Evening star., 1912-11-03

this way two bali games were never
played and the Washington club was the
loser as the result OF the manipulation.
There Is rule in existence against
such practice and the Washington club
should zee to it that this rule is en-
forced.
Barring Billy Keeler, who, during his
first year i'm fast company back in 1894
revolutionized inside bali by his clever
place hitting. there has never been
player OF more ability in this respect than
Eddie Foster of the Nationals. keeler
had an advantage i'm that he could mix
up his plays more by reason of his being
left-handed. and thus making the beat
ing out of bunts easier than IL is for
Foster. but on the other hand, Foster is
the harder hitter when he makes up his
mind TO hit straightaway. which is not
often. Foster is an expert picking
openings on the opposing nfield through
which to shove the ball. He is an artist
at that feature of the game, and for this
reason is one of the most dangerous bat
tiers in the American League with men
on the bases Opposing infielders can
take no liberties when Foster is up and
there are men on. For any fielder to
cover bag is always dangerous. for
Foster seems able to place the ball just
where the fielder has left space unguard-
ed a moment before.
AS is often the case. Foster when he
eoiiiC W the NdtlOUdlS was numbered
among the doubtful hitters. and yet he
proved one of the most consistent on
the team.
In none of the al-American teams
which have been picked by umpires.
players and experts does the name of
Chick Gandil appear as a caididate for
Hrst base. and Yet ii would be no easy
matter to pick the first baseman i'm either
league who has anything on Gandil when
1t comes to all-around playing.
iranting that Chase is a rema rkable
player in that position, he is not near as
valuable TO ball team as is Gandl liz
the big younsster whom Griffith bougn
from Montreal has a single. weakness IL
was not displayed during the five months
he played with the Nationals last season.
He seems capable in every respect ar
about the only excuse that can he CT
fered for not mentioning him on "A par
with any of the others in this league IS
that he was a newcomer last year, AMI
the theory prevails that A player ough
to make good for two seasons before he
Is entitled to real recognition
OF the few veterans who are left in
major league circles there is but one who
still stands out from the other players in
his position and is conceded to lie in a
class by himself. He is Hans Wagner
the remarkable player OF the Pittsburgh
team. For seventeen seasons he has
been one of the greatest players in the
-tdsue. anu uHldA. thpuSu
thirty-eieht years of age, there is stil
no shortstop whom the experts dare 10
compare with him.
There have been players older than
Wagner who have remained in fast com
pany for a greater number of years. but
these We're pitchers, like Cy Young who
did not have to play every day and were
not expected to display the agility that
Wagners position requires. STRANGE
it may seem. last season was one Of tile
hest WaPnpr's long aud brilliant
reer. and he is again relied upon to do
good work for the Pirates in the next
campaign.
Fifteen thousand dollars for six months
ball playing seems like an exorbitant fig
ure, and yet Ty Cobb seems justified in
making this demand based on the salaries
the players are now receiving. To begin
with, Cobb is recognized as the greatest
ball player of all times. This act makes
him an attraction, is proven by the
fact that the Detroit team is still one of
the best attractions in either major
league, Notwithstanding the fact that the
team as a whole is not prominent in the
pennant race, under which conditions
alone most teams prosper. If ever there
was a player who had right to demand
the highest s. larry known TO the game il
is Cobb When ordinary performers who
have no drawing ability can draw 5000
for a seasons work, Cobb surely is worth
three times as much from every stand
point.
Reports which are in circulation would
Indicate that the defunct United States
League which made an effort to break
into the game last summer, may be re-
vved. New hackers are said to have
been found and new plans arranged. The
scheme now is to break into only such
major league cities present only one
of the two major leagues Washington
is one of these, and 1t is stated on good
New Jersey avenue and street, where
the Baltimore and Ohio depot was for
merly located, has been secured and
ball park will be built there if plans do
not miScarry.
There were several cities in the new
league last year which made good finan-
cially, among them Pittsburg. where the
club made money. 1t is the intention OF
the promoters to make an effort to get
permission from the two major leagues.
and IL they fail in this they propose not
to antagonize organized base ball in any
way.
The chances for success for such ven-
ture are of course, SLIM for the very
good reason that only very mediocre
teams can be put I'm the field under such
conditions, and yet those interested be-
lieve that there Is a chance to make 10
a paying proposition.
Ability to slide so as to avoid the base
man and still keep in contact with the
desired bag is 30 per cent of base run
ming. Not until Zeb Milan learned this
art did he cut any figure among the base
runners of the country, and 1t Is a fea-
ture of play which many players still
have to learn. iris Speaker is one OF
them. He was robbed of no less than
thirty steals last season because he over
slid the bag after beating the throw.
This is Speakers principal failing and
,ne which he seems unable to overcome.
Milan and Cobb are now given credit for
being the best sliders in the league, with
Eddie Collins close behind them