Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-24
The OMAHA SUNDAY Bee
OMAHA SUNDAY, OCTOBER "A 1909.


1890 1870 NAak -
LOT self-protection, would refrain from il.
The Bee has taken this position before,
ana It believes the reasons that actuated
" on former occasions exist and are more
patent today than ever. Events OF the last
few weeks OF the base ball season fur
nished ample evidence for the argument
mat a manager makes a serious mistake
whichever he let's a player know that he
has been sold. The effect. too often. on
the player rs bad. II is not necessary TO
so beyond the membership Of the Omaha
team to find a fragrant example. one
very flashy player whose sale to a big
league team was heralded far and vide
dropped from a batting average Of far over
800 and a splendid fielding and base run
ming average to the mediocre class and
wound up the season rather an ordinary
player than the real star he was and had
been throughout the season. Other such
examples are not lacking in the Western
league. OF course, all players are not at
fected the same way. Some don't allow a
promotion to affect them, but ball play
ers are IKE the rest Of the human family
and some prove too lame to resist the
temptation to yield to the subtle spirit OF
indifference under such circumstances, feel
Ing that they have a record TO fall back
upon and that will carry them through.
II this very Omaha player had put up the
game before his purchase that he did
after, his purchase would never have come
about. And then there are other reasons
that should commend themselves to own
ers and managers for adopting a more dis
Greet policy with reference to the exchang
Of players. and the wonder is that It has
not been adopted long ago.
Wagner and Cobb compared in the recent
worlds series about as well as twoSsuch
stars under the same conditions might be
expected TO compare. Wagner batted .s75.
Cobb .2s1. Wagner stole six bases. Cobb.
the marvel Of speed, two. phe comparison
is all against Cobb, and many fans have
concluded on the basis Of the showing the
3yo men made that Wagner is far and
Eegay the better ball player; all OF which
Eubtless is true. and nobody seems to
Recognize that fact more readily han
Cobb himself. Before the series began the
Ftoung Tiger reproved a friend for compar-
Ping him with Wagner and after the series
had got under way he expressed the wish
tina he might one day become as great a
player as Wagner. But a word Is to be
said in Cobb's favor. especially as to the
matter Of base running. the department
of the game in which he is so far ahead
L d any OlutT maj III inc AmtItCdn iedbhO
It Is a notable fact tha Detroit's catching
department is not strong and that in
every one Of the three worlds series the
C.catchers have been decidedly weak on
Sheir throwing. Or the other hand, Glib
Son Of P%ittsburg wal at his best during
the recent battle and his best means as
good as there is, for Gibson throws with
adadlypprecision and is as great a catcher
RS exists. Manifestly this gives Wagner a
tremendous advantage, It is seriously to
beN doubted II Wagner would have stolen
six bases had he been running against a
catcher Of the Gibson class. and the cir
substances OF the case force the question.
might not the results have been reversed
had Gibson been behind the bat for De-
troit and Schmidt or Stanage FOR Pitts
burgY' But, OF course. a seasoned Wagner
Is a better ball player than a growing
Cobb and that is not disparaging the
young Georgian in the least.
What does the winter hold for the West
ern Lacquer That is a question OF prime
interest. II the invasion on the part OF the
some American association teams should
transpire by spring then the fate Of the
Western Is a reorganization: IL this in
vasion is delayed a year the circuit out
here wni, in all probability, remain intact.
without Wishing 10 uiSAuIu LII SNuhAi
brium Of the base ball world to the det-
riment OF the game, Omaha hopes for
the INVASION and the sooner the better.
There is no reason why it's intimate re-
sults should be other than beneficial. The
base ball world is a big one and Is grow
ing ans there Is enough patronage In the
cities that would be invaded to go around.
omaha's interest, OF course, is selfish. 1t
wants 10 get into faster company, where
Il belongs. II has been on a water tank
circuit long enough.
A phiiadelphia writer asserts that had
the athletics won the American league
~spennant they would a defeated the
Pirates for the worlds championship. The
same writer contends that Detroit has not
been the strongest American league team
IN any OF the three years 1t has won the
remnant. And there n something to his
argument. Hugh Jennings could have won
the b~ennant this year with either the
Athletics or Boston, IN the judgment OF
aome OF the Nisest base ball men. But
he happened TO AVE Detroit and that In
the popular mind. Is, why Detroit won
And the reason why Detroit has not won
IN any Of the three clashes with National
feag,,e teams. simply is that It's callber
was 4 little lower than even Hugh Jen-
nings could raise 20 such q high level
one OF the big events of the week was
comiskey's employment OF Hugh Duffey
AZ manager OF the White sox. 1T Will be
biRhly appropriate for the old Roman to
dedicate that miiiion-dollar park next
spring with a pennant-winning team. It's
about time for another Cubs-sox worlds
series. anyhow.
Clarke IL looking for another first base
man since Abstein fell down In the worlds
series. Somehow, We couldn't help feeling
. little shaky about that name. BY the
way, Pittsburg hasn't had q permanent
first baseman since Kitty Bransfield left
II would do well to get Kane back
Ty cobb's modesty IN expressing the wiah
that he may some day be equal to WaE-
ner has nothing 20 do with the wish he
IS said 20 have expressed 70 President
Navin. that he might be given a salary
equal to wasner,s at the beginning OF
next season
II they do set into the ring It should
be understood that both jeff ana Mistah
johnson cease talking az least while the
fight is In progress.