The Washington herald., 1912-12-29
b. ". ]. MACBETH.

BY w. j. mACbEIh
New York. Dec 2S-Garry Hermann
is going TO devote all the influence at his
command to weld the two major leagues
into even closer harmony. He purposes
TO have the National and American cir
cults pull together in deed as well as in
spirit. His plan is nothing short of q
pretentious interleague series, IN which
every National League club viii play
home and home games with every Amer
lean League club. Naturally, this inter
league schedule would eliminate the
present mold of worlds series procedure.
For II would in itself be a worlds
series Of the most profoundly preten-
tious style. There would be no question
then as to the ultimate winner being the
very best collection In fast company. Ac-
cording to the lights Of the chairman Of
the Nationals Commission all the present
would be maintained. Other benefits OF
broad reach would accrue while most
OF the existing evils of the present post
season classic would be eliminated.
Let US first consider Herrmann's
scheme. 1t embraces two seasons; at
least two pennant races each year. He
would shorten the playing season in the
respective major leagues to III games
each The winner in each division would
be hailed a champion of that league But
there the honor would end unless the
team could substantiate It throughout
the succeeding inter-league contest.
New Worlds Series.
The inter-league competition, or new
worlds series, would begin Immediately
after the close of the shortened major
league campaigns. AS each National
League team would play home and home
games with each American League team
this would add thirty extra series. Al
lowing for two games series 1t would re-
quire no more than sixty games for each
club after the regular season ended or
bringing the entire schedule of the year
playing the worlds series champion
ships included-Up to III games.
Now IT2 games sounds like a terrible
task for the poor downtrodden athletes,
but I am very much inclined to think
that, under the advantages which Mr..
Hermann proposes, there will be no OBJ
lection from that score. The object for
ratification by the playing fraternity will
be dealt with shortly. AS to the I72
games schedule, the American Associa-
ton has successfully proven feasible a
campaign of l6S contests-just four shy
of the new scheme. The National League
a few years ago had a l6S games draft
fathered by c. II. Ebbets that would
have enabled the club owners to begin
October u. 1t is unusual indeed that
the worlds series ends before this latter
date to which period major league play
ers draw salaries.
No one begrudges a star ball player
getting a little extra salary after the
season closes, but II is reasonable to
suppose that the major league player
would be delighted TO work right up to
the end of his contract time il he had
a chance to earn much more than the
pin money he now draws down In the
new order of things he would, for Mr..
Herrmann's scheme protects the inter
ests of the second division clubs as well
as the first division clubs.
Let AL Players In.
His idea is to let all the major league
players in on the worlds series spoils
OF course there must be an incentive
to victory, and accordingly the team to
finish first in the inter-league worlds
series would draw down far, far more
per man than the team that finished
third or tenth or last. As is quite proper
the lions share should go to the vic
tors; but there would DE some consola-
ton for the also-rans.
Mr.. Hermann would set aside very
handsome percentage of all the gate re-
ceipts Of the sixty games to form a play
ers' pool. Without too severely taxing
lieves that the fund could be trebled or
quadrupled over the spoils of the worlds
series as at present conducted. This
would permit of some division where the
worlds champions would get practically
as much per man as they do now, and
at the same time leave ample balm for
the runners-up and the various other
stragglers all the way down the line.
Naturally, the division would be graded
according TO merit, thus making it an
object for every team to fight to the
very last ditch.
Excellent arguments might be ad-
vanced in favor of Mr.. Herrmann's pet
idea. Certainly there is every reason to
believe that il would be welcomed with
enthusiasm I'm cities like Pittsburg, Gin
cinnati. Detroit. and Washington, where
but one league is established. 1t would
give the fan of each big league town a
chance to see big league ball, its stars,
virtues. and faults from every angle,
and thus arose an enthusiasm never
before known, perhaps. In the towns
which boast both leagues 1t would give
the rabid partisans a clear line on the
respective abilities Of the home repre-
Two Seasons a Year.
But best Of all it would provide two
seasons each year. Before interest had
a SAdHCe 10 Wane over Ine regular CdAl-
paign the prospect OF the new order of
worlds series would be upon the sup
porters Of baseball The cream of hnap-
cial returns for the magnates at present
is the spring fervor of the fan. First
division clubs reap the harvest from
april to October. But the fellows in
the lower berth have little attraction
for the general populace after July 4.
Herrmann's scheme then appears a
good thing for magnate, player. and pub
lie. It would be adopted In a moment
il the magnates were as confident In
the public as he is in the PLAYER. The
chief objection raised so far is that II |
might reflect on the honesty of burmese
in Organized baseball The maRnates
fear that the public might think base
ball was being hippodromed in a degree.
that the whole organization was a money
grabbing scheme; that interests were
pooled in one common cause. In fact
that the major leagues were one huge
combine. working toward one end, the
deception Of the public, SO far as honest
rivalry was concerned. The promoters
are afraid that patrons would lose con-
idence in the fidelity OF the national
pastirne IL the lines of friendship be-
tween the leagues were drawn any closer
than they are at present. They believe
that baseball is what 1t is simply be-
cause Of the strong rivaIry-or the appa-
renfly strong rfvalry-that has SO far