The San Francisco call and post., 1913-12-31
GOOD RACE
EXPECTED
IN 1874
Portland Figures to Be
! Weaker, While Other Clubs
Will Be Stronger
By JOE MURPHY

w men Inc Season Oh 1919 C1OScQ Zig
fans were almost a unit In declaring
that Portland would come back in
1914 and repeat beyond the question
OF a doubt. These conclusions were
little chance for argument The Eeav-
ers had captured the pennant without
being put to a serious test, and it
was generally admitted that McCre-
dies 1913 baseball combination was
one of the strongest that ever played
in the Coast league.
However, the chances of Mercedes
club winning next season are not as
bright as they were several months
ago There are many reasons why the
Portland team does not look as for
midable now as 1t did at the end of
the season.
The northern club will hardly get
the same pitching as 1t did in 1913.
The loss of Big Bill James Is sure to
be felt by the combination, as pitch
ers of his caliber are hard to find IN
any minor league. Then, again, Nc
Credie may lose another player. Cleve-
land has the call on the Portland club
for one Of its men. and II 1t exercises
Its option the Beavers will be further
weakened.
There are three Beaver players
Manager Joe Birmingham OF the Maps
has been casting chances at They
are Outhelder Ty Lober. who proved
one of the best hitters in the Coast
league last season, Pitcher Zip
Hagerman and Second Baseman Bill
Rodgers
The Maps are we'll fortified with in
felders and outhelders, and they are
likely to take Hagerman. Mercedes
big right handler of the three.
If Hagerman IS taken over by Cleve-
land, Portlands pitching staff will be
shattered. James and Hagerman were
two of the best pitchers in the league.
and Portland will be greatly weak
ened BY the loss of them.
On the other hand, it looks as IL at
least three of the Coast league teams
will be strengthened next season. Los
Angeles surely will be stronger than
it was last year. Owner Henry Berry
realizes that he needs pitchers, and
he is out getting them. He has g.
couple of good men coming, and the
Angels are certain TO be stronger.
The same may be said Of Hap Ho-
gan's Tigers. He has landed a couple
of men that are sure to strengthen
his club. The southern clubs look
good at this writing
The Seals should go better next
season than they went last year. The
club that represented San Francisco
at the end of the year was practi-
cally another combination than the
one that went on the field when the
season started
The Seals should play better ball
next year, and with the addition of
a couple OF former major leaguers in
the ranks the outlook for the local
club is promising.
The Beavers Of 1918 had the class
on the other clubs of the league. They
won the pennant hands down and
would undoubtedly repeat right back
against the same deld, but 1t is
doubtful If the Port1anders of 1914
will be as strong as they were in
are at least three clubs that will go
on the field next season with add
tional strength.
Portland by no means must be con-
sidered out of the race, but IL In very
doubtful IL the northern club will
have the walkover that 1t experienced
In 1913.
Frank Chance the Glendora rancher
who spends his summers managing
ball clubs, occasionally drops into Los
Angeles and when there he forgets
about oranges and reviews the base
ball situation He seems TO be highly
elated with the team he Will go on the
field with next season. He declares It
will not be long before he has first
division combination.
Chance declares that he Is not going
20 take any Coast leaguers back with
him. He has his club pretty well
shaped for next season.
Pop" Arson Is looked upon as one
OF the greatest players the game has
known. Not alone could Arson play
ball, but he could tell a promising
youngster when he saw one. He was
the man who discovered Governor
Tener and helped 20 develop him into
9 great pitcher. He also discovered
Billy Sunday. the noted evangelist.
X x
Elmer Rieger, a pitcher who has
been working on the St. Paul club of
the American association, Is anxious
to join the Los Angeles club. Rieger
has offered his services to Berry, but
the latter is pretty we'll stocked with
pitchers. Rieger may catch on with
one of the Coast league clubs, as he
IS anxious to remain on the coast