The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-12-01
old LEAGUE IS
GROWING SLOWER
AMERICAN LEAGUE SEEMS TO
HAVE BRIGHTEST OUTLOOK
FOR THE NEXT FEW
SEASONS.

The crushing defeat of the Cubs has
conipmed the opinion of persons who
Ventured last summer to call attention
TO the waning strength of the Nation
al. In this contention only the
strength of the first division clubs is
weighed, as they are the ones that
must bear the brunt OF interleague
f, battling. Undoubtedly the second di-
vision clubs in the National league
have been strengthened. The Brooklyn
| Boston,, ST. Louis and Cincinnati
teams played far better ball this year
than last. But above fifth place there
s has not been a corresponding improve
ment.
The swing of the pendulum is reg
ulated by the average length of ball
players major league career. This is
from five to seven years. In 1900. 1901
and 1902 the American league made
wholesale raids on the National, and
the American teams, built up about
stars taken from the old organization.
far outclassed the wrecked outfits of
the National.
All-stars were thrown together i'm
a day while teams that had been per-
fected at the cost OF time, heavy ex-
pense and careful management were
ruined as quickly. In 1901 Pat Dono-
van had splendid team in st. Louis.
The invading American league took
seven players from Donovan and the
Cardinals hnxya in,
division since.
In a few years, however, the vet
Grams began to fade away, and in the
meanwhile the National Leagues
through necessity, had been forced To
dig up a lot of new talent. This re-
suited in a backstroke of the pendu-
lum of playing strength. The rising
stars soon were firmly fixed in the
baseball armament and all the time
the worn-out American league veter-
ans were being replaced.
Players who started with the Amer
lean league in 1900 and 1901 have al
most all Joined the hash been" class. |
Charley Hemphill of the Highlanders, |
Bobby Wallace of the Brown and Ma
poleon Lajoie are noteworthy excep- |
tions. Hemphill played with the Bos-
ton Americans in 1900; Lajole joined |
the Athletics in 1900, and Wallace |
jumped to the Browns after the sea-
son of 1901.
Developing many crack pitchers in |
these years, the National league gain
ed strength, while i'm the American |
league the veterans were dropping by |
the wayside. But now the youngsters
Of 1905 and succeeding years have
grown old in National league livery,
while for the last three years every
team i'm the American league has been
recruiting. Connie Mack was the first .
to get a team of youngsters
and experienced veterans to playing 7
pennant ball
1t is probable that the wreclSing pro-
cess will hasten the reconstruction of
iome National league teams. Veterans
IF the Chicago team may get the grand
bounce sooner on account of their de-
'eat in the worlds series this year. In
lther camps the work has been going
/
making the Cincinnati team: John
McGraw has developed such promis-
ng athletes as Devore, Snodgrass,
Orucke. Merkle and Myers; the Phil
Idelphia team has retrogated because
'liques of veteran players have ruined
Charley Doom asserting
hat the Phillles never will improve
until some youngsters are put to work;
md the Pittsburg team is another ex-
ample of the folly of sticking too long
o the good old wagons.
Many individual comparisons could
20 made. Take the National league
leadliners of five years ago and figure
,ut where the pitchers now are. Ma
hewson is an exception. He holds his
.wn. But Brown of Chicago is begin
ling to slide. and so is Reulbach. Ames
md Wiltse no longer are in the front
ank.
Such great American league pitchers t,
IS Johnson, Ford, Collins. Lake,
,oombs, WARRIOR, Walsh and many !,
theirs have attained high honors i'm
he last five years. Still another older
ct. including Mullin. Donovan. White.
lowell. Plank, and a few more are
till hanging on.
There will be a great demand for
,itchers in the National league next
pring. The American certainly is
etter stocked with twirlers at the
resent time.
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