Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-13
JUDGMENTS

M 7 HEN the National Association OF
IVA Base Bali leagues meets next
NN time Il WIN have as one big
task the proposition Of reciasEi-
flying the leagues undor the new
pndltions OF the increased population
Nhich the census VIII show. As q matter
u fact, however In some cases the old
|iassification may be left intact and do
10 injustice. The present order requires
combined population Of 100000 for the
tass A leagues ana between 10000 and
100000 for class b. As matter Of fact,
here are leagues under these classifica-
lions that 40 not and never have had this
Bgregate population and win not exceed
under the new census. The Western
eague is one II is in Glass A. but II its
hight cities are taken together, they Will
hot aggregate 100000 population, quite. OF
COURSE. with their adjacent contributing
territory, they will II seems, therefore,
that while both the oountry's population
and that Of base bali win show remarkable
growth under the 1910 census, some Of the
task OF reclassifying may be absorbed in
the simpler dispensation OF letting things
stand In few cases as they are. to give
time for development II Is a wise move.
Of course. to cut these clothes too large,
krather than too small and then allow some
NrOom for expansion
Some loyal fan has raised the question
Of letting bright stars disappear from the
base BAH armament after years OF brilliant
iluTpination without so much as a word
TO mark their going. He suggests that at
least such man might be given special
day in base BAN when hts memory and
achievements Of the past might be stamped
on the minds OF men everywhere by some
,efsort OF impressive ceremony. The senti-
ment is a good one. Every year some
player. who has been pillar in the game
for a decade or more, passes off the dia-
mond he has helped make famous and
some seasons many such men so. This
year. for instance, there are Billy Keeler
George DAVIS and Isbell, men who have
been base ball idols. Keeler and Davis, for
much more than any decade. Why
wouldn't Il be a fair thing to hold an
Isbeli day, or a Keeier day or a Davis
day3 As the Sporting News suggests, bene-
fita are not necessary. nor, indeed, desira-
Bile, except in rare cases, but just big
day when everybody might turn out and
hurrah for this or that grand old man Of
the game
Base ball gives every promise Of keep
ing up it's end Of the general march Of
progress which this year 1910 shows.
There are more organizations, more play
ers, of course; more hope OF close COM
petition in the larger leagues this year
than ever there have been, and more OF
the big league clubs are investing large
sums in modern plants. thus paying
stout tribute to the permanency of the
game. On the surface OF things there is
every reason 70 believe that this win be
the greatest year base ball has ever
known. And there is greater peace in the
ranks and courts OF base ball than there
Z has been for some time. The annoying
problem of California outlaws has been
solved effectua1ly and the only serious
hitch with any player of consequence Is
the dispute over Kings reinstatement
After all, how certain is It that King
if he returned TO the Cubs, would occupy
the place he used TO of first catcher2
Archer has developed into one Of the
great catchers OF the game and his
throwing has shown wonderful improve
ment. king has been out of the game
for a year, Is a year older, which at his
age counts considerably; has had no
spring training. Archer has been going
steadily Is much younger than Noisy
.John and Is training up to the minute.
Off Kings powers to draw at the box
office there could be no doubt, at least
for time. but of HIS powers to excel
behind the bat as much as would be
4 necessary 10 allow him to displace Jimmy
Archer there Is grave doubt
pwyer was a good young player and
nrobably did as well as could be expected
as manager for Des Moines but Dwyer
was very foolish, to get the idea that as
I manager he was in any large measure re-
sponsible for Des Moines winning the PEN
rant. His playing helped nightly, but It Is
doubtfuI II his managerial service did. He
! vyaa more foolish when he allowed this
| idoa TO lead him so far astray as 10 refuse
! 20 play unless he got a certain sum Of
Z money which ne thought a successful man
arerAought to get Des Moines. Il is hoped,
win REGAIN aDwyer as a player, but in the
meantime the ownership. team and fans
are 10 be congratulated on getting the old
! veteran. George Davis, as manager,
Y The entrance into the Western league
Of George Davis adds one more major
league veteran to the managerial staff.
certainly this league IL well equipped in
this respect It has. perhaps, more good,
practichl base bail men at the head Of
teams than any other minor league
Cooley at Topeka, Isbell at Wichita, Pa
RonrIxe at Omaha. Holland at 81. Joseph,
Davis at Des Mones. all old-timers, ana
McGtn and Hendricks at Denver, shrewd
men in the business. This Is an element
Of strength which the league and It's pa
irons cannot too greatly estimate II is
an assurance against haif-cocked meth
DDS. a balance wheel to the league In ali
situations
That Nebraska State league will De
watched very carefully by Pa Rourko and
other Western league owners for ripening
snaAerial. Here's hoping the new orEaniza-
tlon meets with the most flattering success
its first year, so that II will have a strong
incentive to continue its life.
Good old cy Young Is coming up the pike
for hia twenty-second consecutive season
An major league company In the best Of
form ana fit for q hard seasons work.