Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-23
BY J. ED GRILLO.

That base ball will be in the civil courts
before long is evidenced by the fact that
tho Federal League intends to resent the
efforts Of organized base bail to wreck
Its forces The signing of Catcher KILL
fer by the Philadelphia club, after he
was under contract to the Federal
League, is apt to be used as the test
case and much will depend on the deci-
sion rendered in this instance. With or
ganized base ball willing to sign players
who have jumped to the Federals there
Is no alternative for the new league but
to go to court for self-protection.
The Federals insist that they are add
ing major league material to their teams,
but still refuse to give the names of the
players they have signed, SO that there
is really no way to judge just what prog
ress, If any. the outlaws are making.
Major league magnates and managers
continue to, Insist that the Federals can
not last. even though they succeed in
opening the season, but the promoters
seem not to be disturbed by these pre-
dictions and continue to push the work
Of completing their organization.
In at east six OF the eight cities which
are named as constituting the Federal
circuit paii parks viii nave TO be oulit
and it is questionable if this work can be
completed in time for the opening, which
is to take place early in April.
Though it was generally conceded that
the series of games Boston and PITS
burgh played In Hot Springs last spring
put both of them out of their respective
pennant races, t has not yet been deh-
nitely settled not to play this series again
this spring. 1t seems that when the last
series was over McAleer and Stahl. act
ing for the Boston club, agreed to play
again this spring. But since neither Is
now identified with the club. and no
one in Pittsburgh has heard anything
regarding the series, it is not known
whether games will be played or not.
1t is to be hoped for both teams that
the series will be called off. for there is
no question that both kept themselves
out Of last years race by reason of the
players being overworked before tney
were ready for the strain.
Notwithstanding the fact that Owner
Ebbets admits that Tinker has signed
with the Federal League, he gives it as
his opinion that Tinker will play with
Brooklyn next season. Ebbets. VINO has
been in touch with the Federal Sltua-
league will never get started, and that
Tinker, when he sees that he is In bad,
will report to Brooklyn, where ten
thousand-dollar bonus is awaiting him;
Frank Navin OF the Detroit cup pc
lieves that Edgar Willett. the big pitcher
of the Tigers, will not desert his team.
though Willett is known to have signed
Federal League contract, on which he
received $1,000 advance money. NaVln
has correspondence from WilIett written
the last couple Of weeks, in which he
said that he would sign with Detroit
just as soon as the Players Fraternity
pledge was lifted. and he expressed the
hope that none of the Tigers would be
20 ofs vn-ith ha
But Willett weakened when he got
flash at a roll Of real money and took
the jump. Navin says that he will weak
en- befo.e the season opens and Will re-
points out that Willett will have commit
ted no offense against the Detroit club
or organized base ball until he has actual
ly played with the outlaws"
A committee Of members of the Base
Ball Writer'S Association N selecting an
all-star team picked Jake Daubert as
the best first baseman. Archer was
selected as the best backstop. with
Schang second. Walter johnson was the
unan. NOUS choice as being the best right
handed pitcher, while Nap Rucker was
chosen the star of the southpaws, with
Plank and others receiving scattered
votes.
1t is questionable If the ball player ever
lived who Is so generally recognized as
<
Walter Johnson. There is never dis
senting vote when the question of select
ing the greatest pitcher comes up. Even
SO great a master as Mathewson. admits
that Johnson is the greatest ever.
In the courts of PENNSYLVANIA the re-
serve clause in a ball players contract
was declared legal and upheld some four
teen years ago. 1t will be remembered
that Lajoie jumped his reserve clause
and went to the American League. but
when he tried to play in Philadelphia as
a member of the Cleveland team he was
enjotned and the upper court held that
the reserve clause was legal.
President Baker Of the Phillies figures
that inasmuch as the contract In vogue
in those days held its own in court, the
present one, which is even more equi-
table and stronger, is sure to stand the
legal test.
The 1900 form of contract had inserted