New-York tribune., 1912-04-04
Banner Baseball Season Predict.
ed by Major League Heads.
YANKEES SHOULD BE FACTOR
SO Says Ban Johnson in Telling
of Outlook in the American
League.

statement in the current issue of Les
Hes and while neither says much tina
is new, their opinions, as the heads or the
big major leagues. are sure to he interest
ing to the fans,
Mr. Lynch predicts a close, hard-fought
race in the National League and says in
part
II does not require the gift of prophecy
10 predict banner baseball season dur.
ing 1912 for both the game al large ana
the National League in particular. Every
baseball sign points in that direction, and
20 those who are constantly in touch with
the business and playing END 3fein+ Of the na "a
read these signs correctly Interest IN
major league baseball may be said TO be
sustained throughout the entire year
During the pennant PLAYING season me
the winter months; but even during this
period, when play is impossible the pub
lie is still decidedly interested III the
doings of the PLAYERS.
During the last few years the annual
pennant struggles have been growing
closer and more exciting, and the tlndl
5lag winner has been in doubt until the
closing DAYS OF the scheduled play.
look for similar conditions to prevail our,
ing 1912. Every clnb N ne ne NSu0ihal NS,o0ing
equipment this season. Some of the cluDs
which finished in the second division last
fall appear, at this writing at least, to De
club can win the pennant. yet " is the
very evenness of playing ability that
makes the race uncertain and exciting
thus sustaining the interest of the fol
lowers OF baseball until the hnal days OF
the season. II is such n pennsnt race
that look for in the National League thls
wear, and. if such proves 70 be the case,
baseball will fully hold its own, even II
tt does not. as many lovers OF the game
anticipate, exceed the most noteworthy
records of past years
Big league baseball, as il is played to-
day. is game TO which q man can take
his entire family for an afternoons out
discomfort or regret. For those of us VINO
can no LONGER play baseball ! know OF
no better way in which TO spend few
hours of recreation than by watching the
skilled members of the big league clubs
battling on the fields before us. II is
evident that thousands of Americans
think likewise, and, since the play is 10
he keener and the accommodations TO the
spectators better than before, | think |
am safe in predicting r most succesSfuI
season for baseball during 1919
Mr.. Johnson says that the Yankees should
be q powerful factor IN the race of 1912
and suggests that the chances are all
against Philadelphia and Detroit running
away from the other teams as was the
case last year. His statement follows
Last year the race Tor pennant honors
vas confined TO Philadelphia and Detroit
ganizaton and their full strength was not
fully developed until late in the season We
anticipate splendid results this year Phila-
delphia and Detroit are still well equipped
but am confident there are other teams in
the league that have been built to a stand
ara that will make them powerful con-
tenders for the flag.
II is worthy OF note there are five new
managers, of well tried ability. in the or
GsniZaton this spring. Ambitious for
record and the emoluments that are sure to
SnGCpccfnl
bend their best efforts tor nigh notch IN
the championship race.
We look for big results at Boston. Pow
erful factors have entered the American
League field in that city and 1t can occa-
sion no great surprise should Jake Stahl
and his band of athletes crowd the Ath-
letics and Tigers for first honors.
Cleveland will enter the race with a well
balanced team. A number of young players
of great merit were developed last year,
and, under the guidance of the we'll tutcred
veteran. Harry Davis, will make the Maps
prominent cOuterders. The Chicago White
SoX are ambitious for q pennant, and II
we can accept the press reports from
Texas Manager Callahan has corralled
some young players who are destined to be
of strong major league calibre. Chicago
made grand finish in the race last fall
and its hosts of supporters have every rea-
son to be hopeful of the best results.
New York merted better position in the
contest of last year. Under the guidance
of Wolverton, the club may develop its
true strength. Good discipline and harmony
factor I'm the race of 1912 There nave been
judgment and energy shown in marshallng
The forces of the St. Louis Browns for the
seasons struggle Much good material has
been added to the team, and with such
tried vetyans as Wallace, Cross and Criger
% round the club into fighting form, the
Browns will make a much more commend
able showing than a year ago.
big task has been assigned Clark Grif-
fth at Washington but we are confident
he viii be equal to the undertaking. He
has made sensible changes i'm his lineup
that should insure TO the capital a club
that will represent II with greater credit.
Chief Bender, Eddie Plank and Jack
Coombs. pitchers Of the worlds champions,
who were left in Texas with the recruits
when the team came North. are expected
IN Philadelphia within a day or two. They
played I'm New Orleans on April 1. and
from all accounts Coombs, who was injured
IN the wold's series last fall, is the only
one of the three who is in condition to
begin the pennant race. Plank is nursing
q lame shoulder and is handling his arm
WITH the greatest care, while Bender Is said
10 be afflicted with rheumatism that is
causing him much annoyance and discom-
fort Connie Mack did we'll to leave his
stars in the South. where they would get
full advantage from the hot weather. and
Yumor has Il that Bender will not take
any chances in reporting for duty until the
last twinge has been forgotten and the cold
winds have disappeared for good.
Dave shean, a utility inhelder of the
Chicago Cubs, was sold yesterday TO the
Louisville club Of the American Associa-
tion.
Bobby Wallace, manager OF the 81.
Louis Browns, has released outright Shan
ley and Cross, two inhelders. and has sold
Jim Magee TO the Lowell club Of the New
England League.
Ivan Olson. shortstop. will be captain oil
the Cleveland team of the American League
this season. This announcement was made
yesterday by Harry Davis, the new man
ager, al New Orleans. 1t had been thought
that Larry Lajoie would be captain. Olson
played with Cleveland last year. having
come from the Portland team OF the Pacific
Coast League.
Davis also announced the release Of Swim
dell. pitcher; Barr. first baseman. and Hem
dirk. third baseman, TO the New Orleans
team of the Southern League.
The three-mlle professional roller skating
championship OF the East will be decided
fhis evening at the Metropolitan Roller
Rink. This H. the third race In a series OF
I'VE now being conducted weekly. There
are eleven entries, among them being Will
fam Blackburn, the national professional
champion.
~ga - "a W ARE On 70 n