Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-20
SPORTING C0MMEN 7.
ny ]. ED GRILLo.

John NJ. Ward for years identined
base hall. does not believe 1t possipie -.
any one 70 get a catcher's signs oy me- =.
Of field glasses operated from OUTSIDE
the center field fence and IL such thih
uas nossible saws he, he can see NJ
harm in ii.
II "a No, surprising that Mr.. ward
should not know that field glasses nave
heen used for this purpose on numerous
occasions, especially on the New hork
yro,na. hu, one wonders what sort of a
SPORTSMAN Mr. Ward is if he SANCTIONS
~ oh,ainiro of the signals in such
manner.
uad AR Ward been elected president
OF the National League he wouid PROD
ably have sanctioned such me'"ous anu
thereby killed the game.
There is a whole lot of dtnerence De-
tween getting the battery signs from INC
coaching lines because the catcher ia's
to hide them properly and setuhs .nem
BY means of field glasses from OUTSIDE OF
rho grounds. The one is legitimate the
other crooked. Mr.. Wards theory mat
both the curve and the fast balls are
| tipped Off to the batter is also incorrect
| for the modern system. as III vogue vi.
one of the American League groumus 20.
season, was only 10 sisHdi "hcn s'e AoS
Rut Mr.. Ward does not consider this
unfair thus showing that the National
League magnates made no mistake when
they elected Tom Lynch In preIerance "
Ward TO the presidency.
| There have not been many instances
| where ball players have retired from
the game while they were stih able 70
| hold their own in fast company. Cy
Young undoubtedly contemplates sucn a
step in the near future, notwithstanding
the fact that he refuses to make an an
lnouncement to that effect. and If he does
quit the game at the end OF this season
4 he will be one of the few who got OUT
i while they could have remained.
/ There is nothing to Indicate thai
Young's major league career Is at an
end lie has pitched the best ball OF any
year. and he is probably capable OF pitch
| ing good ball for several more years to
come. There is not chance for Young
to 60 to minor league when his big
league days are over. Once he gets ready
/ on his farm will be the result
| Fielder Jones furnishes the most recent
case of a man quitting base ball before
his days of usefulness are At an end.
| Before Jones there was McPhee and
Mike Grimm, but there are but few In
| stances. for as a rule the players stay
until they are driven out OF IT,
| II is doubtful IL there il a player in
either major league who. by reason OF
long drives has been responsible for as
many victories for his team as has Jack
Flynn of the Pirates. Something like
| fifteen games have been won by Flynn
with a home run. triple or wo-bagger
/ this season. q record which is really the
/ most remarkable and shows the young
| ster to be of the right sort. since he does
his best batting in the pinches.
! II is. of course. to be supposed that the
best minor league material Is purchased
| long before the drafting season begins
and yet there have ben FEW instances
| where clubs have picked up most valu'
| able players by the draft route.
Occasionally players arc eligible to the
draft even after they have been pur,
chased, for the agreement Is found faulty
a draft is sure to get him. Frequently
| i; has happened that club has refused TO
sell one of it's best players. and has taken
| a chance on his not being drafted. and In
this way several good ball players have
come into fast company.
II pays to take chances in base ball.
and as it cost nothing to put a draft In
| for a PLAYER unless you get the man
there is nothing to be lost and everything
| to be gained.
| Stanley Ketchell is said to be in a bad
/ way and will probably never be able 70
| fight again. This was to De expected
/ for Ketchell has been associated With q
| class of people that were sure to cause
his undoing physically. There have beer
| all sorts OF rumors afioat concerning
Ketchell and his habits, and IL was nc
doubt found that when he tried 10 gel
himself in shape to fight Lang that ht
can no longer get himself in lighting con
dition.
Ketchell has been going at a fast pace
ever since his defeat at the hands OF Jacl
Johnson, and II Is questionable indeed, i
he is able today to make respectapi'
showing against fighters Of the Papk'
type.