Evening star., 1912-11-05
BY ]. ED GRILLO.

Miller Higgins, who has been appointed
to succeed Roger Bresnahan as manaser
of the st. Louis Cardinals, has al the
earmarks of making successful man.
ager. Higgins has always been recOg-
nized as wise ball player and it has
been the opinion of many good judge
that he had the ability to handle a ba
team, yet he has not until now had tn
opportunity to show in this capacity. TIL,
appointment of Hug ins closes the door
behind the dismissal of Bresnahan
Whatever chance there may have been
for reconsideration of the action against
the former manager has been eliminated
and Bresnahan VIII either have to accept
a berth with some other club or put In
a few years trying to collect on his three
year contract.
Higgins was mentioned in connection
with the Cincinnati job. but, Of course
that is now out Of the question. Gin
ter for Huegins to have charge of team
elsewhere.
Threats to take some Of the cases,
where the players believe they are get
ting the worst of it under base ball rules
to the civil courts might be the entering
wedge to kill the goose which lays the
golden egg. Regardless of whether base
ball contracts would be upheld in the
courts, the fact remains that the game S
organization under which 1t has been ope-
rated. The clubs and players interests
have both been protected by the agree
ment which is governing both. Perhaps
it is not legal, but 1t Is nevertheless most
effective and has been the means Of max
ing 1t possible for the ball players to
draw enormous salaries for six months
work.
Let the few disgruntled players carry
their grievances into court and let 1t be
acfo a ich hn6 Hof 0oH ho
tween the club and players Is not bind
ing and there might be brought about a
disruption of the present system under
which base ball is operated.
If ball players were free agents at the
close OF every season, base bali would
not last year. The larger cities would
Of course. be able to outb:d the smaller
ones. and the result wou be that cir
cut would be SO one-sided that six OF
seven Of the teams would never have a
look-in, and the result would be a lacd
Of interest and heavy financial loss for
the ieague as a whole. The players, OF
course, would be the first to suffer, for
figures in the contracts are sure to fol-
low suit. But ball players do not realize
the benefits they are deriving from the
present organization. whether it is .ega
or not, and some of them will be selfish
enough to give the game a setback from
which it may never recover.
It was argued that when the Nationals
lost Street the team was rid of the
only catcher who could handle Walter
Johnson's delivery. 1t has since lex n
proven that this was absolute y a mis-
taken idea, for every one of the three
catchers whom Griffith reta ned made
good behind the bat when johnson was
on the slab.
What was true of Street was also true
of Billy Sullivan and Ed Walsh in Chi
cago Su ivan was tiven credit for being
the only catcher who could hand e the
great spit ball artists shoots and when
he was not behind the bat Wash was
figured to be considerably less formidable
But this theory also has been disproven n
and by the youngest catcher In the big
'eagues today, Schalk. secured last sum
mer from Milwaukee. Schalk handled
Walsh as II he were a novice from the
lots and so impressive was his work he
hind the bat that II has already been de-
cidsd to allow the youngster to catch
him exclusively next season.
The demand for pay during the train
ing season. which is to be made by the
PLAYERS Protective Association. is sure
to meet with stiff refusal by the club
owners. The clubs stand the expense of
the training sea son, so as to fit the play
ers for their work If there were no
training period a majority Of the players
would report unfit to do their worh and
when in that condition could not demand
their sa aries Il ID estimated that at
present the two major league clubs spend