The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-19
RACE EVENS Up
Three National League Clubs
Are Stronger by Trades.
Johnny McGraw Hates to See
Pittsburg Get Willis.
STRENGTHENS PIRATES
Moran and Sheckard Win Aid
ChicagO's Nine.
Boston Secures Batting Talent
Which Is Needed Badly.
STRENGTHENS PIRATES

New York, Dec. 19.-Close observers of
baseball figure that the three exchanges
of players made at the National League
meeting viii serve to make next seasons
National race for the pennant more even
than it has been for years. There is al
ways a difference of opinion as to which
club got the best of the other in a trade
of players, but all the managers and
baseball men at the meeting, except
Tenney, of Boston. believed that the
addition Of Willis to the Pittsburg club
will make Barney Dreyfus' team a
strong pennant factor next year. Pitts
burg's weakness for two years has been
in the box, and, with Willis added to
the staff, this department of the team
IS now almost as strong as it was when
the Pirates won pennauts. Jodnny Nc
GraW was one of the National Lea .ue
managers who did not like to see Willis
go to Pittsburg. He feels cer-aia .ISt
ne will not have so essy a time W. l.l.IIss
the pennant next year, with Willis in
the Pittsburg club, as he had this year.
Pittsburg, it will be remembered, gave
New York quite {, scare early n SeL-
TENDER, and, with another pitcher ike
Willis on the team. would have given
New York a grand argument to the
finish.
Why Boston Let Willis Go.
When Boston let Willis go the club
owners figured that with the team of
last year behind him Willis could not
win anyway, so they might as well try
to build up their team and take a chance
on the young pitchers. The club was
weak in batting, and in Bfain and How
ard they get two men who viii add
great strength to the club. A team
must score runs to win, and 4 few aClfd
drives at the right time is what was
lacking in the Boston club last year.
There were a number Of games in which
Willis held his opponents down to five,
hits or less, bu the lost his game be-
cause Boston could not score It was
the same way in Philadelphia two years
agO-nO matter how well the pitchers
worked they could not win, because the
batting strength OF the PhiIlies was not
enough to produce runs. A few good
hitters were added to the team and the.
PhillIes were the dark horse of last
seasons race, jumping from last place
to fourth. If the Boston team does not
win a great many more games next sea-
son than it did last it win be due to
other causes than the playing weakness
of the team Two pitchers secured in
the deals made, Pfefer and Linderman,
are very promising and may turn out
winners
Chicago Team Strengthened.
Chicago, the team which barely beat
the Phillies out for third place, has add
ed Two great players to its tean-MOran
and Sheckard. In king and Moran the
club now has the best pair OF catchers
in the league Sheckard, a star bats
man and great base runner, also adds
strength to the club. In making these
| two trades Chicago did not lose a man
who could not easily be spared. With
SO much strength added to the second
and third teams of last season, the high
hopes of the Phillies, a looked-for inn
prOVement in Cincinnati with Hanlon
as leader ard the Strengthening of one
of the weak teams of the league, next
years race in the National should be a
grand one.
Shettsline Is Hopeful.
Hugh Duffy was very much disap-
pointed because he could not put one
deal through at the meeting. President
Shettsline is more hopeful, and before
bidding Manager Duffy goodbye,
SHEETS" said Don't be discourag ed,
Hugh. You know there is another meet
ing in the spring, and we may land a
good pitcher before that time"
1t is hard to figure where Brooklyn
comes in on the trade for Sheckard. The
club has a long list Of players. and men
of the Briggs Casey A1alaney- Mccarthy
| calibre were not needed. It is a gloomy
outlook for Brooklyn. The reason Han
lon quit the club was because the owners
would not permit him to go out and get
the men he wanted, being forced to wor-
~ along with whatever was turned over
to him. Donovan, or any one else, for
/ that matter, can do as well as Hanlon
under such conditions.