The Detroit times., 1914-12-15
Majority of Stars Signed Are
Veterans of Game, Nearing
the Inevitable
AMERICAN LEAGUE DID
NOT MAKE THAT MISTAKE
Robbed Nationals of Youngsters
During War That Made
Johnson Circuit

IL is believed that the Federal
leaguers never heard OF the old adage
Youth will be served" At any rate,
they are not following the example
set by the American league when il
made war upon the National. When
ban Johnson led his brigade in its
victorious attack upon the National
IL years ago, the American leaguers
went after the younger element in
stead OF signing up the veterans.
The only real old-timers taken over
were George Davis, Jesse Burkett.
Vilbert Robinson, Jim Mcclure, Billy
Keller, Kid Gleason. Clark Griffith.
Ed Delahanty, Joe Kelley, Charley
Farrell, Lave Cross, Billy Sullivan,
Hugh Duffy. Jimmy Collins and Cy
Young. and the latter was not induced
to Jump until the Americans had care.
fully considered his case and decid.
ed he had a few more years of sue.
cessful pitching in his wonderful right
arm. The others. like Lajoie, Craw.
ford. Bernhard. Flick, Chick Stahi,
Dave FultZ, Harry Howell, Doc White,
Tom Hughes, addie Joss. Jim Gala
han, Ruhe \ addell. Jimmy Barrett,
John McGraw. Lou Criger, Mike Don.
lin, Jack Powell and others were
either youngsters or big leaguers of
only few years experience
The American leaguers were build
ing for the future. but the Feds seem
TO be able only to contract for the
present, organized baseball having eff
fectlally checked the inroads upon
their younger players by signing them
TO long time iron-clad contracts AT
any rate, the present day outlaws
have been able 10 induce only a few
big leaguers TO jump that have a
chance To last more than a few year,
in fast company. In fact, outside OF
Walter Johnson, Ray Caldwell, Ivor
Wingo Perritt. Packard. Moseley,
1 Rip Hagerman and few others. what
big leaguers that have not reached
the 30-year mark are they that have
executed the hurdle?
Above the 35-year mark are Eddie
Plank 40. Mordecai Brown 3S, Earl
Moore SO. Fielder Jones 3S. Danny
Murphy IS. Jacklitch 3S, Charley Carr
SO, Larry Schlafiey &C. Just touching
that figure are Joe Tinker. Mike
Doolan, Fred Falkenberg. Davy Jones
and Holly. Topping so years In age
are Bender 80. Camnitz 33, Groom go
Ford 81, Simon 80. Suggs 80, Mullin
"a, Stoyall 81. knabe 80. Jim Della
hanty 80. Artie Holman SO, Billiard 80.
Land 80, O'Connor 80, Konetchy 30,
! Bridwel 33. Frank Delahanty 80,
Chase 80, Laporte 81, Crandall 30,
Bates 80, Griggs 81, A. Wilson 30.
Swacina 81, Engle SO. Berry 81. Drake
30, Blair 81, Evans 80.
Others close to the 30 mark are
Walter Johnson. Rip Hagerman. Ed
gar Willett Jack Qulnn. Boucher,
Zwilling, A. Rankin Johnson, Owens.
Ted Easterly, Art Kruger. Lennox
Steve Yerkes, linn, Bill Bailey, Ed
LATTE, Vincent Campbell, Choinard
and Beck
These ages have been taken from
Fandom, compiled by George More
land, the famous statistician, and
may be taken as accurate. With
such bunch Of vets. where will the
/ Feds he In a year or so, providing
they last that long and do not induce
other big leaguers to jump. In view
OF the fact that the two big leagues
already have adopted the defensive
system of signing up their younger
4 valuable players TO contracts that
cannot De broken, the outlook for the
outlaws strengthening is not the
brightest.