Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-27
and anxious to fight for the American

and anxious to fight for the American
League pennant
One Of the chief factors in q base ball
when every member Of the team is per-
fectly satisfied with the condition and
management under which he Is to play.
And this Is the case in the ranks of the
Yankees. There has been no hankering
new men have pleased all around.
Elberfeld is so we'll satisfied with HIM
self and everybody else that he keeps
talking about the pennant fight all the
time Now this surely Is good omen.
any maybe the Kid has lost that
crouch.
Griffith has a bunch that is brimful of
confidence. and that counts whole lot
record batters on theor roster; at least,
they weren't last season. but when the
winning spirit Is imbued in ball player
he usually does greater things than geo
pie think he is capable Of.
The Yankees look good. That IL GER
tain. The team may not cop pennant;
but If THE men are properly handled and
work together they will be fighting near
the top throughout the season.
II have been in base ball. in one way
or another. for fifteen years." says Sec
rotary John Heydler Of the National
League. "and I never knew hard times to
hurt the game to any extent. People
must have some kind Of amusement. no
matter what financial conditions may be-.
and base ball is the cheapest and most
entertaining form. l remember the great
panic Of 1893. and know that the crowds
at the ball games in the National League
were just as large as ever that year. in
spite of the financial stringency. am a
printer by trade, and have been out on
several strikes. More Of US went to base
ball games during a strike than when we
were working and had lots OF money. The
reason is simple We could always man.
age to dig up quarter. somehow or
other: and we had nothing to do but 60 to
the game. When on a regular job, how
ever. a man won't lay of and lose days
will go every day that he isn't working. +"
Why borrow trouble? There will be moth
ing left Of the panic by the time the base
ball season is half over; it Is vanishing
fast now. and the times are improving
daily. Old Prosperity will be with us
again before the LIST of July. and every
body will be happy.
Napoleon Lajoie. manager Of the Cleve-
land American League base ball team.
world, will retire from his position as
the head Of the Maps next year. The
ball player has not made this announce
ment public. but he has conf1ded to- some
Of his intimate friends that this Is to be
his last year as a manager in Cleveland,
no matter where his team finishes In the
race. for he figures that the cares Of
management are hurting his playing. and
he prefers to remain the star player of
the league rather than a leader.
There has been much criticism Of the
Frenchman as manager. and the fact
that he has not been able to win a pen
nant with the team he has had behind
him has worried him not a little. In a
letter to an intimate friend this spring
Larry made the statement that this
was to be his last year as q manager, no
matter whether he was successful In win
ming the championship. He still thinks
that he has many more years Of useful
ness on the diamond, II he takes good
care of himself and rids himself Of the
burdens of leadership.