Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-01

parently only meant a change for him.
But when Howell applied for the place he
found that there We're no vancancies
and, in fact. there wouldn't be any for
him Next Bob Hedges dropped out of
base ball. He is selling his holdings be-
cause his health is broken down. but
nevertheless he is getting out The
Browns belong to new owners. the entire
regime that conducted the batting incident
has been removed from base ball. and it
has been done quietly and without at
tracing the attention of the public
The saeacity of good ball players and
the chances that those showing only an
occasional flash are given to make good
IS best demonstrated in the case of Ar
thur Griggs, the big fellow recently
traded by ST. Louis to Cleveland for Mig
Clarke On his listless showing while
with the Browns and the fact that he
never seemed to take the slightest in
terest in his work one would naturally
suppose that no manager would care to
take a chance with him. But Griggs on
occasions looked as if he could hit and
Cleveland is taking him, listlessness and
all. in the hope that he will OCCASIONALLY
drive in run or two, regardless of the
effect that his phlegmatic disposition may
have OF the team. Ten years ago q
PLAYER of the Griggs type would not have
mad but one chance. but players were
not as scarce then as they are now for
the demand was not as great.
Murphy is a disturbing element in
base ba ii. says August Hermann, chair
man OF the national commission We
wish to add that Murphy is also nui-
sance. and the National League would be
Justified in amending it's laws so that a
man OF the Murphy stripe could be given
seat in the corner and made to remain
there We agree with Mr.. Hermann
when he says the Chicago man has
never offered suggestion that has ben
ented base ball. If anything Murphy has
always opposed any suggestions that
were offered to benefit the game
Murphys latest utterances, in which
he accuses Mr.. Hermann of plotting with
Ban Johnson to organize Il twelve-club
league, is the squeal from a man who
iinds his business associates drifting
away from him. OF course Mr. Herr
mann denies the charge. Maybe some Of
the magnates would welcome such a deal
were i, possible, if only for the chance
of getting rid of Murphy. The Chicago
comedian is purely notoriety seeker
notoriety. But the fans throughout the
country no longer take him seriously
He is looked upon as the Joke magnate."
buying young ball players is nothing
more than gamble. When tine Wash
Ington club put up its hard cash for
Doc RalstOn of the Akron club it looked
10 have made cracking good invest
yet VITAL fSdlStOn showed
here during the several weeks he playe
with the team last fall did not Justify
his being called TO fill major league
berth.
The very fact that Bill Donovan of
the Tigers had watched Ralston for
over d week and had reported favorably
to the Detroit club made Ralston look
like the real thing. and there was no
hesitancy on the part of the local owners
to purchase his release.
Detroit that time Tod No.
ton to buy Delos Drake. an outfielder and
intended to use the money in the pur-
chasing of Ralston. McAleer blocked
this scheme and took Ralston himself
Now, of course, il does not follow that
Ralston will not fill the bill, for he has
hardly had a fair trial, but it is aues-
tionable. indeed. If he would be purchased
on his showing with the local team
No young player made as good an i'm
preston on The occasion of his debut i'm
fast company as Eddie Ainsmith during
his short stay with the Nationals last
fall. Ainsmith seemed to create the
belief with every one who saw him that
he was superior in many respects TO the
average young catcher picked up by the
major league clubs. His throwing at
tracted attention to him from the outset
and his activity behind the bat, as well
as the spirit that he puts into his work,
gives him all the earmarks of a star.
This opinion is not only held in Wash
inston, where the public is quick to APP
preciate a good ball player because it
has seen 80 few in local uniforms, but
Is shared IN nearly every city of the cir
| cult The latest critic to throw a bouquet
| To Ainsmith is II. G. Salsinger of the
| Detroit News. who i'm sizing I'D the cat M
ers or the ieaaue. who by the way are
not held in very high esteem by him,
| says the following of Ainsmith:
IF things break right for this Young
| Mr.. Ainsmth of Washington he is the
| logical man for the backstop crown in
| the American League. Sweeney must
| improve wonderfully to beat him out. and
| Stanage mus live strictly along traininr
/, lines and keep tip-top shape if he ex-
/ poets 10 prove a big factor in the race
! for first catching honors."