The Washington times., 1913-10-23

What is this Federal League, any,
way? 1t is an organization Of teams
not operating under the so-called ma
tional agreement. 1t Is headed by
shadow just now, but Lloyd Rickart,
former secretary of the st. Louis
Brownies, will become president next
month at the annual meeting. Otto
Stifel, st. Louis business man, is the
leagues angel He Is variously re-
ported to be millionaire. This awaits
confirmation. This Federal League
finished Its 1913 season with six teams,
having found it necessary to drop one
or two for lack OF financial support.
The caIiber of the league Is painfully
low. Spawned old veterans like Jack
kleinow, former Yankee backstop, and
green youngsters too slow to hang on
to bertha In various minor leagues form
the rank and file Sam Lever, the old
time Pirate pitcher. twirled for one OF
the teams He did the same thing for
Pittsburgh in 1908 and was a seasoned
player then.
Jack O'Connor, not credited with be-
Ing a Shakesoearean scholar nor an sX-
pert penman, managed the ST LOUIS
club. Uncle Cy'Young led the Cleve-
land club Aside from OConnor, who had
of the managers ever had experience ON
the job. II Stovall takes the Kansas
City club, he will De the lone manager
with real experience and any success
In many ways the Federal League Is
a joke, though costing Stifel ana a ie"
others a lot of money.
In trying to place a team IN Bati-
more the Federal Leaguers have trled
| to interest local capital, but the snrewo
Maryianders failed to seize the pant.
They want to be shown something nrst
before putting up their money. Rumors
are going the rounds that clubs VIII oe
placed in Philadelphia, Brooklyn New
! York and Buffalo, but rumors are ou.
idle air. 1t is impossible to nnd any
one in any OF these cities VINO VIII
stand for quotation.
Baltimore would welcome a major
league team, but the Federal League
cannot offer it one. The Federal League
teams rank about as high as Class ~, OF
possibly Glass c teams in ORGANIZED
baseball. Baltimore now mas a s ,eai1 Tha II. !
Federal League Is doomed to starve, 1
n gees into Baltimore. If the Oriole
fans won't support Jack Dunn. they VIII
never even pass along the same sioe Oh
the street with the outlaws.
The PLAYERS Fraternity wants II maoe
impossible to withdraw waivers, ONCE
thew have been asked. This Is an eScei-
lent rule. 1t has never obtained IN the
American League, tHOuSh IL 'ieiS
Older ORGANIZATION. Waivers mean little
or nothing now. save to allow jockeyins
between managers. They are supposed
70 he kept secret. but They leak out
regularly, sometimes keeping PLAYERS
frCm enjoying their sleep Many
player has had his name in the waivers
for months and held his job The Amer
can League rather likes this condition
of affairs and so will fight the demand
of the fraternity.
Hal Chase's failure last season Is still
proyiding gossip in the stove league.
and the guess is hazarded as to his re.
manning with the White Sox. II IS not
impossibIe that he will be traded next
spring. The greatest first baseman OF
them all is sliding backward as fast as
he came forward.
Manager Griffith does not expect to
attend the American League meeting In
Chicago next month. though he VIII go
to New York FOR the annual sc-apfest OF
the National Leaguers. Grtn is still
fishing for the combination that will
land the pennant