Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-06
GRIFFITH TO ATTEND BIG
BASE BALL Meeting
IN new YORK
Continued from First Page.)

ing the fact that he was not as strong
a hitter as some of his rivals In the
run scoring department. made a very
respectable showing last season. scor-
ing SO runs with a team which sur
fered because of the inability of its
cleanup hitters to do the work expect
ed of them. Eddie Collins led the
league with 1872 runs scored. Murphy
of the same team was there with 1O1,
while Speaker scored an even 100.
Moeller walked II times and struck out
on SO occasions. in which latter respect
he led the team last season
Gus Williams Of the st. Louis Browns
broke all tanning records last season,
with 120 strike-outs to his credit VIII
lfams, whom Branch Hickey picks as
est of outfielders. did not make a very
creditable showing. He hit for only
.253, but showed fairly well on the
bases with IS steals to his credit.
Owen Bush of the Detroit demon
strated by his averages that he is by
far the hardest man in the league to
pitch to, walking 112 times In 1871
games. If Bush could hit bit bet
ter he would have a remarkable aver
age, for he is able to have fewer times
at bat charged against him than any
other player.
Eddie Foster figures well up with
the hitters, having 174 base hits to
his credit. None of the American
League sluggers reached the 200 mark
in this respect. Speaker leading with
193
There is no getting away from the
fact that any team which last season
could have boosted of having johnson,
Marquard. Bender and Plank on. its
STAFF would have been considered de-
cidedly strong on the slab. Every one
of these twirlers has jumped to the
nj
and are able to display the same form
of last season they are sure to have
great records at the end OF the season.
But the chances are that neither Mar
guard nor johnson will be able to full
fill their contra cts because it is be-
lieved the courts will hold them to
their old agreements with organized
base ball. But there will be nothing
done to prevent Bender or Plank from
pitching for the Feds. Connie Mack
had asked waivers on them and none
of the other clubs refused. These two
veterans were virtually free agents at
the time they signed with the Feds.
With Johnson and Marquard 1t is diff
ferent, and they will be opposed by
their respective clubs. who propose to
go to court to have them enjoined.
The announcement by the local club
that it proposes to carry the johnson
case to the highest court in order to
enjoin the big pitcher from playing
with the Feds has started contro-
versy among base ball men as to
whether Johnson can be stopped from
carrying out his contract with the
Feds. All those identified with organ
lied base bali and familiar with those
authorities consulted with reference
to the new reserve clause are positive
that the courts will act favorably upon
this part of the players contract. while
Gilmore and his henchmen insist that
the contract will not be found valid.
This wrangle will be continued all
winter long, and until the season opens
and johnson attempts to pitch. when he
will be enjoined. and a trial will then
decide the much-mooted question for
all time to come.