Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-28
BY II. C. BYRD.

BY n. C. BYRD.
Better ball has been played In the anna
teur circuits this year than last The per-
formances of the teams have been much
superior to the article OF play put up by
them In previous seasons. There is hard
~ a club playing ball in any or the anna
teur circuits that IS not stronger than II
was at this time last year.
The rule which has prohibited one mar
from playing with moro than one club Is
undoubtedly responsible for the improve
nlent It was one of the best pieces OF
legislation ever put through by the anna
tour commission for the furtherance OF
amateur ball. Since il was promulgated
the class Of play has been materially bet
tered, and there has been much less fric-
ton and quarrelng in regard TO the own
erslip of individuals by teams.
Besides causing the different clubs 10
play better ball the rule has benefited
amateur base ball In another sense. Pre-
vious to this year 1t was almost always
the case that when 1t was necessary TO
hold a meeting Of the amateur commits
sion II mainly for the purpose OF
settling some argument which had arisen
in regard TO the eligibility OF certain
players. II can easily be remembered
when the time of the comm. ssion was
taken up for several nights for the sole
PURPOSE Of threshing out the differences
Of teams over the ownership or players
or over some protest in regard TO play
er. Now none of that Is ever seem There
las hardly been case this season OF
that kind The men signed with the clubs
with which they wanted to play at the
beginning OF the year, and there has been
little kick far in regard to the scrv-
ICES of any of them, either on tho part
OF tho managers or players.
1t was predicted last season when the
do hat no too
rule be made that II would rebound more
70 the benefit OF amateur base ball than
anything else that might be done, and
the Improvement shown in the quality of
the team-play and in the lack OF dissen-
slons. which had tendency to disrupt.
proved the wisdom Of the contention
II Is only fitting that New York should
arrange to give the Olympic athletes a
grand reception on their return from the
foreign land-one in keeping with the
wonderful victory scored by them Never
before In the history of Olympic meets
has American team been able 10 win
by as wide a margin as was the case this
year, and that the members of the squs J
deserve every honor within the power OF
their country 10 give them is tho opinion
OF everybody who has knowledge of what
has been accomplished.
There will be only ono game played to-
day in the Independence League. instead
of two, was originally intended. II
was thought that two games would be
played, and they would have been pulled
of. but 1t Was found Impossible 10 keep
tho park during the whole afternoon.
A mistake made in the announce
nient that Southland and Manhattan
would play. Instead OF meeting South
land Manhattan Will be pitted against
1~offier in one contest.
A good game should he the result of
the meeting OF the two clubs. In Walter
Hughes Manhattan has pitcher who
will show well against the best OF them.
and when no hooks up with Buscher
there should be few runs scored by either
Of the two clubs.
Post Office and Cornell will tackle
each other in an exhibition contest.
These two teams are to meet In the
2ost-season series and much interest
Eill attach 10 the game for that rea-
son. The Postnen will have good
pitching and so will the Cornell team.
The contest should be close from the
start, with the odds seemingly in favor
of neither. Post Office has Flannery
pair faces another amateur club he is
not easy TO beat, by any means.
This lad Kohlemainen who is coming
American Athletic Club is probably the
greatest distance runner in the game
today. According to the dope OF the
best experts who have followed tho
~
man on the track who can compare
with the Finn at any distance over
four or five miles
There is no doubt that the record OF
the man seems 10 substantiate every
thing that is said OF him. He has ac-
cornpiished great deal in his career
on the track. although his most note
worthy performance was made In the
Olympics.
kohlemainen was the only man in the
whole Olympic meet. notwithstanding the
wonderful showing of the Americans, who
won three first places. In that respect
he was the star Of the games. Everybody
credits him with having accomplished
more than any one man who competed In
the events. In the whole course of the
game he was put TO the real test but once,
when he faced Bouin, the Frenchman. in
fhe J,cJO-meter race. Prior to this event
he had covered the heat of the 10000
meters SUNDAY. and then the final OF the
sa1ne distance Monday. Tuesday he ran
the heat OF the 800 meter, and the fol-
lowing day competed in the final Of the
event against the Frenchman, yet after
hard race he beat the great French
runner and established himself as one
OF the greatest distance men of all time.
Kohlemainen was not unknown before
the Olympic games. as he had held prac-
tcaliy every distance record for his coun-
try previous TO the event. II was pre-
dicted by his brother. who won the pro-
tessionaI PowdsrhaIl marathon in Scot
land. that his younger brother would sur
prise the world in the Olympic games
and tho facts proved he knew what he
Was talking about
new schedule has been approved In
the Northern Association. II is as fol-
lows:
Juiy 2a-Audrews vs. Herald.
July 2o-Sezfon Wsyericy.
July 3l-Herad Regents
August Park Andrews
August 2-Scaton Waverlcv.
August 3-Opeu date.
August Herald We. Seaton.
August S-Waverey Andrew.
August Regents Herald.
August S-wsverley Para
August S-Sea,on Andrews.
August f0-C,peu date.
August l2-Wavcrey Andrews.
August 13-Park Andrevs.
August ii-Ueraid Seatou.