The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-14

the salary list of the Chicago White Sox
to more modest proportions.
over in Cleveland. ponahue. Flick and
several others are suffering from ampu-
tated salaries. Connie Mack is contem-
plating swiping SIC, 000 from his pay roll
in Detroit have been notified of a '.cur,''
while all of last years Senators will get
their salaries trimmed.
JOHNSON RESPONSIBLE.
And to get to the bottom of the whole
matter it is al one mans work. Ban
johnson is responsible for the reduction
of salaries in the American League. just
as he was responsible for the boost in
salaries some two years ago.
Taking hold of the American League as
a practically new hand at the game. john
SON has outgeDeraled all the other baseball
officials he has met.
On every issue he has tied up with the
National League he has come out victori-
First he declared war on the National
League and secured many of its best
players: Then he raised the salary list of
many Of the owners of the organization of
which he was president. n threatened
the National League with bankruptcy.
Next he forced the National League to
found making the National League stand
for a reduction Of salary in the American
League.
This last move was not the least strate-
gle or his clever campaign. for it means
that the American League has gotten the
benefit. not only of the war. but of the
that war.
Next year johnson probably will demand
a salary limit. and the chance are that
his demands will be granted
And some Of the best posted men in
baseball believe that johnson is now hsur-
ing on a merger of the two leagues into
one. with himself as the president Of the
league.
If Ban goes after a merger the chances
are he will get 1t. for he is undoubtedly
the brainiest man in the game to-day.
GILBERTs BEST PLAY.
Muggsy McGraw. manager of the New
York Giants. thinks there are few infieid-
ers in the country who are the superior
of little Billy Gilbert. the second baseman
on the metropolitan team. McGraw has
always been fond Of small players. prob
ably because he is sawed Of himself. A
few years age midge.s like Tommie
Casey and Elberfeld would have been
ways find a place on McGraw's team If
they are the right ca.iber.
Anson. hiYseif q big man. always
looked strong. The player was so lop-
sliced 80 ungainiy; SO stumbling that the
amy um ahb,nS he s Ell t buy n1a Ssr @as T FIn
Lange, and he turned out a wonder. But
McGraw looks to the lively. understood
Youngsters for his infielders: The Giants
spider Is not a heavy hitter. but he
makes many a timely hit and anages to
get to first about as often as the next
one. After he gets to hat perch he is a
dangerous customer. for he is a daring,
daShing base runner. and sneaks in many
stolen bases that count for keeps. Gilbert
has figured in many fast plays. and has
the best and the worst plays he has made:
The play that l crack myself up most
on vas mace IN Cincinnati last season.
ON on september IL. when the Giants were
the Giants last trip, ard We were fight
ting tooth and nail with the Chicasos for
second place, and every victory was as
the lead at the time and things looked
bright for us.
SUDDEN BATTING STREAK.
Suddenly. however. the Reds. who were
our Jonahs last year. took a batting
streek end caused a seriousness
"Dorlin had made a single and Seymour
followed with a double. They are both
fast runners and We only had a lead of a
tsr gled up matters to a dangerous point. |
We moved up our infield to head DonIin |
pr at the plate in case there was q ground
ait. Dolan came to bat and sent a short
- wv lay hCau. L SCC Il "dS u
short for Bresnahan to cover. so l sprint |
ed after it for dear life. l didn't have
much of an idea that I could nail the hall.
depend on this so 1 kept pegsing away
back was to the ball but. glancing
over my shoulder. ! caught a glimpse Of !
IT. and, with a spring and my hands out
stretched over my head. 1 just managed
to clutch the sphere. still with my back
to the plate.
Both Seymour and Donlin. thinking
no h,f uuoo r,-a' 90 g. Voo1an hraa1- r~r |
home. I tossed the ball to Babb. putting |
out ymo and Babb shot it to Lauder |
ana Donlin ives nipped before he could
Reds all up and won us the game.
SENSATIONAL PLAY.
ut may have been a lucky catch. but IL
hadn't gore after the bail and taken a
long chance 1 never would have anded it.
II figured in another triple play at the
Polo Grounds when We were playing the
Lotiis Cardinals. Bresnahan caught
2 short fly. with three men on bases. and
ehucked to me IN time to catch the run
ner at second. l snapped to Warner.
heading off the man who was on third at
he plate. We could have put out four
% me md We pinched the runner who
was on first.
There were only four triple plays made
n the National League last season and I
was in two OF them.
Il am not much of a hitter. not a long
me. anyhow, but l try to pace the bail
md once in awhile l cop out a pinch
that tells. | remember one at the
Polo Grounds only last summer that I
made in the last inning. and when we
needed a run to win. There were two out,
md all / wanted was to get to first. and
hen l had made up my mind to take all
sinds of chances on the bases. 1 shot !
he bali safe to eft, stole second on the |
!rst bail pitched and then made a break
or third on the next one. I slid into
bird, took the third baseman's legs out
under him so that he. missed the
atcher's good throw, and / amb.ed home
With the winning run.
Once I made a three-tase hit in Balti-
more. and that also won the game.
SO few long hits that when I do
a triple 1t is an event that I feel
Ike celebrating. This one was made in
he last inning with three on bases and
III Powell of the st. Louis Browns. 1t
eEt. in three runs and as we were two to
he bad l was the hero"
YotNG'S EFFECTIVE BALL
The most effective ball used by ICY"
-oung. the Boston American League won
er. is a slow ball with a fast drop. that
caves the batter with an elongated yerte-
ra when he is foolish enough to go after
: Yonre discovered the ball 6s acci-