The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-04
BY MONTY.

New York, February 3.--(speeial)-It really looks as though that third big league means business. If it has enough money back of it. and these at the head of it say they have, it will last through the season, and it is possible it may live.
 But it has hard row of stumps to hoe. There is perhaps no form of amusement where so much depends upon the star players. Outside their playing ability Mathewson Cobb, Bender, Chase, Chance. Wagner, Donlin, Jackson and a score or others are worth big money to their clubs, because people come to see them play.
 It may be possible for the new league to pull away some of the stars from the old leagues but it will take big money to do it. The stars now are drawing pretty good salaries. To jump to the new league means professional suicide for the player unless the league lives. They are not going to take chances unless 1t is made well worth their while.
 That's one reason. Another is that tie present leagues are not paupers. I under stand they have a defense fund of some thing over &, ,000OOO and if 1t comes to question of bidding for players they Will be able to offer some inducements them selves.
 If the new league intends to develop it's drawing cards it has a long uphill road to travel
 A number of unpublished offiical player records of the 1911 National league season have been issued by John Heydier, the secretary These statistics show that Ma tional league pitchers during the last year gave 4279 bases on balls. The St. Louls club led with 592 Chicago second with 5s5. and Cincinnati third with 51S; Brook Iyn was last with 425. Sheckard Of Chi cago led the league, receiving 147 passes in 156 games; Bates and Bescher of Gin cinnati follow with 1O3 and 102 respective ly. Sweeney led Boston with T, Hummel had e7, Devore Sl, Knabe 94, Wagner and Byrne 67 each, and Huggins 96.
 There were 579S strikeouts during the last season. These were divided among the eight clubs as follows: Brooklyn osd' St Louis $50, Chicago 517, Cincinnati o9f Philadelphia 5SS, Pittsburg 5S3, Boston odi, New York 5O6 Coulson of Brooklyn anu Bescher of Cincinnati led in this respect with IS strikeouts each: Luderus struck ont TG times; Carey 75 Devore 69, Schulte 6S Tngerton 6S and Houser 67. Those who nlayed in 130 games or more and had low average of strikeouts were sweeney 2G Tinker S1. Mitchell 34, Larry Doy:el B. Murray s7. Myers S5, Knabe 50, Was ner 34, and Cakes 30,
 MI. controversy by asserting that two reg ,llar pitchers are enough for any club. Tee general opinion is that Ward is wrong, but there are many who agree with hlm
 II is pointed out that it has not been many years since Iron Man Joe McGinnity was able to pitch a double header and win both games. and some fans can re- member the day when it was the usual tbing for a club to depend on two slab men. ,
 Meanwhile each manager will carry as many first class pitchers as he can set his hands on.
 Adrian c. Anson has taken down his hat from it's place over the mantlepleee and shaken the moth balls from his unl- form. The veteran has accepted the lnNl- tation of Charles Webb Murphy to go to New orleans with the Cubs. Ansor had no thought of becoming a candidate Tor the first basemans position. which ne held against all corners for so many years, hut he intends to take little daily practice with the team and perhaps play a ieW innings in some of the practice games.
 The captain is still hale and hearty, and if any of the young pitchers dream they scan take liberties with the man who for
 
 and is now considered one of the wealth. fest owners among the professional horSc- men in France.
 winnie O'Connor divides his time be- tween racing horses on the flat and over tha iumps. He has become an expert steeplechase rider Recently he was hurt while riding in steeplechase, but is now