Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-27
'RASE BALL IS A GAMBLE,
SAYS BILLY EVANS
Gives Examples in Cases Of
storke, Sullivan, Turner
and Johnson.
BY Billy Evans.


sample Of this truth.
Young in years. strong In physique
nan OF exemplary habits. Storke was
,.otea on as a mighty valuable asset by
,,a,.eer Griffith of the Cincinnati club
snrface conditions made 1t seem as II
s,o-re was destined to be a star fol
ANY wears. Yet the Great Umpire de-
,lares this young player out. long before
!. has reached the position which his
,biI,ty entitled him to.
clarke Griffith must have felt mighty
hsaly when a message was handed MIN
announcing the death of Storke. That
,oungster of Storke's ability should pass
.ray lust as his worth was beginning tc
.s.srt itself was, indeed, tragic. That
,he Cincinnati club should lose the serv-
ices of a player for whom they had paid
fancy price without getting single
,sturn was also a severe blow to the
owner of that club as we'll az Man.
arer Griffith. who is directing its desti-
MES.
Evidently Manager Griffith was very
sveet on Storke, for last winter he put
through deal with the st. Louis club
whereby he acquired the services of the
former Crimson star. Fans will remem-
her that Griffith traded Second Baseman
and outfielder Rebel Cakes to the
Cardinals for Pitcher Fred Beebe and In
fielder Storke. At the time the deal Gre
ated a great deal of comment as to
who really got the better of the argu-
ment. The final consensus of opinion
seemed to be that it was a pretty even
trade Griffith was satisfied, so was
Bresnahan. and the fans of each city
having implicit confidence in the men
directing the affairs of their favorites
we're also content.
The unfortunate death Of Storke. how
ever, gives the Cincinnati club consider
ably the worse of the deal. All that
Griffith Cow has to show for Higgins.
corridor and cakes is one player. Pitcher
Fred Beebe. While Beebe is unquestion-
ably high-class pitcher, it can hardly
BE said that he balances the ability of
the trio of former Reds. Griffith took d
chance, put through the deal he desired.
believed he had acquired two men who
would help the Reds considerably toward
tie championship goal, and before he
even gets a chance to demonstrate the
correctness of his judgment, the grim
reaper spreads cloud of gloom over
tie entire affair
Storke with his robust health, good
labits and ability might be classed as
ore best bet, a sure thing, to use the
rar,ance of the race track Griffith
sambled on him and lost. In his death
credit to the big leagues ever since
lie graduated from the college diamond
10 the professional ranks. The Cincin-
natl club Loses a clever player whose
AGILITY would undoubtedly have helped
the Reds to many victory on the ball
lots OF the National League.
While the Cincinnati fans are in gloom
over the death of Storke, Chicago fans
are much exercised over the condition
Ct Billy Sullivan, the star catcher of the
White Sex. For some time Sullivan's
condition has been critical, due to blood
poisoning caused by stepping on a rusty
nail and while there now seems no doubt
as to his complete recovery. still there is
some question as to when he will be able
10 get back into the game, and play the
high-class ball of which he is capable.
Just step to thi.4k for a minute what
calamity it would have been to the
Chicago club had he not survived the
unfortunate accident. Without doubt Sui
Ivan is one of the greatest catchers in
the game. 1t would be well nigh impos-
sble to figure out his real worth to the
Chicago team. Back three or four years.
when the Chicago team was composed
largely Of veterans, the absence of Billy
Sullivan from the ranks always created
lavcc to the team in general, and worked
10 the especial disadvantage of the White
Sex pitchers. This year it seems as if
lie White Sox will be made up largely
Of young blood. Consider then, if you
can by comparison, what Sullivan's pres
ence means to the Chicago club of 1910.
il would be a blow from which Owner
Corniskey would be long time recover
ing.
Three years ago had the Cleveland
Club cared 10 place that wonderful little
kaortstop. Terry Turner. en- the market,
lie would have brought an almost fab
ulous sum. Turner. however. was not for
sale. He was getting a princely salary
from the Cleveland club but the owners
cared not-all they desired was a pen
nant-WinnIng team. Just when Turner
looked at his best something went wrong
WIN his arm. for two years this great
player was little or no value to the
lJSsi9.e for him To- play, one of the
games best shortstops has been shifted
u second base, il being hoped that the
snort throw will not bother him.
year or SO ago that youthful phenom
o. pitcher, Walter Johnson. while play
IlS game on the coast during the off
season was struck on the head by a
lifted hall. For Il time it looked as If
MS playing days We're over lie recov-
a. az MS taSs SEASON johnson suf-
lcieI an injury 10 his arm that was re-
b3totd al ilrst as very serious. The husky
!ounsster fooled dame fortune each time.
recovered old-time form and bids fair to
NAVE a great season in 1910.
II Johnson was placed on the base ball
market he would bring at least $1,000,
WIN any number OF clubs anxious to Sc
eIFe him, Considering the two narrow
escapes the Washington club has already
Ihu WIN the youngster, one would think
"ould grasp an opportunity to dis
tos" OF him for so large an amount.
o. the owners OF the Washington club
are good sports like most OF the men
uasK OF various clubs, major and minor,
chance
6sse ball is truly one big gamble, with
me element of uncertainty always play
ing prominent part. The sport is not
gamble alone to the club owners but
,seh more so to the players. You often
lsar people remark how soft 1t Is for this
VI mat man to get such a big salary for
20 Attle work Well, 1t is fairly soft as
,2hg as YOU are free from accident, but
~ payers In demand. the men who can
ger the money. are the players who take
..ahees, men who do things The lives
,sl get the money while they are good.
IN base ball.
"a, naa players and club owners are en-
sa, Ecu 10 all the filthy lucre they can
- IL IS a precarious business in every
sas' ana the men in it deserve all they
W. get, for they take long chances to