The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-25
MAKE A POOR START
But the Minneapolis Team Is Safe
to Finish in First
Division. -
Management Is Still Trying to Land
a Good Man for Third
Base. .#~.

The baseball season is now fairly on in
the two major leagues and the American
association, but it will be at least a month
before it will be possible to get an accu-
rate line on the respective strength Of the
clubs. Minneapolis made a poor get
away, losing the first two games to Kan
sas City by decisive scores, but there is no
reason to change the original estimate of
Wilmot's team. There is a weak spot. but
this will be filled before long by an ac-
ceptable man., If not by a star of the first
magnitude. . +'.a.. g.. .--. -. -
Good examples of the fact that early
season success or failure does not always
last can be obtained from the records of
all three leagues last year. Chicago. after
leading the American league for more than
half the season, went to pieces and fin
ished fourth. Philadelphia, after running
in the ruck for months, came up strong
and captured the pennant. In the National
league Chicago made a runaway race from
all Of the clubs except Pittsburg, but the
colts finished outside the money. In the
American association, Columbus had
things all her own way for a time, but
could not finish better than poor fourth.
This year Cincinnati, picked by many to
win the National league pennant, has
lost five out Of the first six games. 1t is
a safe bet that the reds will land in the
! first division. -
form in the games to date, but their past
records are sufficient guarantee that they
will deliver the goods when the season is
fairly under way The rest Of the team
shows up strong in fielding, with the ex-
ception Of third base, and reasonably good
In hitting. The team may not be pen
nant winner, but it is a pretty safe pre-
diction that it will finish in the first di-
vision.
Ford. ;the Minneapolis amateur, pitched
for Indianapolis against Pittsburg, and
made a hit with Barney Dreyfuss, who
said he looked for Ford to be big league
star within two or three years. The In
dianapolis Journal hands Ford the follow
ing bouquet: -.
''Watty's young find. Pitcher Ford, COM
manded the respect and admiration Of the
enthusiasts the four innings he was on
the rubber. His position in the box and
his swing In delivering the ball won him
many friends and it was frequently re-
marked that he had the earmarks of
National league star. '-rr,. -
Ford never pitched professional ball be-
fore. He is a young college pitcher and
comes from Minneapolis. He will be given
a thoro trial, and judging from his work
so far. he has good chances of being on
the regular 1903 staff of twrlers''
IF Toledo fans expect to see pennant
winning team in Toledo this summer they
are likely. to- be disappointed. I have not
at any time claimed to have.a champion
ship team altho such statements have
been credited to me-" said Manager Reis-
ing. 1T is too much to expect man to
come into a. town.. take what is practically
a green team and make it win the pen-
nant the first year, I think if Toledo fans
count ton1 a two three. four team they will
be satisfied rat the end of the season
Next year? Well, that is another ques-
tion.''
The following table shows the strength
OF; the American and National league clubs
IN batting, fielding and base running, as
suming that the players all duplicate their
last years records: