The Detroit times., 1911-02-04
OPINION An D NOT
/ FIGURES WILL
AWARD AUTO
Hugh Chalmers' 1911 Proposition
Sure To Be the Prize Argu-
ment Starter Of Baseball
History.
Yet II An Auto Must Be Awarded,
the Detroiter's Latest Scheme
Looks Most Practicable.
sy PAUL HALE sRusks

~ BY PAUL HALE 6RuskE
A high-class motor car Is to reward
ths star performer Of each big league
a 1911.
"a The winners shall be selected by a
Jury OF experts who shall determine
kis identity on the basis OF the mans
value to HIS team.
M The donor Is Hugh Chalmers, pres
1dent OF the Chalmers Motor Car Co.,
Or Detroit. Mr.. Chalmers Is the man
who last year provided a motor car
for the leading batsman OF each
league.
NJ The new offer is of absorbing in
terest TO Detroit, In view OF the fact
that It's donor il q well-known Detroit
TN. Il is of still more Importance
because OF the existence In Detroit Of
= large number OF critics who believe
chat the offer of Mr.. Chalmers made
last year was very strong factor In
fhe Tigers failure to annex pen
hant.
Mr.. Chalmers Gets Wise.
Mr.. Chalmers has been by no
means blind TO the fact that the 1910
proposition put premium on individ-
hal effort, rather than on that form
81 endeayor which assists In the win.
Ming of ball games. He knows intel
1Igent critics who maintain that many
II Tyrus Cobb's 1910 eccentricities
we're traceable to Tvs ruling desire 10
acquire the leading batsman's auto
mobile and the personal glory ap-
nrtaining to the feat. He knows that
He Cobb.Lajoie scandal which closed
4ho season was another result. He
has accordingly framed his 1911 offer
nth the direct purpose Of avoiding
these conditions.
In all probability. Mr.. Chalmers has
rome AZ close to success as Is pos
kible. and the strife which his offer
- sure to stir up through the next
season win add materially to the In
1orest in the two big races.
"A ABIDE from the incentive to team eff
Tort. Mr.. Chalmers latest plan has
la added merit Of being open, not
bnly to star batsmen but to pitchers
Ind catchers as well.
Theoretically, every player on the
roster Of a big-league club has a
chance for the prize, regardless OF
Ne position which his club bears In
Ne race. Practically-and mark the
orediction--the awards are going to
&he stars of the two pennant-winning
Teams.
TO be of great help to his team i'm
plies always that the team itself must
have accomplished success. Greater
help" implies greater success. The
Biggest success Of all is, OF course,
&Le capture OF nag. II would be abb
s~I A. IA Ix hal x.a Ut
% member OF q club that had nm.
<shed far down In the race.
\ There r. sure to be a lack OF una
Unity In the verdict of the jury and
y lacl: Of satisfaction after the award
y made. yet there is always the merit
That no chicanery OF scoring or tabu-
ating can affect the result.
Now the Argumentsi
4 Az q source OF late-winter argument,
If. Chalmers suggestion Is inspir-
Who deserved the prize last year
d the American league race?
Was Il the sensational Collins or
was II Jack Coombs or Chief Bender
br ira Thomas? Il Russell Ford, Of
New York, to be considered? How
&bout Ty Cobb and "Donie" Bush?
And In the National league, would
Hi Cole get the palm or should 1t
Tall to Frank Chance, Joe Tinker,
Christy Mathewson or Sherwood Ma
keeY
y Go to &c! ..
In the meantime. may a kind Provi-
dence make callous the sensibilities
pf the members OF that jury. against
the certain jibes that are destined
their way, from each other and every
body else. aside from the two men
who succeed.
AR. Chalmers makes the offer not
for one, but for Eve years, and hints
that the ten men who qualify as win
bers viii constitute baseball hall of
fame by a right difficult to dispute.
President Navin Approves.
Mr.. Chalmers offer meets the
hearty approval of President Frank
y. Navin of the Detroit club. He said:
II believe that Il will help baseball
d general. II will foster loyalty and
I'LL be just reward to the man who
lives good, consistent service"
FL Mr.. Navin is also of the opinion
MAT the new rule ought to result In
prompt reporting at the various
spring camps and faithful observance
bf training rules both there and
{ throughout the season.
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