Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-19
PERTINENT COMMENT ON
HAPPENINGS In SP0RTD0M
BY J. ED GRILLo.

|. To have a chance to pick from the ma
terial which a tail-end team is anxious
to part with would ordinarily not cause
much enthusiasm among the patrons OF
. the club which has this opportunity, and
yet some great ball players have been
secured under such conditions.
President Hedges announcement that he
was open to propositions for any but six
Of his players would naturally not seem
to offer much of chance for any OF the
other teams to strengthen with this ma
terial, being what q team In last place
with little hope OF getting cut OF that
place could spare. But a ball player 5
worth cannot always be judged by the
position Of the team he is a member Of.
Because a team finishes In last place does
not mean that every man on 1t is q: dub,
though there is no doubt that good ball
players play far below their standard
| when placed on a loser. To begin with.
it is impossible for man to show the
proper spirit on team which is contin-
ualiy being beaten. Consistent defeat has
most discouraging effect on ball play
ers. On losing team there Is little In
| centive for a player putting up the kind
of ball he would on a winner, and, what
is more. the opportunities for brilliant
| work are decidedly scarce under such
conditions.
If all ball players were rated according
to the position their team held in q race.
| there would be many really great ball
players seldom heard OF. The public.
however. recognizes a good ball player
regardless Of where his team may be In
the race. While it may seem strange that
a team as weak as st: Louis is willing to
get rid Of several players who would un-
doubtedly be OF value to some OF the
other teams. set these players are not to
be had for the mere asking. The Browns
want as good. II not better, In return,
and IL Is the club which offers the best in
ducements that will secure men like Hart
cell and Bailey.
The ambition Of every member OF the
syndicate which was to have purchased
the st. Louis club was to be the presi-
dent Of the club. and it was because none
OF them would give way that the venture
failed and $4,000 was dumped into Bob
| that hardly any one OF the gentlemen
identified with the scheme was qualified
for the position because OF lack OF ex-
perience, but this ambition to get In the
, limelight is always costly and often fatal
1t has been the custom in base ball for
| the so-called magnates to be at swords
points one day, only to be feastin4 to-
gether the next. AT times their squabbles
and subsequent burying of the Ratchet
have placed them in q ridiculous light.
and the public has learned to take but
little stock in their controversies. But
there seems to have q change taken place.
At least 1t IS surmised that so far as the
breach between Garry Hermann and
Charley Murphy is concerned. II Is much
wider than any that has taken place re-
Gently. Hcrrmann's refusal to serve on
the rules committee il undoubtedly the
result OF the charges Murphy made against
Hermann and Dreyfuss, some weeks ago.
when he accused them OF trying to dis
rupt the National League. This outbreak
on the part of the Chicago club owner
seemed TO cap the climax Of a long series
Of abusive statements which he has made
against other club owners in the old
league. and Herrmann's refusal to serve
on the same committee with him Is prob
ably the beginning Of q feud which will
make matters decidedly unpleasant for
Murphy.
1t seems impossible for the club owners
of that league to work In harmony. No
sooner do they seem to be together than