Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-13
PERTINENT COMMENT ON
HAPPENINGS In SPORTDOM
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Washington fans are more or less in
terested in the sale of Matty Mcintyre
by Detroit to Chicago. In the first place
Mcintyre could have been had by the
local club, but was wisely passed up
by McAleer, who considers his days of
usefulness over. What is more, the
player who is to take McIntyre's place
on the Detroit club. Delos Drake. was
also turned down by McAleer. and Rails
ton, whom Detroit wanted to buy with
the money it could get from Washington
for Drake, purchased instead.
On his showing during the last two
seasons Mcintyre will not add material
strength to the White Sox, and Yet he
will be an improvement over some of
the outfield material which Manager
Duffy has corralled. Mcintyre never re-
covered from the effects of a broken an
kle, and while he still shows an Occa-
siOnal flash. he was hardly up to the
standard required to hold his own with
Cobb and Crawford.
Whether or not a mistake was made
in taking Ralston instead of Drake re-
mains to be seen, but in arriving. at the
decision 10 take Ra.3ton, McAleer was
entirely guided py the reports OF his
scouts, who could not see Drake and
seemed willing to take a chance with
Ralston.
The fact that Detroit wanted to sell
Drake and purchase RalstoD also in
fluenced him in the matter. Ralston's
real worth to the team has not yet been
determined. His showing last fall was
not OF the best. but he seemed to dis
play more strong points than weak ones.
20 that the chances are bright for his
improving considerably.
John McGraw's suggestion that ball
| players have their eyes examined and
| leagues present a certificate from an
oculist giving the exact condition Of their
eyes Is worthy OF more than passing no.
! tice. There is not the slightest doubt
that the failure of many ball players to
make good is the direct result of faulty
| vision. yet it is fact that little or no
attention is ever given to the eyes of a
ball player. 1t is not impossible that IL
many cases these faults could be cor
rected by treatment, while in some cases
| player would not be purchased If the
club wanting him had a correct lire or
the condition of his optics.
While much has been said about the
scarcity of catchers in the American
League. the fact OF the matter is that
| the teams seem to be better supplied with
! backstops than they are with outfielders
| There is not q team in the circuit which
does not feel it needs another Outfielder
| or two of class.
Even Detroit, which has been given
credit for having the best outfield in the
! league, does not feel secure with Cobb
| and Crawford, Jones or Drake The for
mer two will, Of course. do. though Craw-
| ford is said to be going back, but the
position in left is not filled to Jennings
satisfaction.
Boston is better provided than any
| other team for the reason that 1t has a
we'll balanced outfield in Lewis Speaker
and Hopper. New York has little to boast
| of. and even Connie Mack could use an
| other man to help out Murphy and Old
ring. for Lord is hardly Of high class.
| Cleveland is experimenting. and on his
| showing last fall Joe Jackson Is the class
| OF that outfit. Comiskey is in a miser-
able way for gardeners. while st. Louis
| hasn't single man who really is Of ma
| jor league standard. AS for Washington.
Milan is the only Outfielder Jim McAleer
can boast Of who would fit in to perfec-
| ton on any team in the country.
All last summer and fall McAleer had
his scouts looking for Outfielders Few. II
| any, were found who seemed to have the
making of major league timber. Why
this dearth of outfielders exists is hard tc