Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-25
FINAL BATTLE WITH DETROIT TIGERS TODAY

that the National League has had any
thing resembling a first-class scramble
for the pennant. Baltimore. Brooklyn.
Pittsburg, New York and Chicago. IN
turn. have at times had monopoly on
first place almost from the start until
the end of a season. Chicago is still try
ing to maintain its record of the past two
seasons. but thus far without success
BY the way in (which the games have
resulted since the two sections began
their battles in the vest two weeks ago
il is a very difficult proposition now TO
tell which has the stronger teams. while
every team which has visited Chicago
in the last fortnight has defeated the
worlds champions. The Phillies started
the fashion in the only game they played
AT Chicago Brooklyn and Boston fol-
lowed suit and yesterday the New Yorks
got their first chance at the Cubs and
the latter lost
"Rube Waddell signed with the Union
League" That was the news given
out from Philadelphia Union League head
quarters. The new manager Of the Phila-
delphia Unions persists in claiming that
he has Waddells signature to a contract,
does 1t amount to?
President Lawson knows. and Manager
Landgrdf ought to know. that Waddell is
under contract to the ST. Louis Browns
services the courts will prevent him from
giving the same to any other club. With
the Lajoie and numerous other decisions
of recent years fresh in their memories
the Union Leaguers must know that they
cannot have Waddell unless the ST. Louis
club willing.
And there are various reasons to bank
on that the ST. Louis club will not let the
Phiadelhia Unions have Waddell. One of
these reasons is that in the interest of or
ooi1 hos hal Ind~ r.i1I
Waddell from lending helping hand to
an outlaw organization with his prestige
as drawing card. Another reason is
that Ban Johnson and the national COM
mission will compel the ST. Louis club to
appeal to the courts and stop Waddell, so
that he can he properly disciplined as a
warming to other players not to attempt
such a step Rube is reported to con-
template taking. And still another reason
is that the Athletic and Philadelphia
clubs must be protected by the national
agreement.
The attempt to overcrowd base ball is
not surprising. The attempt to overcrowd
racing was not surprising. The result fol-
lowing too much racing is so we'll known
that there is no necessity to repeat it.
Too much of a good thing always results
in disaster to the weaker sisters. The
independents. who jump in and make an
effort to detract from the prestige and
ny methods which are not wholly honor
able. even though they may be classed
Is legitimate. so far as the technfca1ity
of the law is concerned. are usually those
which are hardest hit.
This doesn't apply to base ball more
than it does to other sport. 1t he fol-
lowed since there has been any sport of
any kind to write much about
AS predicted. the Boston Americans are
proving to he this seasons fash in the
pan. Jim Mcclure has large number
of Young. fast players. and j. was no sur
prise that they stood up so we'll the first
two weeks Of the season. The older
players are slower to round to in the
spring. and. compared with the Athletics
the Red SnX looked as if they possessed
the real class when tn bell rang Now 1t
looks different. and John |. Taylor and
Manager Mcclure are husting around to
see how they can strengthen the team
which looked so good to them during the
winter and so lacking in strength to the
other managers and critics all over the
circuit. You cannot build up hall team
in year. and very likely down in his
heart MoGuir" is we'll aware of that fact.
You cannot get together an aggregation
of minor league stars and whip them into
a pennant-winning or even first division
team in one campaign. Other ma na1ers
have tried that plan in the past and II
has never succeeded. When Manager Ar
mour nrst look lOlQ or the CleVelandS he
had fine lot of youngsters. but they soon
fell to the rear. and had it not been for
the addition of La1oie. Bernhard Hickman
and Flick the club would probably have
finished the season in last place. McClos-
key of the St. Louis Cardinals sought to
get rid of his old players and replace
them with. the hest he could get out of
the minors. Last place was the finish of
the Cardinals. and they ara still adjoining
that position this year. On the other
hand 1t is just as bad to stick rigidly to
old-tmers as it Is to introduce too many
youngsters. Jimmy McAleer, Jimmy Col
Inns and Muggsy McGraw were managers
that discovered this fact. 1t is the club
that works it's youngsters in gradually
having men of experience in the ma jor-
ity. that stays the closest to the top.
A]l-High Tiger Game Cancelled.
Owing TO a MISUNDERSTANDING about the
date, the annual game between the all
high-school team of this city, selected
by committee Of Washington alumni OF
Princeton University, and TIE Tiger
freshmen will not be played this year
This contest has been an annual feature
CT local scholastic athletics for the last