The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-27
REAPING REWARD OF
STALLINGS'S SUCCESS
Eoston's Capture Of Magec Is
Due to Position Of Team in
Baseball World.
TO ALTER NATIONAL RULES

beginning To reap the real profits OF ms
teams wonderful achievement. The last
worlds series was far from a hnanciaI
success to the team DIVERS involved. the
players drew down the lions share OF tho
spoils Of the four games played. But
stallings's success with hopeless tall-
endcy made It possible for Gnffney to for
t!fy against the future and Justify an out
Law of some $500, 900 in building modern
home for HE athletes.
One OF Gafrney's master strokes was in
Securing outncldcr Sherwood Magee from
the phuli,s. Thus "a great outiielder was
added to- the worlds champions. furnish
ing strength where strength was most
needed and "A dissatisfied star was saved
10 organized baseball. Mage was well
pleased with transfer to champion
team, I; Is doubtful IL he would have
agreed to a berth In Boston year ago.
The prospect OF sharing Ia next falIs
series money appealed to him as much as
the 81, 900 raise in salary.
Many looked upon the 1911 triumph OF
the Braves as a bit OF startling luck rather
than as the concerted effort OF "A well bal
anced team. \ finger OF doubt was raised
against Stallings's outiield. This manager
went through the season using two sets
Of gardeners-r.ght handed hitters against
southpaws and left handed stckers against
right handed pitchers. But in Magee
Stallings now possesses star who Will be
able to hold up his end against all kinds
OF twlrling Sherwood hits right handed
pitching we'll and left handed pitching bet
ter lie goes very far toward solving "a
real outficld puzzle for Stalings. Under
the twenty-one roster rule George would
have had a difficult time OF II carrying the
necessary six men for his double outfield
shift.
n Gaffney secures Hans Lobcrt. which
there is every reason to believe he viii do.
he will have laid the groundwork OF "A
team that should be formidable for some
years to come. Lobert would keep Intact
n sterling infield. Red Smith of course
may come back strong as ever In the
spring, but broken legs are always prob
lematic II Smith should he ms good as
ever Lobert might do woman service In
the outfed or he would 1T well to any
part Of the inner line save first base. Hans
10 a versatile inhelder.
Two rules adopted AZ the annual meet
ing OF the National League may be re-
vised or rescinded ut tho schedule meeting
IN February. one is that which set March
as the earliest date ON which spring
training would he tolerated, the other the
twenty-one roster limit between May
and September /.
Both of these amendments met with
spirited opposition from small minority.
hut were carried In the wave Of popular
economical tendencies which had organ
lied baseball by the throat AT the time.
Probably they would have remained on
tho hooks had the American League seen
III to vote the same changes The Amer
lean League will not limit its training
period aud proposes a roster limit OF
twenty-five instead of twenty-one play
crs.
Tho White Son plan to leave for tho
Pacific coast rs eatlN as February Il
bth.I american League clubs Will go
south about the middle OF February.
Spring exhibition games among teams
OF the rival leagues nave become popular
the last year or two. Often these eN-
hibitiuns ar" played early in the training
season when rival camps happen 10 lie
within easy reach An early start by
American League clubs would give the
johnson circuit a big advantage In these
trials.
1t would not he surprising II he Ma
tional League should veto the limit to
spring training for this season AT least.
Another matter which was opposed so
successfully 10y the New York Giants
that It was laid over until the Februar,'
meeting proposed compulsory waiver. This
rule was in effect IN the National League
until 1908. II was rescinded al that
time because II was not observed in the
american League. The proposed rule
prevents club owner Withdrawing a
waiver request. Like most things IL has
its good and also bad points. All of the
waiver troubles IN the National League
can be laid directly 10 the faults OF the
club officials. Waiver requests are sup
posed to be sacred in the major leagues,
But in certain quarters leaks occur. Un-
official announcements in the press do
not tend to stimulate ambition to those
whose names are associated with the axe
1t is against the apparent lack of secrecy
that the players, backed by the fraternity,
object
On apparently good authority Il has
been learned that the Federal League
will abandon Kansas city. The isolation
of the town. coupled with an apparent lack
Of interest there has prompted a shift in
the interests OF common good. flood
last fall almost completely wrecked the
stands and fences and destroyed the play
ing field, Continuation in Kansas Gay
would entail expenses which last years
business does not Justify.
The story is out that Cleveland Ia 10
supplant Kansas City Furthermore II is
said that the Ward brothers of Brooklyn
are prepared to finance the undertaking II
sufficient local capital cannot he interested
Tho Wards have "A big business establish
mcnt in the Forest City and a plot Of
ground purchased as Il real estate invest
ment, that would make an Ideal size for
q plant centrally located.
President Robert Il. Ward of the Brook
lvn Fcderals. who is vice-presidcnt OF the
Federal League, said yesterday that he
was not In position to speak officially
of Federal League plans as to circuit
changes.
"Therc IL no doubt in the world, how
ever" said he, that the Federal League
could go into Cleveland II II should he
d-cmed advisable. organized baseball
does not control all of the suitable sites,
Matters are in such shape that our league
would be able to start In there on an even
footing with tho American League next
spring II we were satisfied OF the merit
o. such step"
Florida viii entertain more major league
baseball teams n.Nt spring than ever be-
fore. Tn, reason IL that Florida is eager
and willing to give certain concessions that
tho cities uf other States cannot grant The
European wa has kept IN" great army ~
American tourists at home thu. winter. ana
Florida SCENE u he IN line for more than
it, share Of the diverted trade
Apparently there are not enough Ma
tiodal and American league teams 10 fiil
the orders Towns are bidding against
ono another sprtodly that the mag
mates are assured Of training expenses be-
fore they set out.