Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-27
BY J. ED GRILLO.

When President Whitman Of the defunct
United States League announced that
base ball slavery was to be abolished"
he may have expected that there would
be a rush of players to his organization,
but in this he erred. Ball players have
realized for some time that the reserve
clause in their contracts is all that makes
base ball possible. There is no slavery
when players draw enormous salaries for
seasons work, and. if anything, Wit
the statement. for ball players have come
ent organization the game would soon de-
teriorate and be no more
The reserve clause in the contracts does
not work hardship on the players as a
whole. In fact, the instances where a
player suffers by reason of this clause
are few and far between. Whitman, like
most of those who start out to organize
base ball leagues, was not familiar
enough with the affairs of the game to
ever make success OF II. Organized
base ball will never have anything to fear
from invasions headed by inexperienced
men, and it is well that such is the case.
that Carl Cashion was not intended to be
a major league pitcher will that young
ster be given a chance In some other
position. Having shown remarkable
prowess as hitter, 1t has been suggested
ever since be joined the local team that 1T
might be a wise move to teach Cashion
the art of playing some other position. so
that the team might have the beneiit OF
his hitting every day instead OF occa-
agree with such plans. He figures that II
Cashion develops as he should and be-
comes a greater pitcher ne Will De OF
the greatest value to the team. The fact
that he is a natural hitter would help him
win his games, and he believes that
great pitcher is more valuable to team
and will do more to help win a pennant
than a star in any other position 1t IS.
Of course, not assured that Cashion Will
make q pitching phenom, though he has
every indication Of 1T, but, though a great
hitter he is not to be shifted from the
pitching staff until it has been absolutely
shown that he is not intended for that
sort of work.
Griffith will have nearly dozen young
pitchers in training Of whose ability 1T
tie or nothing Is known, and ne says
that If he gets one out OF the lot who
makes good at the outset he will con-
slider himself decidedly fortunate. He
does hope however. to find two or three
who have natural ability and need sea-
SOning and who with Few years expert
ence In the minors will make good pitch
ers. griffith is pessimistic about such
matters. and he may be surprised to
find more good pitchers In the lot than
he anticipates. Nothing would help the
team more than to have at least one
more good pitcher added, but not until
Griffith has looked them all over for sew
eral weeks will any one be able to have
a good line on the pitching stan.
That Marty O'Toole should be the high
est-priced player ever purchased from .
minor league after being ushered about
the major and minor leagues for several
years only goes to show the possibilities
Of Improvement in ball player. Bos-
ton. Cincinnati and ST. Paul had O'Toole,
but he failed to make good in either place
and was shifted to lower-class league,
only to return and prove himself q won
derful performer. But It stands to rea-
son that O'Tooie lacked something when
he had his previous trials. and this
shortcoming must have been overcome
by him or he would not have made the
showing he did.
Jimmy Callahan naturally builds his
hone on the White Sox pitching staff.
which after all consists Of Big Ed Walsh
and Doc White, and should either Of
these fail to come through as in former
years Chicago is not going to be a dark
horse In the pennant race. Nor 10 1t 1t