Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-12
BY BILLY EVANS.

Ball players who are worth while take
all kinds of chances to bring about vic
tory during the progress of a game.
Club owners who seek pennants take
equally long chances in trying to get
together a club that will have shade on
all rival teams.
In very short time club owners in
the majors and minors will be lot wiser
than they were six months ago. Incl
dentally they win be much happier OF
equally sad. They will soon realize the
folly or wisdom of the money spent for
campaign.
Base ball is truly precarious busi-
ness not only from the standpoint of the
ball player, but the club owner as we'll
Both are constantly taking big chances
TO make his team successful. for both
well understand that success spells more
money. Quite often just as the goal of
ones ambitions seems about to be real
lied something happens that spols the
entire proceedings. Something is usually
happening In base ball.
1t looks pretty soft to sit in the grand
stand or bleachers and watch the p ayers
go through the practice and game. When
you contemplate what they receive on
the first and fifteenth of each month for
their efforts you come to the conclusion
that they must be ashamed to take the
money. 1t must be admitted that it does
look rather soft from an easy chair In
the grandstand. but a little elaboration
will soon prove that there is easier
money than that received by the ball
player. although he is certainly well paid
for his time.
Successful ball players. ball players
who get the money. are those who take
chances, are always doing the difficult
or unexpected. Il seems rather ordinary
to see Cobb make a daring steal Of home,
to watch Christy Mathewson retire the
side on strikes. with men on second and
third and no one out. or marvel as Wag
ner Or Lajoie pull off some sensational
heiding play that averts defeat.
= -
Rounds Of applause always greet such
performances, but they are soon for
gotten. Little does the fan imagine
what n dangerous chance Cobb took
when he made the daring steal, what
terrific strain Mathewson put on his
great right arm when he retired the
side, how easily 1T might have been
for l-ajoie or Wagner to have been in
jured had false move been made on
their part In JUDGING the bal Oft
times as the applause dies away for
the performance Of some unusual feat
been badly injured. He is helped off
the field, and the sympathy of the
crowd goes with him. The following
day the man who takes his place may
do something equally more difficult. and
the idol of the previous day Is readily
forgotten. In many cases such injuries
often result in ending the players
career on the diamond. When one con-
siders these things he invariably reach
es the decision that the players are not
being overpaid. for he never knows
when some little accident may cut off
his right to demand good pay
Several years ago the New York
Americans secured a pitcher of the
name of Joe Doyle from Wheeling. fIe
at once jumped into high favor with
the Gotham fans by pitching two sue
cessive shut-outs. In other games he
demonstrated his right to be classed as
major league material Just when it
looked as il the New York club had
picked up very clever young pitcher.
something happened.
Detroit was playing in New York.
couple were On the bases. and Sam
Crawford at the bat. Doyle realized he
must retire Crawford. the smuggling
Tiger. if he was to win. He knew he
must put everything he had on the ball
in order to deceive tard-hitt n Sam.
Winding up he cut loose with all his
speed. As he did SO. somethin snap
ped in his right arm and 1t fell limp
to his side. The game was stopped,
while Doyle was hurried to the club
house. The pitching of that one ball
ended Doyle's career as major Lacquer.