The Washington times., 1906-12-30
BASEBALL.

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In reviewing Washlngton's baseball
history for 1905, the writer cannot truth
| fully begin with the old, stereotyped
phrase 20 the effect that 1T was the
most successful in the annals" etc. On
the eontrary-the Washington team. In
1865. was a distinct failure.
When the squad assembled at
Charlottesville, Va, for spring practice
there was every reason to believe that
! the. material in sight would enable the
club to do even better than it did in
1903. when. although it finished seventh
in the American League, Il was a Won
derful impeachment over 1904, and had
aroused great expectations. Despite
bad weather for preliminary training
the team got good start and for a
few days led the American League,
when the long race first began. Then
came the decline, and the slide 10
seventh place, where the team finished,
was scarcely Interrupted. That the
National Capital did nos carry of the
cellar championship was due to the
fact that Boston had a team whicE
came within one game of breaking a
worlds record for losing successive
games
Worse Than 1905.
Washington finished the 1906 race with
Il percentage OF .56l. This wa Us points
behind the Chicago White COX, winners
of the American League pennant and
the worlds championship. il 1895 Wash
mgtOn finished seventh with a percent
age Of .l21 which was 2J0 points behind
New York. the pennaut winner that
year. In other words. although its
prospects had been so bright, Wash
ingtons percentage Of Victories In Is9C
was 81 points below that of lS05-cer-
tainIy a dismal disappointment
The past season was Jake Stahl's
second as manager in tue Capital lie
might have been supposed TO have woSl
of the rough edges OF his inexreri-
ence OF the year before Also. the
men had been playing together. the
team was considered better organized.
and the naturally haphazard methods
OF the previous race should have dis
appeared. As a matter of fact. there
seemed TO be Jess discipline and team
work than in 1866, every man tried to
make a record for himself regardless
of the welfare OF the team, and in
evitable results were attained
No Teamwork.
Weak. and often brainless. batting
was one of the primary causes of the
p1or showing OF the Washington outfit.
Also. there was at times pitiful lack
of knowledge Of how 20 field when un-
expected complications arose. and even
I'm ordinary cases there was not the
proper understanding between the mem /
Lers of the inheld about vino was 10
take the ball OF cover a base.
The pitching stan didn't deliver the /
81
ana unexpected blow. Sudhofr and I
Wolfe both proved rank failures and T.
were early rclcgated TO the minor /
leagues. Tom Hughes did good work /
only in spots. Kitson started fairly /
well, but his arm went back on him 1
just at the TIME me was expected TO be 4
most useful.
Patten was the only man who won /
more games than he lost His return |
20 life after his weakness in 1905 was ?
rather remarkable. and he deserves the /
thanks OF all the fans in this city. /
Falbenberg had sheer good luck In many
OF the games he won. If things had /
been breaking the least bit badly for /
him his showing would have been very
poor Through some strange freak Of /
fate. the DAYS on which he was at his /
worst ana could be hit by a blind man 4
" Hf-r just kltt QdNE on men the " a-tl- f
ingtUn batters happened 10 knock the I
opposing tWirleTs out of the box, and {
this peculiar coincidence was respOnSl- Z
bic for much of his success. Smith is (
a youngster OF promise and with bet er /
support next year should do better. /
Base Hopes on Cantillon.
For 1861 Washingt0n's baseball outlook /
is good. Jake Stah has been succeed /
ed by Joe CaHtillon, who was so sue /
CessfuI as manager OF the Milwaukee /
Brewers, pennant winners ia the Amer Z
lean Association. He has the repula-
tlon OF being able to develop teamwork 4
something on the order Of the victo- /
rious but lamentably weak Citing White 4
Sox In the brief time he has been /
in control this winter he has shown 4
keen eye for a trade and abund- /
ance of the nerve necessary in sue /
cessful sporting man. It will be up TO /
him 10 strengthen a pitching stan waich 4
consists entirely OF uncertain quaint {
taS-Patten. FalkCnbeTg. Hughes. and /
smith II he accOmplishes this he VIII .
be doing wonders in Itself.
\ young and haTd-hitung catcher
must be obtained. \ second baseman 1
who can hit harder than Schlafiy would I
help. Charley Jones is a wonderful
20 a man who could bat around 2go, I
Charley Hickman Is a slugger OF parts J
in right, but his sticking is not over |
reliable. and he might be supplanted by /
a steadier man. Stll, Hickman is I
mighty apt to be here all next season, /
despite foolish rumOrs OF him being /
waived to the minors
Slahl may refuse TO play in Wash /
ington next year, and in that case It !
viii be up TO CantillOn 10 find a first
basemen. If ne can I'LL all these present /
vacancies and weak spots Joseph will /
be hailed as the real thing in base
ball managing-too good 10 remain in 1
Washing on,