Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-23
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

After Investigating the rumors that the
New York club was again operating a
signal tipping bureau on its grounds. Ban
Johnson offers a reward of $500 to any
one who will furnish evidence that such
practices are countenanced by any club
in his league.
There have been doubts in the minds of
those familiar with the expose of the
bureau of the New York grounds last sea-
son, as to the value of the rumors that
the signs were again being tipped of this
year. The warning was sounded at the
last meeting OF the American League in
New York The club was caught red
handed. and could not offer even a good
albi, but the league did not want to have
any further notoriety about II, so drop
ped the matter on the promise that 1t
would never happen again. But 1t must
not be supposed that there was lack
of evidence on that occasion.
In the first place. Gene Mccain con-
fessed to Joe CantiIlon that he had
operated the bureau. 1t was after Nc
Cam had tipped Cantillon off that the
manager of the Washington club sat
operation of his catcher's signs being
tipped off. 1t was Cantillon who gave
Jennings the Information which resulted
in Trainer Tuthill confiscating the wir-
used by Mccain in his nefarious work.
That was the evidence which the Ameri-
can League had before 1t last year, but
which it refused to act upon.
1t is no wonder that Ban Johnson
rushed east to investigate when rumors
reached him that signs were again being
tipped on the New York grounds. for a
promise had been made him that it
would never happen again, and with it
the pledge that just as soon as 1t be-
ia oil 70 1n CxAIy
will be dethroned for his connection with
the affair, and that cannot be done unless
the Highlanders get down In the race.
That cork was not substituted for
rubber In the base ball used by the
major leagues for the purpose of improv-
ing the ball. rather than for economic
purposes, stands to reason. The manu-
facturers of base balls reap harvest
every year. and while 1t Is not generally
known. it is a fact that they furnish
both the National and American Leagues
all the balls they can use for nothing.
They are donated to the league. which
sells them to the clubs at $15 per dozen,
which goes into the leagues general fund
to cover current expenses.
The manufacturers can do this to ad-
vertise their goods. Each club averages
about thousand balls season. SO the
manufacturers give away sixteen thou
sand balls for the sake of having the
reputation that the major leagues use
their balls. What is more, the Spalding
and Reach balls are both made by the
Reach company. The only difference in
them is that the Spalding ball is stitched
with red. while blue and red are used in
the Reach.
The claim that the substitution of cork
for rubber has increased the batting Is
not carried out by the averages. which
show that just about the same percent
age OF players is hitting three hundred
or better.
1t has Always been claimed that
competent scout can earn his salary
several times over without ever getting
a ball player for his club, but BY just
preventing the club from buying a lot
Of material it cannot use.
Dick Padden. in whom Manager Nc
Aleer has every confidence. is that kind
every youngster he sees. but when he
finds a player that he thinks will do it
is pretty near cinch that he will
make good.
Padden has had years of experience.
He was player Of note. who held the
reputation of being heady. and since
he has stopped playing ball he has
never lost that reputation.
While the lead of the Athletics is still
quite comfortable, the team is not going
now as it did few weeks ago. not
the fact that 1t has been
winning regularly. But the Athletics
are not scoring many runs and 1T was
only because of the inability of the
White Sox to hit their pitchers that
they did not lose more games to Duffy's
team.
Mack's team may win the pennant.
but IT Is not going to have the easy
sailing that many of its admirers fig
ured for it, Boston is coming along
very smoothly. and while it is hard to
see how Detroit can possibly regain
lost ground. Boston seems to have
grand chance.
In the National League Pittsburg is
coming with a rush. With Wagner
again among the 300 hitters, the pitch |
ers doing improved work and Jack
Flynn back on first, the Pirates are
not out of the running by any means. |
The Cubs have a fair lead. but the |
Pirates are known for their spurts, and !
II they go well from now until the |
finish they stand a grand chance OF
landing the pennant again. 1t is only |
that this team has played up |
to it's true form. and there Is every |
reason for believing that 1t will con- |,
tinue to do SO to the finish.