The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-01-05
HAS PALM
FOR HARD LUCK

Nap La5oie Is the hard luck man
ager OF the baseball world
This was the consensus of opinion
OF the different owners and managers
at the recent meeting Of she major
leagues in New York.
With anything like an even break
OF luck the Cleveland club would have
won the pennant the last two sea-
sons. yes. possibly, the last three sea-
sons" remarked Clark Griffith, former
manager of the New York Americans,
and the new leader Of the Cincinnati
Reds.
There is one man who has had
more than his share of hard luck, but
he has always been in the fight" con-
tinued Griffith. And considering what
he has had to go through, 1t was
enough to drive any manager off the
boards forever. 1 have had my ups and
downs in baseball, but they cannot
compare with What Larry has had to
go UP against. X.
"Just think Of having team the last
four or five years that was picked to
win the pennant by the winter dope
sters. That is usually the case but you
did not notice Larry making any pre-
dictions. I always feared the Cleve-
land club, and they were mighty dan
gerous at the start of the season.
When the outlook was rosy one or two
star players would be injured, and at
ter that the team would be broken up
repeatedly with accidents to his good
men. But Larry clung steadily to the
grind and never gave up.
Look at my chances last spring but
my team blew up. Larry started the
season with the services of Flick, and
then accidents happened to Turner and
other men Yet the Maps were only
beaten out By half a game for the pen
nant. This was due to pluck and
lighting all the way. They always
say that Lajoie is no manager and
cannot handle his men. Well, by this
time, ] believe critics will give him
credit for some things he has done.
One OF the greatest stunts was the
developing OF Perrin and Birmingham,
ana / think that they are two great
stars right now.
.'Do you want me to tell you the
greatest trouble with the Cleveland
team? It is the lack of fight shown
by some of the players, although /
must admit they certainly made grit
ty finish. Now say, had they shown
the same spirit all season, why they
would have just logged under the wire.
1t took Lajorie some time to insttll that
lighting spirit, but when once in the
playing they could not be stopped. That
is why tIelook for Cleveland to be in the
race for the pennant in 1908, for the
players will know how to fight and also
keep their tempers. Let them go into
every game with that never die spirit
and you will see club called Cleve-
land run away with the rag"
New York has more than enough
big league players to start a league all
of its own. Under contract and re-
serve to the Yankees may be found 81
players. Manager McGraw has under
mis- banner 46 more These 81 diamond
experts would furnish an eight club
circuit of an even dozen players to
each. with one left over to act in the
capacity of president.
The majority of the new material to
be found in New York's major league
clubs have been picked up by draft
and purchase during the late season.
Taking the Giants we ind that there
are 1S pitchers, seven catchers, IL
infielders and nine outfielders. Many
Of these. of course, will not even eat
breakfast in select company. They
win be used in deals and swaps before
spring training, rolled around or turn
ed back to tho clubs from which they
were taken for further seasoning.
McGraw will take bunch Of the
youngsters south, of course. 1t is a
good gamble all his backstops will take
the junket. to Texas. Since he let
Roger Breshahan escape his net, Nc
Csraw will have TO do some tall hustling
to round out the efficient receiving
ability that characterized his teams of
recent years. Schiel, the former Red
catcher, Is good, but not az good as
Roger. Outside Johnny king, Bres-
nahan, is easily the best In the league.
Needhani and Snodgrass, who were
with the club all last year, as we'll as
Joe Meyers, Curtiss and Cocash, will
be given every encouragement. Cocash
or Curtiss might figure in dicker.
McGraw has heard too much OF the
american uSSOCldtIOM star 10 pdFtsWltu
Meyers.
There will be q fine chance for some
of the young giant pitchers to butt
into the limelight. Mathewson, Ames
and Wiltse Of the veterans, alone look
capable OF delivering the goods. Gran
dali showed promise last year, and
should be good in 1909. Leon Ames,
who finished SO strong last fall, is all
most sure Of place. Joe McGinnity
and Luther Taylor seem to have al
most outworn their effectiveness. Much
Is expected Of MarQuard and Durham
as well as Bugs" Raymond, acquired
from the Cardinals,
The other youngsters who win be
weeded out to one or two, at the least,
are Beecher, Kiefers. Paige, Welmer,
Mckinney. Rapp Tor capron). Waller
Heller and Holmes.
THE n. n r. TEAM WON