The Washington times., 1914-02-01


assume charge of the ball club. While
he has failed, as yet, to reach the high
est point, still in a comparatively short
time he has so rehabilitated the team
longer the laughing stock in baseball
matters.
In rejecting upon the manner in
which things were formerly managed It
Is not at all surprising that Washington
was allowed to stumble along in the
Tuck, with all hands laughing and the
patrons of baseball here being kidded
into believing that there was really
some sincerity in the plans of those in
charge.
After Joe Cantillon had been let out,
James R. McAleer was wished on
Washington and then came the worst
experience the city had ever known.
For corporation of the size of the
ball club to rattle along without even
90 much as an office and no systematic
effort being made to obtain material
would seem rather remarkable. But
such were the conditions when the fire
that swept National park marked the
5esinning of a new era, resulted in
McAleer being allowed to go to Bos-
ton, and then came Clark Griffith.
Everything connected with the ball
club was changed. Offices were OBJ
tained at once and, without delay Grif-
nth started out to bring about order
from the chaois which he found when
he arrived here. How we'll he succeed
ed may be decided after recalling that
In each of the two years he has been
here he has finished in the van Of two
worlds champion teams. True McAleer
left much of the material here, still il
was the business-like methods of Grif-
nth that really brought results that
had never been even dreamed Of.
The attitude of the papers had been
largely one of indifference. All seemed
resigned to the situation, till at last
came the change, and, in order to recol-
lect just the way things were when the
call for the abdication Of McAleer
came, we are reprinting an article that
appeared in The Washington Times on
June "a, 1911 1t was the first shot in
the battle for imroved conditions. COM
Ing from this paper that had no direct
connection with the ball club
The story follows:
The day of reckoning for the wash
ington ball club is at hand.
Never before since the invasion of
the American League, a decade ago,
Changes are demanded; action is i'm
perative.
I'm the past the patrons of baseball
here have been simply forced TO endure
what they have been offered in the way
Of their favorfte sport, but something
must now be done or the stockholders
VIII be confronted by a most serious
nnanclal crisis. In order to assure pay
ment for the modern cement plant that
has arisen from the ashes Of old Ma
tlonal Park, bonds were issued. and to
each purchaser went a guarantee Of a
certain earning. This profit must he
reSiized. but even the most optimistic
baseball that is being furnished, crowds
can be drawn sufficiently large to OBJ
tain the necessary funds.
The throng that assembled for the
OnRnlnR wa ha 10
witnessed a ball game in this city-the
largest by thousands. The outlook az
most promising, and all was content
ment. Once the club fell back into the
ruck' however, the reaction set In. and
the closing days of the last stav AT
nome saw some Of the smallest attend
ances ever registered for major league
naseoaIl In this or any other city. The
limited oleacher was rather we'll filled,
Out stretches of empty seats in pavilion
ana Erandstand bore silent evidence Of
The dissatisfaction Of those who in mast
years had hoped against hope and pa-
tron!zed what bordered on a rather
mediocre branch Of minor league ball
But the end is apparently here, or
course, receivership is not likely, nor
is forfeiture of the franchise nrob-
able. but it is known that some Of the
os! raost conservative OF those who are d.
IecunG the destinies OF the club realize
that II the present season is to end
successfully revolutionary changes must
be made
The whole hope is in a team, and
the present team is helpless True, an
occasional game may be won, but with
the ha!f-oentury mark passed in. the
matter OF contests played, and with
one-third Of the season a matter Of his
tory, the Nationals are out of last place
only through the puerile weakness Of
ST. Louis rather than because Of any
inherent strength of the representatives
Of this city.
THE club that is following McAleer
is outclassed, and around the circuit is
rated as a Jest Orfensively and de-
fensively the Nationals are utterly
without the requisite strength except in
a few individual places. II these stars
do not soon sink back into the rut il
win be because they possess in a sl-
perlative degree the moral stamina to
shine when everything around them is
going to pieces.
We have heard every cunceiva Bile
excuse offered, but results are now be-
ing demanded. and they are not forth
coming. We have been told that air
tight pitching mas been all that was
needed. but when this has been fur
nished the offense has toppled OF the de-
fense has crUmbled. When the pitchers
have been good the other eight have
been bad.
I'VE have been informed Of late that
the catchers are to blame, but the fact
that no inducement financial or other
wise, would get street or Ainsmith out
of the American League is convincing
proof of the sophistry OF such an Rrgu-
ment
Taken as a whole, the outfieId is
bad, the pitchers are worse, and At !
least one position in the field must be !
strengthened before the Nationals can !
even think of making a fair showing in |
the remaining games, without even con- |
sidering regaining ground lost OF the !
players upon whom McAlesr depended, !
but who have been found wanting in !
almost every particular.
"What the Nationals need greatly is |
the infusion Of enough newt blood in |
the infield to give the whole OUTFIT |
balance. real, sure enough second !
baseman to work with the other trio |
would 60 TO make up a quartet that |
would do well enough. The catchers |
will do, but two or more pitchers with 1
more class than a couple OF the minor /
leaguers who are now drawing real /
money from the excheduer of the club |
are necessary TO change the, present |
box staff from a weird joke TO a pretty |
formidable array.
MILAN could hardly be improved upon I
but he must be flanked by men of sUf- !
dcient ability TO offset the batting /
weakness of a couple OF the infelders |
who are valuable because of their field
ing. A good hard-hitting out6eld IL es-
sential TO the success Of any team and J
this Is now cue OF the places where