Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-02
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Ball players who make good in fast
company are not always those who come
most touted from the minor leagues.
Frequently the individual who is really
being brought up for trial outshines the
make good.
The New York team furnishes such an
illustration. When Stallngs picked up
Jack Knight there were but few who fig
ured that he would make good The fact
that he had a trial in fast company be-
fore was held against him. and numerous
were the predictions that his stay in fast
company would be but short-lived.
On the other hand. Stallings bought a
youngster named Earl Gardner. who was
the unanimous choice of all the wise ones
who had seen him play. Stallings felt
that in Gardner he had picked up real
star. But what happened? Knight, or
whom little was expected. came SO close
to carrying off the shortstop honors last
season that the experts almost agree
that he is the best in the league. while
Gardner is not apt to have regular posi-
ton on the team next season. In fact, 1t
is said that Manager chase intends TO
shift knight to second base and turn
short field over to yOungster. named
Otis johnson, who halls from the west.
Such shift may be sivan trial, but
the chances are that Knight will be
found IN his old position next season,
for no one could have filled it better. and
it remains to be seen If he would shine
at second.
Washington hasn't a modern base ball
plant, but it is not last in the list at
that The one occupied by the Boston
National League club makes the local
plant look like palace.
With Bob Unglauo not considered as
having a chance to fill first base for the
Nationals and a deal whereby McAleer
will get Jack Flynn being rather remote.
Somerlot looks to have things his own
way, and yet there is youngSter on
the Nationals list who may be found oc-
cupying that position oe1ore the season
is every old.
McAleer is among those who harbor
the opinion that John Henry will make a
great first baseman. He can held good
he has had but little experience. and MS
hitting is improving constantly. so that
he may be q hitter before the coming
season is over. Henrys trouble as
batsman when he first Joined the team
was that he cared more to DO something
which would prevent him from striking
out than he did to hit. He did not take
the swing that batter should, and NC
Aleer started to work on him. The result
was that when the season was nearly at
hundred per cent better, and McAleer is
responsible for the prediction that in
course of time the younsster from Am
herst will be one of the best batters on
the team.
With the Fletcher third league out of
the running. the major league CLUBS are
not going to experience the trouble that
was anticipated in signing their men men;
While it is reasonable TO suppose that
hut few players would have joined the
Fletcher forces unless they could have
secured an enormous bonus. many of
them would have held the existence OF
tho third league movement over the
heads of the club owners for the pur-
pose of getting substantial increases in
salary
Fletcher got under cover just trife
too soon to suit the players. They would
like to have seen him make his blum
good for a while longer. and in the
Meantime they would have forced more
money out Of the club owners Golfers
Under existing conditions there will, of