Evening journal., 1910-11-02
Showing of Athletics Has
Questioned Older Leagues
Superiority
LOTS OF YOUNG
BLOOD In AMERICAN

so many hard knocks that It is barely
alive I'm the Empire State, and the
new football rules that put premium
on speed and a discount on Drawn
have given that game the most thor
ough shaking up it has encountered
in years.
There was some warning of the fail
ure of Jeffries to come back, but the
Cubs we're genuine surprises in their
new speciality. They we're not regarded
as unbeatable, but not even the most
partisan enthusiast anticipated that
any team could win three games from
them in a row.
Athletics Show Well.
The splendid showing of the Ath-
letics and the ease with which they
conquered the National League cham
pions has revived interesting com
parsons for the fans to discuss this
fall and winter. The principal ques-
tions that are considered in these de-
bates are
Is the American League now
stronger in playing talent than the
National?
Which league possesses the more
pitching strength?
Has the National League slowed up
this year because too many veterans
were permitted to hold their jobs on
account Of past performances?
Are conditions in both leagues as
represented by the two pennant win
ming teams? In other words, are the
Athletics a representative American
League team and are there no teams
I'm the National superior to the Cubs :?
Some Have Improved.
Taking up these various questions,
one by one, there is room for many
excursions into branch arguments.
Undoubtedly some teams in the Ma
tional League have improved in the
last two years, but when individual
and team comparisons are made the
johnson organization shows up with
more stars who have been made" in
the last three or four seasons, while
the Lynch league is thickly sprinkled
with the veterans who are just able
to get by, who never will be any bet
ter, and many of whom showed un-
signs Of minor league ten
denotes last season.
The pendulum Of pitching superb
ority and star development makes one
full stroke about every seven years.
One might think that with the scout
system in the major leagues, teams
would be recruited up to full strength
from year to year. However, many
are called and few are chosen. Fur
thermore, an experienced veteran is
allowed to hang on after he has out
lived his usefulness.
see RetrOgressiOn.
Keen observers began TO see signs
Of retrogression in the National
League early in the season of 1910
For some weeks the Giants, though
playing poorly, were in second place
and close to the lead, and at the time
that fact was regarded as remarkable.
The Giants stayed up there because
other teams in the league were play
ing poor ball, also.
McGraws men were at their best
when they played the Highlanders this
month. Their victory was no fiuke.
They simply were hitting, and
Mathewson was pitching a better
brand of ball than he had previously
exhibited during the season.
The crushing defeat of the Cubs
has confirmed the opinion of persons
who Yentured last summer to call at
tention TO the waning strength of the
National. 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
battling. Undoubtedly the second di-
vision clubs in the National Leaeue
have been strengthened. The Brook
lyn, Boston, St Louis and Cincinnati
teams played far better ball this year
than last. But above fifth place there
has not been a corresponding i'm
provement.
The swing Of the pendulum is regu-
lated by the average length of a
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 Americans teams.
built up about stars taken from the
old organization, far outclassed the
wrecked outfits of the National.
All-star teams were thrown to-
gether in a day, while teams that had
been perfected at the cost of time.
heavy expense, and careful manage
ment were ruined as quickly. In 1901
st. Louis. The invading American
League took seven players from Don
ovan, and the Cardinals have never
been in the first division since.
In a few years, however. the vete-
rams began to fade away and in the
meanwhile the National League.
through necessity. had been forced
to dig up a lot of new talent This
I fnI sr, a..
dulum of playing strength. The ris-
ing stars soon were firmly fixed in
the baseball armament and all the
time the worn-out American League
veterans were being replaced.
"Has-Beens" Out.
Players who started with the Amer
ican League in 1900 and 1901 have al
most all Joined the has been" class.
] Charley Hemphill, of the Highland
ers, Bobby Wallace, of the Browns,
and Napoleon Lajoie are noteworthy
exceptions. Hemphill played with
/ the Boston Americans in 1900; Lajoie
/ joined the Athletics in 1901 and Wal
lace jumped to the Browns after the
season of 1901.
The new crop of National League
stars included several who are still
playing good ball. One was Arthur
Devlin, who joined the Giants in 1904
Wiltse came In about the same time
Devlin and Wiltse now are considered
old-timers and although both still are
young men and playing good ball they
are approaching the crest Of their
careers and soon must start down
hill.
Developing many crack pitchers in
these wears the National Lea ono e,ai,,