Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-13

OMAHA. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. isos.
y AL CHASE and WINE Keller stand

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under the limeiight at present as
the positive and negative forces OF
IL base ball, the two extremes. Dur
ing the week both men have
cropped from the lineup OF New York
Americans, but now how different the con-
ditions OF their elimination Chase, an err
ratio star at best, jumps the team to which
he had obligated himself by a four-year
contract. with half the time yet to run, for
no better reason than that matters Of man
agement didn't 60 to suit him. Keeler, one
Of the most wonderful players that ever
donned a uniform. great at all times and
a real star for nearly a score of years. asks
10 be dropped from the pay roll because
Il can no longer give you a run for your
money" There you have represented the
two schools Of base ball players, the one
that honors and elevates the game. the
other that dishonors and degrades IT. the
one that helps the hard lot OF the man
ager, the other that makes his lot almost
unbearabie. Keller. even at the end of his
career of usefulness, will be missed and
amourned by base ball fans. while Chase,
in the zenith Of his youth, should be read
out Of organized base ball once for all. He
never was manageable, has always been
-overrated and has jumped his team on two
former occasions. He now says he will go
hack to the outlaws to stay. Why not take
him at bis word and force him to keep It?
The National and American league pen
nsnts are still in doubt. The Giants ap-
pear to be the Cubs successors as the
National league champions. but Chicago
and Pittsburg stin have a fight
ine chance. but only a fighting chance.
The remarkable stride New York has
struck and unflinchingly maintained since
those three straight defeats in Chicago,
eoes'a long way toward c%inching the argu-
ment for Muggsy McGraw. Detroit looked
for q while like 1t would drop from first
place in the American race, but of late
IL has done better, and yet not so good
that it can claim the flag over either Chi
cago. st. Louis or Cleveland. Cleveland,
of course, is not picked as a real con-
tender The race probably lies between the
Sox, Tigers and Browns. No matter who
wins in either league the result is worth
while and will be a great boon to base
ball Any time the winner of either bis
league can't be named up to the last three
weeks of the season. it's a time for base
ball magnates to shout.
Sporting Life contains a good portrait
OF Louis Heilbroner, the scout who bought
Raglan and Aubrey for Cincinnati. II
ranks this genial little veteran of base bal
as the man who has placed more young
sters on the road to fame in the last few
years than any other man. AS a iudg'
OF ball players Heilbroner is as good al
they make EN-. For the last two years HI
has been scout for Cinci, though he actet
in the same capacity for several majol
and minor league teams before. and wa
for a while business manager for the 81
Louis Nationals. Mr.. Heilbroner Is tn
man who said out at Vinton Street parl
this summer that the Western league wa
the fastest class A league in the COUNTRY
New York went to Chicago and droppe
three games and then won thrice
straight. Sioux City came to Omaha an
lost three and then won thirteen straight
and that isn't all
The long-haired boy is abroad, despit
this la%tter-day revival of summer. An
foot ball threatens to beat its own recor
this year,
If the Western league msgnates will tao
another month onto the season they
make a big hit with the fans.
Let's see. is this the same Sioux Cit
that finished last in 1907? Not on your If
And the old Iron Man stands by viii
Christy and Wiltse bear the burden.
Isn't IL a shame to burn up such wealth,
as this without any base ball?
Mathewson and wlltse are delivering II
goods so far.