The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-16
BASEBALL HISTORY
SHOWS REVERSAL
Comparison of National and
American Leagues Fa-
vorS Latter.

Time is the greatest Ieveler Of them
all" stated MI Wise The pendulum
swings far sometimes, and IT'S stroke is
slow, but il gets back sooner o. later.
Take IL from me. the American League
is putting up a faster game than the
National right now. Eliminate one joke
team-St. Louisiana you viii find that
Ban Johnson's organization has the
speed and the team work" writes Sid
Mercer In the New York Globe.
This wasn't the case some two or
three years ago. Then the National
played the better ball because shrewd
managers rad welded together teams Of
star players These clever teams are
now in the process Of dfsintegration.
The American League, having eliminat-
ed a lot Of athletes who were travelling
on regulations Of former years, IS now
composed Of young men who are i'm
proving instead OF deteriorating-
Pendulum 70 Reverse.
Eventually the pendulum viii
swing back again. and the National
win be on me top, but this season
I look for the American League 10
capture the worlds championship. Go
back eight years and you viii remem-
her that the American League had
the call when IL grabbed stars from
the National League and built teams
Of good youngsters UP around them.
The National League stayed IN the
Fut UNTIL III the course OF time, a
new bevy of stars was developed. The
American League headlfuers began 20
face away, and today there is scarCely
"a man LETT IN fast company who star
red during wa times LaiOie is a bout
the only She FH.naar TAN
nehill and dozens Of others have
cashed ia as players.
For several seasons the strong Ma
tiOual League teams were superior 10
anything the American League had,
although Johns0n's league always
staged a good race. When American
League managers got wise 10 the real
trouble there was great cleaning
out Of ancient and honorables. The
youngsters gradually gained fame,
and now che league boasts OF several
splendid teams OF young men. The
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and
Detroit teams still carry a few vet
Grams. but the kids are playing the
game that thrills
Playing Bad Baseball
81 haven't noticed much criticism Of
the National League brand OF bah this
season. but TO my mind IL IS y poor ar
ticle- As the season advances this fact
viii become more prominent It's time
for the old league 10 clean out as the
American did. Several teams are stall
ing along with STATS Of veteran pitchers
who can just get by and who viii never
improve New blood is needed Those
stars who were developed by the Ma
ioual after the raids by the American
League are going back rapidly now.
The New York team. I believe. is
going 90 be a penuant winner when Nc
Grav makes a couple OF changes He
has the right idea He is developing the
youngsters His veterans are beginning
10 slide MCGraW can see as far ahead
as the next man and he Is preparing 70
replace those who VIII soon fan by The
wayside.
He has a man ready 10 step into Ten
ney's shoes and he IS carrying a lOt
OF youngsters Just 10 be prepared fOI
the Inevitable MatheWson is good for
several more seasons, but some day he
VIII have 10 take the count just as they
all do He viii be the hardest Of them
all TO replace. ard I do not believe his
place VIII ever be filed by so good a
man
Take the Plttsburg team. Clarke had
an aggregation with a backbone of vet
Grams wagner, Leach and himself
We're the malnstayS- These old boys
went ar top speed and the youngsters
went along with them. This season
Wagner isn't hitting: neither IS Clarke.
Tho pitchers are getting bumped. and
the orld's champions are getting their
from eVerybOd New blood is needed
thee It's the same with the Cubs
the worlds champions are getting theirs
one, great machine is falling 20 pieces"