Evening star., 1912-11-14
By J. ED aR1LLo.

That the good position which the Ma
tionals occupied at the end or the last
campaign was not a fluke, but was earn
ed. is proved by the official averages OF
the American League These show tnat
there was much merit to Grimths team.
It was not a slugging aggregation, yet
had some good hitters.
It's pitchers numbered among the BEST
and the fielding averages show that de-
fensiyely the team ranked with the
strongest in the league. Mcbride and
Foster in the infield compared favorably
with any men in these positions in the
circuit. Foster led all third basemen In
the number of chances accepted. and Nc
Bride really leads the shortstops. being
behind only such players as took part IN
very few games. The outfield also made
a good showing. while John Henry seems
to have something on all the other catch
ers, with Williams close behind him.
This absolutely shows that the Ma
tionals had the strength SUFFICIENT to make
them prominent in the race, and incfden-
tally indicates that with a man or two
added the team stands a chance to even
better its position next season. Griffith
has a team which is coming, not going.
1t was the first year for a majority Of
improve.
The adoption of a salary limit by the
various classes Of minor leagues at Mil
waukee yesterday is sure to prove hard
blow to a great many of the players in
these organizations Some of these minor
leagues have been paying salaries far be-
yond their means, and If the limits adopt
ed are lived up to there will be some tall
cutting of wages by next season. Class
;k11 t~- nd
81, 600 per month. All these clubs carry
fifteen or sixteen men during season and
this would make the average salary very
low compared with what it used to be. But
such measures were absolutely necessary.
Wnen major league salaries went up the
minor league players We're similarly af-
fected. There was material increase in
attendance in the majors, which. however,
has not taken place in the minors, at
least not to the same extent, so that the
high salaries the small leagues were
forced TO pay materially cut down the
clubs profits and in many instances made
il impossible to make both ends meet.
Harry Wolverton, former manager of
the Yankees, was in New York yesterday
and spread the report that Connie Mack
! would succeed him at the head OF the
New York team. Just where Wolverton
got this information is not known. but
there is not apt so be any truth in the
L
doubtedly be of great benefit to the Amer
| lean League 1t is reported that Mack
has Just come into possession of half OF
the stock of the Philadelphia club. 1t is
not likely that with his interests in Phil
| adelphia he would consider any sort OF
| proposition from the New York club to
manage that team. 1t is estimated that
Mack's holding in the Philadelphia clut
are worth nearly $25O.OO0, much too
large an investment to warrant his ac-
cepting a position elsewhere and allow
| ing a salaried individual to look after his
interests in Philadelphia.
Gandil is the real leader of the Ameri
can League first basemen, though he Is
but fourth in the averages. But the three
players who apparently lead him did not
| take part in more than forty games while
he was in 1T, and has an average of $50
All things considered. Gandil was the find
Of last season. He was, in the opinion OF
many, by far the best first baseman in the
| league, and did more to put the Nationals
| in the race than any one else. Griffith 8
team started on its winning streak from
the day that Gandil Joined It's forces. and
| IL Gandil has any weakness 1t was not
apparent in any of the games he played
with the Nationals.
l Hugh Redient pitched better ball Ii