Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-15
BY ]. ED GRILLO.

The official edict which puts stop to
the coaching pranks of AltrOck and
schaefer issued yesterday by Ban john
son. will eliminate from the American
League circuit one of the best features
base ball has been able to boast of in
man. years.
Local patrons of the game have never
lad the opportunity to See the two come
''ians in action. consequently cannot APP
reciate the genuine humor that these
veteran players furnished on foreign
grounds Games which We're tiresome
from the standpoint of the home roOters
on the recent trip were made enjoyable
by the comedy Of the two players men
toned, and public scorn was kept from
many a player going badly on the oppos-
ing team because the fans We're occupied
watching Schaefer and Altrock.
There was nothing harmful about the
antics of this pair, and all they did was
IL furnish good amusement for the
crowds. But some one evidently put in
4 knock with Big Chief Ban on the the
CRY that there j. room for comedy ON
the ball field. X-t some of the slow. drag
~ games which the present season has
furnished Were made tolerab-e by the
amusement which Griffiths comedians
furnished.
II is question: bic whether the American
League has ever had season where
there has been so much universal COM
Tiaint about the umpirng the present
one has furnished.
with few exceptions the recruits with
which President Johnson has tried 10
bolster UP his stafT have proven failures
aud * il not stretching the truth bit
Ia sav that even the experienced UNI
pires on the Stan have not given salts
faction. This may have been caused be-
cause of their being paired with mex
perienced and Incompetent recruits, but
the fact remains that on the whole the
umpiring has been very bad Every man
ager III the league has complained. and
the chances are that President Johnson
Is confronted with the task OF rebuilding
his entire stan by next season. Empires
are harder to secure than good ball play
.rs. The game and conditions have ad-
Nanced so that IL requires men OF higher
Intelligence 10 make success of umpr-
ing than II did in former years.
When the present season is over Clark
Griffith will no doubt find that his team
lacked batting strength. 10 which It's
failure 10 finish higher In the race must
he attributed. Griffith needs more hit
ters than he can boas. Of at present and
he VIII nave 10 exert every effort To bet
ter his team in this respect during the
OF season. But the needed material is
not 10 be secured on the open market.
There are no seasoned players of ability
available and Grifhth, like other man
ayers. must delve into the small leagues
10 get the players he needs.
What he needs is at least two more
good hitters and there is no assurance
that these are TO be secured in a single
year.
The stage seems to be set for another
bunk for the unsophiSticated New York er.
That ten-r6und bout between Jeanette
and Jack Johnson is going to draw a
large crowd and make money for John
son. and perhaps the promoters. but fur
Their than that nothing Is going to be ac-
complished. The two husky black fell
lows will give a sparring exhibition. noth-
ing more. and when it is all over the pub
lie will not have a better line on the
ability of either than il has at the pres
ent time To begin with, there will be
no decision. and what is more, there is
not apt 20 be a Knockout.
Johnson Is the luckiest champion the
game has ever produced. He is in a posi-
ton to get more money for a ten-round
exhibition than the champions of a few
years ago could get for a grueiing finish
fight
Frank Chance of the Cubs charges
President Tom Lynch of the Nationa