The Washington herald., 1911-02-03
VETERANS MUST HUSTLE
TO RETAIN THEIR JOBS
Lively Competition Promised on All the Big League
Clubs-Outfield and Initial Sack Bothering
Manager McAleer-Other Gossip.
Nv WILLIAM PEET.

Nearly all the DlS ied6 uo SiuoS " IA
make some changes this year, and COM
petition promises to be lively. For in
stance, on the Nationals. the first base
problem is bothering Manager McAleer,
| while he Is also concerned about his
outfield, as Clyde Milan is the only
veteran sure to hold his job.
William G. weart, probably the most
capable Obaseban writer in Philadel-
phia, comes across with the following
story, which should prove of interest
| to all the local fans. Here is what he
says:
There is never any telling when u
young 'phenom' will come along, and
all the veterans keep their eyes open
in the spring to see il their jobs are in
danger When reports came from the
South last spring that Brooklyn had
secured a youngster who was going to
oust the once famous slugger. Tim Jor-
the fans in Greater New York thought
it was only a joke. Daubert was un-
| known. while Jordan was noted as d
terror to opposing pitchers. Daubert.
however. proved to be more than a
| flash in the pan. and Jordan was shunt-
ed>to a minor league.
This case is not exceptional for
every year sees tIe passing VI SohiS
old stars. The two home clubs are
fortunate in that they will have to
make few, if any. changes. Manager
Mack has not got any serious problems
to worry him. while Manager Dooin's
one source Of worry is his pitching
staff The two New York managers are
also in the same boat. but practically
all the other clubs will have lot Of
experimenting to do before and during
0f oh nj n nc r,
races.
1.-The first base corner Of the infield is
worrying about one-half of the managers
in the big circuits. Fred Tenney intends
to play the initial sack for the Boston
Nationals. but there Is a serious doubt
as to his ability to last out the season.
Jake Stahl's determination to quit the
game for banking makes it necessary for
Manager Donovan to find a new man for
the place Jack Thoney. who was one Of
the f1eetest-footed outfelders in the coun-
try. may be given a trial as Stahrs SIC
ceSSor.
'Pittsburg will make its annual effort
to develop first baseman. and Hunter.
who was secured from Kansas City for
something like a carload Of players and
some cash, Will be given an opportunity
to show his worth. Stovall is not GER
tain to have first call at Cleveland. while
the fact that Manager Jennings recently
asked for waivers on Tom Jones indi-
Gates that Hughey has an idea that he
must make a change at first base.
The Chicago Americans and the st.
Louis Americans are also likely to do
lot of experimenting before they find the
night man to place on first base regu-
larly.
There was a time when big fellows
like Anson. Brouthers. and Connor were
considered to be the ideal first basemen.
Their principal duties were to club the
ball. and they were not expected to cover
much ground Men who can sprint over
the turf like Tenney and Jiggs Donohue
could in their prime. and like Chase,
Hoblitzell. konetchy. and Merkle do in
every game, are the ones the up-to-date
managers are striving to land"
For the first time in baseball a cham
pionship will be settled the year after
the games have been played. On some
technical grounds the directors OF the
Texas League threw out enough games
at the close of last season to give the
championship to Dallas. Houston brought
the matter before the national board.
and the directors were ordered to open
the case, secure further evidence and
follow baseball precedent
The result OF this was that it left
Dallas and Houston tied for first place,
and the directors have ordered the two
clubs to play a series Of seven games
before the regular season this year to
decide the real winner With practically
a new lineup, and the boys not in the
best of condition. the games will be any,
thing but true test Of the merits Of
the rightful champions.
Jimmy Callahan, who has been clean
ing up $4,000 a year with his Logan
Squares since he quit the Chicago White
SoX in 1906. has decided to retire from
the ranks of semi-professional managers,
and will make an attempt to get back
into fast company next season. Jimmy
can get a job from Old Roman Comiskey
and will go South with the Sox and try
to show that he can come back. Cal
lahan's intention to cease operating the
Logan Squares is the result Of the at
tempt of the owners Of the park where
his team played to raise the rent of
the grounds 100 per cent.
Ed Sweeney, the Yankees star catcher,
goes into Mysteries every time they tell
about the way his team mates 'kidded'
him in the smoker on Western trips. One
day the players were all there making
a trip to foreign parts when some player
yelled, ''who is it that can throw the
ball to center field better than any catcher
in the Lacquer
why, Ed Sweeney" was the unani-
nous return howl.
"Who is the worst catcher in the Amer
ican Lacquer" again said the stentorian-
voiced player
''Why, Ed Sweeney" howled all hands.
Sweeney sat there all the time thinking
of a come back. After a few minutes.
when everything was quiet, Sweeney
roared:
''Who will be in the big league when
all you fellows are in the bushes?" There
was no answer from the committee like
the other questions. Sweeney looked up
and replied:
''Why, Ed Sweeney"
Look over the Yankees roster now and
figure it out.
Charles H Ebbets, president Of the
Brooklyn club who returned from Porto
Rico on Monday, visited his ball park
and said that he is now ready
to take UP routine work. When asked
about his first vacation IN many years.
Mr.. Ebbets said:
II had most delightful trip. but am
glad to be homo again. The
Journey did me world Of good. and
eeel oollal to tackllnl the whole Dchedule