New-York tribune., 1912-02-11
TIMELY BITS Of SPORT
Ban Johnson Predicts a Close
Race in American League.
NO CINcH FOR ATHLETICS
High Words of Praise for Harry
Wolverton, New Manager
of Yankees.

Pyror Bancroft Johnson. president Of IN.
American Lea gue. thinks that the race for
the peanant In his organiza ton THIS year
viii 10 keener and better than ever. NV
this respect he does not share the opinion
Of 40 many critics who count on the Phil
adelphia Athletics walking off with the ta :
for the third year 10 succession Mr.. John
son asserts that at least six Of the club
will be up In the fight from the start AMI
that the weaker teams have been strength
ened in way 10 make them dangerous
He IS quoted as saying In Chicago few
DAYS ago:
I'm my opinion 1912 will be a banner year
in baseball IT certainly will he for the
American League. which, I believe. Is going
TO have the prettiest and closest race -
its history ! think that az least six ot
cur clubs will he Lp I'm tho fight for the
flag until the last few weeks Of the season
and then look for 4 Garrison finish among
the three leaders.
Every club In the American League i
stronger than it was last year. ~ the en7
Of last season every team was fighting des-
pcra tely and playing great ball. OF course
II would not do for me 10 mention the
names Of the teams which . think are
in the race for the pennant bur did YOU
ever see such pitchers as will appear 81,
American League uniforms this season
I'm fact. balieve that the America,
League has been strengthened in every d.
pa srtment. IT'S going 10 be wonderful
race and the team which goes through tins
season with q little so-cslled baseball luck
| and is not hurt by having its players in
jured will come pretty near winning the
| pennant.
The American League believes IN youth
! and our teams are certainly bringing sons
wonderful Young ball players from the
minors, and with such teams as all Of OH
| cities will have I expect 70 see the record
! for attendance mashed.'
/ Words Of high praise are spoken Of Harry
/ Wolverton. the new manager Of the Iar'|
KEGS, by baseball followers on the Pacihe|
Coast, V here he acted as manager Of ths|
Oakland club last year. A clipping conf
cerning him from a San Francisco pal
per reads as follows -.. 'H''
Wolverton's personality is one Of hii|
! strongest assets. II has made him count
less friends, especially among his own play
ers, who would do most anything 10 peast|
/ him. Any player who has ever worked fol
| Harry will vouch for the veracity OF th;|
foregoing statement Wolverton treats hit|
players princely. and he expects them 81
show their appreciation in their work
. There was perfect unison and harmony VI
the Oakland ranks at all times last sea
SON. ..t
An incident Of the forcefuluess of VOL
verton's character and the effect IL had
on his players will not be am!ss.
/ During the heat of the 1910 campalgi
Mite and Thomas, the two catchers OF ths|
team, engaged in an argument anent eacl|
others ability. Mite insinuated tha
Thomas was lucky 10 hold his job. and
Thomas, in as many words, inferred tn'|
same about Mite. In short time tn
! pair came TO blows and the fracas had II
be quelled by spectators.
News of the encounter reached Wolver
toms, ears the next day. He did IL
until all the players were assembled In M
| clubhouse.
Mite and Thomas, stand up" sait
Wolverton. The two PLAYERS reluctant'
arose Now shake hands he added
Without demurring the two players shoos
hands and forgot the incident. They turned
out 10 be the best Of friends. -.
ton handled his PLAYERS. and he never hs
any trouble. There must be harmony ~
the ranks before any team can play WIN
ming ball, and this is the first thing 'ha'|
Unlike most managers. Wolverton neye'|
| critIcises a. ballplayer on the neld. IhS|
| PLAYER can be ever so bad, but Wolvertcr|
| VIII reserve MS opinion lyl tue S!ISIVtss
or after the game, when he can take the|
player aside and talk TO him without th.|
| humiliation of having the fans or the othel|
| players hear what is going on.
! Wolverton has 2 system on the ccachnE|
lines that beats all. II is from the coach
ing lines that Wolverton will direct ths|
Yankees next season, and he Is well guam
| fed to do this.
adheres 10. He is fighting just as harc|
with two men down In the nlnth innins
as IN the first inning Wolyerton IS
Nghter on the coaching lines
Horace Fogel president Of the Phillies
denied a few days ago that he was anslln'
for MordeCa Brown. the three-nngere
pitching marvel OF the Chicago Cubs.
was another story yesterday. when ne al
mitted that negotiations were under VA
to land him in Philadelphia II is anotlIc
case Of "On agin, on sgins' '--"
| After a conference with August Herr
mann in Cincinnati on Friday, Ban 3. John
son announced that the full details Of TN
now peace agreement were not yet read
for publication
| Matthew Yorston, called the father
! Cincinnati baseball who organized the of
! Red Stockings in 1888, is dangerously III.
In tho haIf-miIe relay rscc ~ the Pas
! time games on February 81 at the 22d Req
ment Armory another innovation VIII
! tried I'm the shape Of a round baton o'
wood. which must he passed from man III
man, Finishing without the baton auto
maticalIy disauslifes a team. Theb Ffisy
| teams have had no practice in this torm u
racing. which will be used az the Olympic
| games i'm sweden next summer. Teams
/ from the Irish-American A.. G. New io'n
A. C.. Xavier 4. y. Pastme A. I. as'
! Mohawk 4. C. Will toe the mark IN tos
race.
| John Camel, manager NJ tho Rochsse'
! club of the International League ps
sked for waivers on Dolly Cray the Ky
! hand pitcher obtained this winter oy pu
chase from the WASHINGTON Americans.p
will sell him TO a Pacific Coast l-ess
! clpb IeliyeIt. an outfelder, also oo's"s.
IRON, Washington. and Tom Hughes Sps
was with the Yankees in 1910, have ssnY'
! 10 play with Rochester. sHI
| -s--
PLAN FOR COLUMBIA S STApioM
! \ plan for tho starting Of tund i0'.
,Iu,nbin's proposed athletic field ana s'au sl..,.
voe made public in The Columbia spe'.
| . -, yesterday. By the arrangement ~
/ ,osod q committee is to be appolnteu W.
,,.,u make a thorough canvas OF the cd''p
t,h tho object of sounding student w."
! AZ, and also with the purpose OF oo'a''.,
o,.tributions for the scheme. IN eT
vii also be made to the fathers -,
.,donts for funds which will oe u,Is