences. He has put 1t UP to the
! National League. He has told them tha
/ whenever they wish it he is ready to steI
| down and out, so that, long as he is a
the head of the National League, it can b:
depended upon that he has the support OF
i the magnateS.