Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-12-11
BASEBALL STAGE SET
FOR some BIC PLAY
Without Program, However,
the Fans Are In
Darkness
BELIEVE MACK
is GOING STALE

Greed for gold is playing hob in
organized baseball this season and
when the teams toe the mark at the
beginning Of the season next summer
hardly a fan will recognize a team on
either big league circuit. The Fed
erals may or may not be responsible
for the present conditions but there
is just d bare possibility that they
are, for a close student Of the game
can discern several angles to the
situation and will discover immedi- |
ately that the great diamond sport is
being sacrificed for the almighty dol
lar
Baseball is a business, in fact. No |
enterprise with as much money In |
vested in it could be less. But the
true sportsman and follower of the |
national pastime would rather be
permitted to close his eyes TO that |
and regard the game as an amuse- |
ment. America has been taught from
the beginning to look on baseball as
the one great athletic contest that |
has remained free from manipula-
tiOns and croOkedness in the hands
of professionals.
For several weeks the eyes of
every fan In the country has been
centered on the Philadelphia Ath-
letics regarded, until the unfortunate
occurrence of last October, as the
premier aggregation of players in the
world. The cynOsure of eyes re-
mains fixed on that club and is glued
there with more force than ever now
that Eddie Collins, the keystone of
the Mack infield arch. has been pried
out and shifted to the Chicago White
Sox. There are three views to be
taken of Connie Macks actions of the
past several weeks.
Is the great general of the dia-
mond losing his grip on the games
condition? Has he permitted the
| powers that be in the American
league to persuade him to sacrifice
the Athletics in order to strengthen
other teams in the league? Or has
he seen the handwriting on the wall
and taken steps to make of the here
tofore wonderful aggregation an even
greater exponent of the diamond pas
time? Anyone of these conclusions
could be true.
Mack has had a long and success
full career in baseball. His mistakes
have been few and far between and
success has not nor never will turn
his head. That is beyond considera-
ton. But Mack might, It is argued,
be going stale and allowing some OF
his best men to depart without MAX
ing the proper effort to retain them
Those who know Mack, however, dc
not think so.
The second theory, however, Is
worthy of somewhat deeper thought
and consideration. Organized base
ball is being fought bitterly by the
Federal league. Money and patron
age are the things at stake as well
as the weapons that are being used.
Organized baseball has been beaten
at every turn. Gilmore and his as
sociates in their efforts to build up
a major league, distribute the prizes
they secure in such manner as to
strengthen as much as possible every
club in his league. Seldom do two
. stars 90 to the same team in success
sion.
What more probable than that or
}; ganized baseball decided to play the
z same game. Such a thought would
instantly suggest the Athletics al
z the first team from which to draw
= out a few plums for distribution
z among the other clubs. Could moi
= Mack have been induced TO agree tC
z parting with Bender, Plank ant
y Coombs. The asking of waivers OF
y those men may have been the frs
y open step in the carrying out of the
q scheme The players, themselves
q however, in conjunction with Fedora
q coin baked the scheme, il such i
= we're.
z In the light Of Eddie Collins sale
q though, additional credence is Loaned
u to the conclusion. Maybe this move
= as the second step, came of as ar
y ranged.
q on the other hand, however, tn,
z big majority Of followers OF the for
q tunes of the Philadelphia eonstella
= ton shining lights. believe that Con
y ME. the Great" still retains his wis
y dom. still clings to his own judg
y ment and chopped off the heads o
= Bender, Plank, Coombs and ColliR
u knowing that without them the chan
= ces Of his club repeating are bette
y than they would have been had tn
q stars remained in the lineup. Mael
= is known the world over as the bes
y developer of youthful talent the gam
u has ever seen and he may forese
= possibilities or sureties. even. in som
u of his recruits that will not be visi
y BILE to the fans until the men in ques
= ton begin TO out-shine even the grea
y Bender. the steady Plank and tn
= brilliant Collins. But the fact re
y mains that Mack will have to "shoy
y 'em." He cannot afford to fall dow
" now that he has taken the step.
y With all these things happening t
u upset the dope and cause uneasines
y among the fellows who are toastin
y their shins about the old open fir
" places or the chunk stove at tn
u corner grocery. one can't help bu
y wonder who will be the next
= seems In be the fashion these day
y 10 shift stars from one part OF IN
= heavens to another. The shiftel
q however, should take care that tn
= stars do not lose their brilliancy !
y the shifting.
y RAILROAD MEN BOWL.