Evening star., 1913-01-20
BY J. ED GRILLo.

There seems to be no truth in the re-
port that the owners of the property on
which the Polo Grounds are located have
prevented the consummation of the ar
rahgement whereby the Highlanders are
to play on the same grounds with the
Giants the coming season.
President Hampstead of the Giants -
said to be perfectly willing to suitcase
lfls grounds to President Farrell and just
as soon as some minor details are ar
ranged the necessary papers will be
signed.
1t will mean a whole lot to the New
York Americans and the American
League to play on the Polo Grounds.
where the attendance is sure to be more
than doubled. Work on the Yankees
new grounds at Kingsbridge is progress
ing rapidly and it is expected that the
new plant will be entirely completed by
fall.
1t is known that President Ban John
son does not look with favor on the ar
rangement which will allow both the
Giants and the American leaguers to play
on the same grounds. He figures that it
dampens much of the rivalry which is
the life of the game, but he will undoubt-
L,
that the New York club is virtually home
less at the present time.
If Cleveland can see its way clear to
let Lajoie go to New York that club will
do the American League a good turn.
Lajoie would prove an attraction I'm the
big city and incidentally he would do
much to make Chances team formidable.
1t is. of course, asking a good deal to
have ball club give up a star ball play
hr,f ho min 1c hat ha
would not be weakened by letting Lajoie
out. He has been in the town too long,
and it is questionable whether any man.
ager could make success of the team
does not give his team his best efforts.
but his style of play is often copied by
the young players and they lack the
ability to get away with it. Under new
environments Lajoie might be a star for
some years to come, and he would un-
doubtedly make the New York team a
better drawing card than it has been.
Washington has about as many players
who compare favorably with the stars of
their position as any team in either
league. Milan, for instance, ranks with
the crack outfielders of the country and
proved himself the best base runner in
either league. Eddie Foster at third was
undoubtedly the best third baseman in
this league. barring Baker. whose won
derful hitting ability makes him of more
value to his team. Then at first there
was Gandil. There was nothing to show
that any player in that position had any
thing on him. In fact. it was the general
opinion that Gandil proved himself the
best first baseman in the league. There
are few better shortstops than Mcbride,
the fact that he does not
rank high among the hitters, and when it
comes to pitchers Johnson is conceded to
be the greatest pitcher in the game today
Incidentally the Nationals have a catch
ing staff which is acknowledged to be one
of the best, so that there is no extensive
search necessary to learn why the team
finished second last season.
1t is hard to believe that it. was ever
intended to have Al Palzer fight Jack
Johnson in France. What could the OBJ
ject of such match be but to add to the
Golfers of the promoters. Palzer has no
right i'm the same ring with johnson.
Palzer is about the last of the white
hopes who should be pitted against the
cOlOred champion. One wonders that the
fight game is not dead and buried when
such matches are contemplated. john
son, of course. is not to be blamed. He
has a perfect right to pick up all the
easy money that is thrown I'm his way.
but 1t Is evident that the fight followers
of France are not wise. or such match
would not even be limited at.
This is the time of the year that some
dopesters retire Hans Wagner and Larry
Lajoie and it's almost safe bet that
these wonderful base ball players will be
wearing their uniforms next season and
not only playing a high-class game. but
ranking right up among the leaders IN
their respective leagues. The marvellous
has been playing in the big
show for seventeen years, while the
Dutchman has seen sixteen years OF hard