El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-02-14

favored to win the pennaut at the opening
81 the season the club was lucky TO Keep
or,e "a fbe second division The fans nave
had their loyalty tested 70 Lne UNIT -
juries, Illness, and bad luos1nse1I. A 49, t
OF q club known to have penndnl p OssllLl
itfes The fans know something rs wrong
they seek to have the Iaults Is-ilsOieO
Failure stirs Up Criticism
WHY don't they strengthen the ball club?
That is a question that perpleXes fandom'
when q club touted to win 1alls 10 snow;
When the season oDeneu lns Lalls EeL0 W
Satisfied with the lineup OF the team con-
fidcnt with any kind OF pre4h IN Luck II
would be fighting for the TOD honors VOW
that the team has failed, these same ans
who had EXPRESSED pennant homes were
cIaunoriuq for changes in a club that few
months previous had been regarded as a
possible pennaut winner.
a desire to win a pennant and share in
the glory and gold that Is part or the
every club owner. manager and player.
Every league has the club regarded as fayor-
lite, every league has 1eF certain cluoS mar
are known to lack the class a peIlnaht WI
ner must possess but IN every league Win
eight clubs, there are perhaps five OF them
who really and truly believe they nave d
chance 10 win the pennant. and with II the
right to take part in baseballs classic r all
ure Of a team to show. that was touted to
the club owner. than L Is 10 ran or player
the winning Of pennant means thousands
and thousands OF dollarB IN real com ana
added prestige.
Loser worries Club Owner.
While fandom is demanding that club
that has failed be strengthened, the owner
IS invariably pulling his brain as TO how
he can bring about such q condition no
one desires to have a classy aggregation
more than the magnate. Re realizes team
that is I'D in the race gets the money at the
gate. Sentiment has its place in baseball
but the almighty dollar is also somewhat Of
an attraction In an effort to better MS cIubr
owners each year try out recruit after re-
cruft with little or no success It is we'll
Known fact that about one in every 30
azr-
star players Thousands OF dollars are wasted
each year on recruits, who are highly touted
times that amount is lost at the gate, be-
cause of the failure OF the players to deliver
who were recommended so highly.
have often heard Of owners accused OF
not desiring to win the pennant, being per-
fectly content Just so long as they finished
anywhere in the first division Such an as
sertion is most ridiculous Just a little
common sense reasoning ought to immedi-
ately dispel such q belief There is consid-
cradle sentiment in baseball as I have stated.
but financial Inducements always override
sentiment Few club owners have fortunes
invested in ball parks and players for fun
They seek returns. Il is @ we'll known fact
that a winning team gets the money at
home and on the road. Tt is only natural
then that every cluD owner should desire a
winning aggregation. a club always in the
hunt FOR the pennant. team always hav-
ing a chance to win creates the enthusiasm
that makes the turnstiles click. There can
be only one pennant winner. only four clubs
in an eight club league can finish in the
first division Consequently each year brings
forth its disappointments. No person is more
seriously affected by an unsuccessful ball
club than the fellow who is backing it. The
big question in baseball Is to get a winner
for a winner viii do the rest.
Luck Plays Prominent Part
Creating a winning ball team is largely a
question Of luck, patience, brains and
money; with luck and patience the princi-
pal clements OF success Star players are
not for sale Fancy prices which would
tempt a man in any other business. are not
at all alluring to 3 club owner. when the
disposal of q star player is concerned. Ev-
cry owner is willing to give money for star
players but few star players for money.
There is reason
Very often the addition Of one or two star
players TO club, viii add just enough
Strength TO land a pennant Very often such
men VIII turn a second division certainty
into a possible pennaut winner For ex-
ample in 1910 and 1911 q couple OF good
battery men would have probably laaded the
pennant for Hughey Jennings at Detroit. No
one realized this fact any more than the
peppery leader Of the Tigers. His club was
making a gallant fight under adverse con-
ditions The securing Of a star battery
would be just the thing to bolster UP the en-
tire aEgrc cation. It is well known fact
that the Detroit club tried its very best to
put through g deal that would acquire the
I-rch needed strength. Awhile never denied or
confirmed it is well known fact that the