The Washington herald., 1913-11-04
GRIFF NOW EXPECTS
TO ATTEND Meeting
in THE windy CITY
Old Fox Believed to Have
Something Up Sleeve IN
Shape Of Trade.
ny WILLIAM PEET.


American League meeting in Chicago
next Thursday and will represent tht
Washington club.
Griffith had not intended 10 take thu
Chicago trip, but last night said he be,
lieved he would go, which indicates thai
something is in the wind. trade ol
possibly a purchase, for the Old Fo1
always sleeps with one eye open, an6
one can never tell when he will spring
something on the unsuspecting public.
The annual meeting of the American
Z League this fall will be held one month
earlier than customary, in order to ac-
commodate Owner Con:skey. of the Chi
cago White Sox. who intends 10 pilot hi:
team around the world In company with
John McGraw's New York Giants.
Nothing sensational liz looked for al
the gathering of the Junior organiza.
ton. There is really little to be done
except to re-elect officerS, listen TO re-
ports of The various committees and
transact the other routine business
It is expected that the Players Fra
ternity and its demands will be discuss
ed, and possibly some action taken, al
though President johnson has already
put himself on record se saying that, so
far as the American League is concerned.
these demands are not unreasonable.
The Federal League may also come up
as a topic of conversation. and the agents
believed to be in the employ of the Amer
lean League for the purpose of getting
a line on the so-called outlaws may
present reports.
President johnson has ideas of his own
regarding future world series games, and
from an authoritative source II was
learned that johnson will place before
the delegates a plan to increase the
world series to nine games, to reduce the
prices of admission. and to abolish the
National Commissions 10 per cent rake
OF, providing the two major leagues will
agree to stand for yearly assessments
to pay the expenses of the commission.
There is also need of a revisement in
the playing rules, and il would not be at
all surprising IL the American League
advocates the appointment of a new
rules committee composed of one club
owner and manager from each major
league, and two delegates from the Base
ball Writer'S Association.
Reforms are badly needed in the play
ing rules, and there is a crying need for
a uniform system.
There will also be the usual talk of
trades and sales, but the meeting itself
will hardly cover a period of more than
two days.
One change in the playing rules of
which Clark Griffith has been an advo-
the custom of a field umpire taking up
his station inside the diamond.
The field umpire has no business
there-he should be outside the base
paths, where he can follow the plays
just as well as from behind the pitcher
Half the time the umpires guess at 'em,
and I doubt If they would miss any
more plays while stationed away from
the spotlight" said Grif.
lTmDira Tommy COnDolIy disaVrees
with the Old Fox. Connolly told Sthe
writer one day last summer that unless
an arbiter was right on top of a play
he could not render fair verdict, and
that in order to be fair 1t was abso-
lutely necessary for him to stand behind
the pitcher, where he was in the proper
position TO watch second, third, and first
bases carefully, allowing plenty of time
- TO dash over TO the bases when run
ners were tagged.
One game during the season just
closed was lost because a thrown ball.
hit a field umpire, and If many more
club owners suffer in this respect there
10 almost sure TO be legislation passed
forbiddins the field ump to invade the
diamond while play is going on.
In many quarters the 1914 American
League flag already has been conceded
to Connie Mack's Athletics, so easily
did the Philadelphia team triumph over
the New York Giants during the big
series last month.
OF course, the Mackmen will rule
favorites in the betting. This is as il
should be. in view of past performances.
but three other clubs will be in there
fighting-the Boston Red Sox, Nationals,
and Cleveland Naps-dangerous, every
one Of them.
Two years ago when Connie Mack
started of with just about as good pros
poets as last season, the Boston Red Sox
upset all dope, jumped in and grabbed the
flag. Nobody counted on them, not even
the wiseacres up in Beantown.
OF course, in 1912 the AthIetics had
plenty of hard luck, injuries and too
many joy riding parties handicapped the
team, but injuries are part of the game
liable to happen in the best regulated
families. 4
To the writer il looks as if the 1914
season would be much harder fought and
closer than most fans realize The Ath-
letics will not make a runaway race OF
it, that's a cinch.
Another boxing card is being planned
for the Ardmore Athletic club. with Bal
timore and Washington pugilists sched-
uled to appear in the various bouts.
Tommy Lowe, who has a ring record
longer than Battling Nelson's, and who
always puts up a satisfactory argument,
Will more than likely meet Young Britt,
Of Baltimore, in the main event for if
teen rounds.
Lowe newer bars anybody his weight,
and Britt, who is favorably known in
Baltimore, has met some of the best boys
in the country, and should prove worthy
opponent.
The Ardmore club officials announce
that they viii in future demand of all
boxers entered in the main events sub
stantial cash bonds to guarantee weight
and appearance so that the public can
be assured that everything will go on as
advertised.
The winter months have not slackened |
the ardor of Chick Gandil, the famous
Washington ball player, who has chosen |
the National Capital for his activities |
Since associating himself with the |
Royal he has already organized a |
pocket billiard team that promises to give |
coed account OF itself during the season. |
Composed of Messrs. Stanford, Goodman, |
Poole, Kipp. and himself as the team, !
they have challenged team represent |
Ing the Dumbarton Club, which contest |
VIII be played in the near future.
Clubs or other organisations desiring to |
participate should communicate with |
Capt oandii, at the Royal
unless he heard favorably from Char |
iottesViIie regarding certain propositions ]
he had IN mind for lodging his players /