The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20
TOPICS IN WHICH
MAJOR LEAGUE BUGS
ARE INTERESTED
BY WALTER MARcHAND

New York, April 19.-(Special.) 1.-The
percentage table of the first few days
OF the baseball season is not safe guide
on which to build permanent prophesies.
One of the principal charms of the ma
tional game is it's uncertainty so far as
individual games are concerned. AS a
matter of fact there is so little difference
in the individual playing ability of the
ay erage player who Is able to hold down
job in the big league that any decided
break in the luck or in the condition of
the men may enable a hopeless tailender
to beat out the league champions, occa-
sionally, or it may be for short series of
games. OF course, in the long run, there
is difference enough to enable the better
clubs to go to and stay at the top. For
the law of chances makes it certain that
tho luck will break pretty close to even
in scarous play and good men or poor
will have pretty nearly the same average
of off days. Hence, it is unsafe to pre-
dict the relative ability of clubs on any
short series of games.
Along in July the percentage tables will
begin to indicate where the teams really
belong.
1t is worth noting that in these early
genes the tail end clubs are putting up
a mighty lively article of ball even when
they have not won. The days are COM
ins when the various squads must be
cut down to the legal limit of 25 men
and all the recruits who are still on the
payroll are on the anxious bench. A
number of men have been sent back to
the minors for further seasoning and
some have been let out for good. It is
case of many are called but few are
chosen. McGraw has released Infeder
Stock, Outfielder Jacobson and Pitcher
Robertson to the Mobile club of the
Southern association McGraw will prob
ably keep a string on all these men. AS
Manager Stallings of the Braves has re-
peatedly refused to waive on Stock and
Jacobson. it may be that some deal MS
been framed up between McGraw, N>n-
ager Mickey Finn of the Sea Gulls, and
Stallings by which the Big Chief will be
rewarded for withdrawing his claims to
Stock and Jacobson.
Aside from the actual winning of base
ball pennants, every fan is interested in
the monetary side of the game When
he drops his cash into the Golfers of the
club he is desirous, In a way, of know
ing what becomes of his outlay.
For the simple reason that the owners
rightfuIly elect to treat with secretive-
ness the dispensing of their revenues
the average enthusiast has been kept
totally in the dark as to what uses his
money is put to.
AS result he Is of the belief that
the club owner makes fabulous profits
and is thoroughly convinced that every
time a player of ability holds out the
PLAYER is absolutely justified. In some
instances such may be the case. In others
II will be found that the players are
paid according to their ability, and the
pay is mighty good at that.
Standing in the ultimate result of a.
baseball race means money to the own
ers. II the club finishes first the divi-
dends are worthy the amount invested
IL the team finishes outside the first .di-
vision maybe the dividends do not war
rant the outlay. Second division teams
are not wonderful money-makers.
In paying salaries club owners must
resort to a computation of averages,
whether Willingly or unwittingly. Wheth-
er they employ actual figures to aid them
in the fixing Of the payroll or not the
men behind the cashier know why they
are paying such and such player so
much. "a
That's why Honus Wagner IL sent a
blank contract every time his agreement