The San Francisco call., 1913-12-08
HOWARD HAS
NEW STARS
IN LINE
Manager of Seals Is Well Sat-
iSfied With Outlook for
Next Season
BY JOE MURPHY

Del Howard of the Seals declares
that he has his team fairly well
shaped for next season. The leader
OF the local club returned from the
east last week, where he has been
negotiating for big league players for
his club. Up to date Del has landed
TWO major leaguers. and he has his
INES out for couple more players.
just who these new men are Del is
not ready to give out. as he fears that
publicity in the matter might inter-
fere with his present arrangements,
so ne has decided to wait until he
has the players signed before making
any announcement. It is known that
ne Is after Pitcher Earl Moore of the
chicago Cubs, and he is on the trail
or another big Lacquer whose identity
has been concealed by Howard.
Howard believes that If he lands
the players he has in view the San
francisco club Will be as strong as
any In the league next season and
that 1t will be up in the race fighting
pends upon the showing of the new
eomers. but Howard is sanguine that
every one of them will make good.
When asked about the bad reports
regarding Charley O'Leary, who was
secured from the St. Louis National
league club by Howard. the Seal
leader explained that any ball player
is likely TO have bad year. Howard
declares O'Leary is young in years
and that there is no reason why he
should not be a valuable man for
several years to come.
O'Leary played in ST. Louis last
season, town where good ball play
ers seem TO go wrong. When playing
with the Detroit club, O'Leary was
star fielder and was credited with
being the fastest man in the league
IN putting the ball on runner He
was by no means heavy hitter in the
big brush, but he manageable TO get by.
Howard is sanguine that O'Leary
viii not prove a bloomer. He seems
sure that the former Tiger will dis
play enough form during the train
ing season to show that he is en-
titled to one Of the infeld berths.
=
The magnates of the National
league meet today in New York. and
the principal item of business which
fs to come up for disposal is the cleo
tion OF president. A new leader has
been selected already in Governor
John K Tener OF Pennsylvania. 1t was
agreed between the league directors
several weeks ago to name Tener. It
Is understood that he is to be elected
TO office for q term of five years at a
salary not less than SIS, 900 a year
AS Governor Tener's term of Office
az governor of Pennsylvania does not
expire until 1915, he will not take an
active hand in the management of the
league affairs until that time. In the
meantime Secretary John A Heydler
will look after the affairs Of the
league, though Tener will be con-
suited on important matters.
The demands made by the Players
fraternity for a change in the play
ers' contracts are likely to be given
some consideration. No definite ac-
LTon outside of a discussion is likely
patter will be placed entirely in the
hands of the national commission.
x X
Manager Del Howard yesterday dis
posed of Pitcher Jess Baker to the
Spokane club Of the Northwestern
league. Mike Lynch, manager of the
Spokane club, came south with the
Northwestern league directors last
week. He Immediately opened nego-
tiations for the purchase of Baker and
the deal went through. Baker
pitched for the Spokane club a few
years ago. He then went to the Chi
ca go White Sox, from which club he
came to the Seals.
Baker is a pitcher who looks like
the goods, but has failed to deliver
since he left the Northwestern league.
At times he looks like a star and then
again his performances are very bushy.
He was one of the very best hitters
in the Pacific Coast league last sea-
son. and there was some talk OF con-
verting him into an outhelder.
Bigg Bill James, who pitched with
the Portland club last season and was
drafted by the st. Louis Browns for
next season, recently returned to Los
Angeles from a hunting trip in the
Rogue river country. James is still
suffering from a broken hand which
he secured in a tiff with Harry VOL
verton in Sacramento just before the
season closed. James is unable to open
his hand, and IL Is not getting along
IS we'll as was expected. It may be
that Bill viii not be ready for spring
training when the Browns start of
next spring.
Henry Berry Of the Los Angeles
club, who is always on the Job when
G. worlds series is scheduled, is a great
admirer of Wally Schang, the crack
catcher Of the Athletics. Berry thinks
that Schang is the peer Of the catch |
ers Of both leagues. and excepts none |
He looks upon Archer of the Cubs as
the best receiver in the National
league.
By the way, Henry thinks that he
viii have the best catching staff in
the league next season in Boles,
Brooks and Arbogast. They are a
strong trio, and many are OF the same
opinion as Henry. If the Seals retain
Schmidt and Clarke then the local
club will not be second to any club.
It's a pair hard for any minor league