Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-12
BY J. ED GRILLO.

II the report Is true that the Boston
club, after securing Johnny King from
Chicago, tried to cut his salary, Killing
is justified in leaving the team What
ever his contract with Chicago may
have been, the club securing him must
assume 1t. That not only is common
sense but Is a law of base ball. The
Boston club cannot repudiate the con-
tract any more than can Killing. If he
were to jump his contract he would
undoubtedly be punished and the club
has no more rights than the player in
such matters.
But those in charge of the affairs Of
the Boston club have during the past
few months given conclusive evidence
of their ignorance of base ball and
its laws, and the effort to cut Kings
salary is merely another instance OF
the incompetency of the new owners
Of that club.
So far as the trade Is concerned 1t
seems that some one connected with
the Chicago club took advantage OF
the inexperience of the Boston club
president The Cubs got much the best
Of the swap and incidentally the Chica-
go club greatly reduced its salary list
Killing alone probably got almost as
much money for playing for the Cubs
as the quartet of Boston players Sc
cured from Boston. so that Owner Muir
ply not only strengthened his team
trade brings that about 1T shows that
one end to the transaction was caught
mapping.
So far as Killing is concerned he has
gone back a whole lot. That lay-on
III
lot Of harm and from a star he deteri-
GRATED into a very ordinary player.
That matters were not running
smoothly on the Cub team with Killing
has long been a matter Of comment 1t
was supposed when the trade with
Boston was made that it was the in
tention to eventually place King at
the head of the team. but since the
Boston club refuses to assume King 8
Chicago contract 1t Is more likely that
session with the national compassion.
in which the player will be justified in
his present stand.
That patrons of base ball are gradually
souring on the lively ball now In use was
to be expected. Feats which heret ofore
brought the spectators to their feet have
become commonplace and in the average
ball game there is decidedly little now to
hold the interest of the spectators. There
one side or the other secures SO large
a lead In the early innings that the CT n
test really ends there, and In this and
many other ways the game has received
severe setback. With the old ball In
use timely base hit was feature. Now
there are many Of these and the specta-
tors do not give the credit they did to
the players getting them. but condemn
those who fail.
The falling off in the fielding. and even
the lack of high-class pitching, can be
directly attributed to the use Of the new
change of balls. The game as II was
played until this season was highly sat
isfactory, as the enormous attendances
and the increased interest would Indicate.
The new ball has changed the game COM
pletely. and unfortunately not for the
better.
Unless Detroit makes an improved
showing in the remainder of the games
it has to play in the east the American
League race will be close fight between
two teams by the end of the week The
Athletics are gradually cutting down the
Tigers lead, and having beaten the lead
ers two out of three. will now have MOTH
ing but weak teams to buck against. or
course, these weakl'ngs frequently show
a reversal of form and do the unexpect-
ed, but on form the chances are that
the champions during the remainder OF
their games at home. But 1t seems set
tied that the pennant fight Will be be-
tween Detroit and Philadelphia alone.
Nore of the other teams appears to have
class enough to get within hailing dis
National League race differs greatly
from ours. for in the old league there
are at least four teams, New York. Chi
cago. Philadelphia and Pittsburg, that