The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-03
OPINION AN D n OF
FIGURES WILL
AWARD AUTO
Hugh Chalmers 1911 Proposition
Sure To Be the Prize Argu-
ment Starter of Baseball
History.
Yet, If An Auto Must Be Awarded
the Detroiter's Latest Scheme
Looks Most practicable.
BY PAUL HALE sRuskE

"A
the star performer OF each big league
In 1911.
The winners shall be selected by q
jury of experts who shall determine
his identity on the basis OF the mans
value to his team.
The donor is Hugh Chalmers, pres
ident of the Chalmers Motor Car Co.
of Detroit. Mr.. Chalmers Is the man
who last year provided a motor car
for the leading batsman OF each
league.
The new OFFER is of absorbing In
terest TO Detroit, in view OF the fact
that it's donor Is a well-known Detroit
fan. II Is of still more Importance
because OF the existence In Detroit OF
large number Of critics who believe
that the offer OF Mr.. Chalmers made
last year was very strong factor In
the Tigers failure to annex q pen
nant.
Mr.. Chalmers Gets Wise.
Mr.. Chalmers has been by no
means blind 10 the fact that the 1910
proposition put a premium on individ-
ual effort. rather than on that form
of endeavor which assists In the win
ming of ball games. He knows intel
ligent critics who maintain that many
OF Tyrus Cobb's 1910 eccentricities
were traceable to Tvs ruling desire 10
acquire the leading batsman's auto
mobile and the personal glory APP
pertaining TO the feat. He knows that
the Cobb-Lajoie scandal which closed
the season was another result. He
has accordingly framed his 1911 offer
with the direct purpose of avoiding
these conditions.
In all probability, Mr.. Chalmers has
come as close to success as Is pos
sible, and the strife which his offer
is sure to stir up through the next
season will add materially to the In
| terest In the two big races.
Aside from the incentive to team ef
| fort, Mr.. Chalmers latest plan has
the added merit Of being open, not
only to star batsmen but to pitchers
and catchers as well.
Theoretically, every player on the
roster Of a big-league club has q
chance for the prize, regardless Of
the position which his club bears In
| the race. Practically-and mark the
| prediction-the awards are going tc
the stars of the two pennant-winnine
| 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
the capture of flag. II would be alb
surd to concede Mr.. Chalmers gift
to a member OF club that had I'm
ished far down I'm the race.
There Is sure TO be lack OF una
nimity in the verdict of the jury and
lack OF satisfaction after the award
is made, yet there is always the merit
that no chicanery of scoring or tabu
lating can affect the result.
Now the Arguments!
AS a source of late-winter argument
Mr.. Chalmers suggestion Is inspir
ing.
Who deserved the prize last year
in the American league race?
Was II the sensational Collins OF
was IL Jack Coombs or Chief Bender
or Ira Thomas? Is Russell Ford. oil
New York, to be considered? How
about Ty Cobb and "Donie" Bush?
And In the National league, would
Hi Cole get the palm or should II
| fall to Frank Chance, Joe Tinker
Christy Mathewson or Sherwood Ma
gee?
Go to I'll
In the meantime, may kind Provf
dence make callous the sensibilities
| of 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.
SIR. Chalmers makes the offer not
fer one, but for Ave years. and hints
that the ten men who qualify as win
ners Will constitute a baseball hall OF
fame by a right difficult to dispute.
President NsvIn Approves.
Mr.. Chalmers offer meets the
hearty approval OF President Frank
]. Navin OF the Detroit club. He said
II believe that II will help baseball
In general. II will foster loyalty and
will be just reward to the man who
gives good. consistent service"
Mr.. Navin is also OF the opinion
that the new rule ought to result Ia
prompt reporting at the various
spring camps and faithful observance
OK training rules both there and
throughout the season.