New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-16
lShafer Leaves a YaWning
Gap in the Inheld
of Giants.
{ SNODGRASS MAY BE
MAN FOR THE PLACE
Travers and Ouimet Likely to
, Keep the English Golfers Busy
Guarding Their Title.
By Herbert.

dreaded than scented notes by Arthur
Shafer. crstwhlc third baseman OF the
Now York Giants. and now determined
non believer in baseball as one way to
earn a living His aversion to perfumed
notes was overcome a year ago, but il
looks at this writing as IL a few struggling
gray hairs. induced by the worries and
cares of a pcnnant race. have set him in
ovitably against helping John J. McGraw
and his men win another National League
flag Needless TO say, his detection may
prove serious. McGraw himself admitted
at the baseball dinner a few days ago
that nc vas worried about that third cor
ner. The breaking up of an inteld has
been attended with disastrous results 50
many times that the fans may be par
donod for expressing feelings of some
anxiety, and ! have heard many express
slons OF this kind in the last few days.
one year ago McGraw was burdened
with almost too much riches for his IN
fell. with Charley Hcrzog and little
HciHie Groh on the roster, in addition TO
those players who turned out TO be reg
ulars. Groh. however. was used In a trade
last summer. while Herzog was released
To manage the Cincinnati Reds since the
season closed. the little Napoleon feeling
secure with the men whom he firmly be-
lievcd were AT his command. Now, how
ever. he faces the necessity of fitting
now coz TO his inheld machine at place
harder 10 fiji. perhaps, than any other.
Eddie Grant. one of his utility players,
purchased last summer, and Milton Stock,
who has had no big league experience, al
though a most promising youngster, make
up the material in sight unless perchance
there is something in the fact that Fred
Snodgrass has been lowering about third
base in the practice at the training camp
for the last few days. At the best, how
ever, it looks as if the Giants would begin
the race none too we'll fortified at that
all important corner.
IL would not Ice altogether surprising II
Shodgrass developed into n good third
bGseman lie is one of those all-around
PLAYERS. with the faculty of making him
self at home In almost eny position. orig
inally signed as catcher. he has proved
himself a thoroughly good outfielder UNI
der the coaching Of McGraw and an able
substitute for Fred Merkle at first base.
In my opinion, he lacks the easy grace OF
such men as Fletcher. Shafcr and Herzog
in handling ground balls. but he covers
lot Of territory and has a fine throwing
arm. SO that il IS quite ossDle that he
might adapt himself to new surroundings
and III what certainly looks like a yawn-
ing gap. It will be interesting under the
circumstances TO see how McGraw solves
one Of the hardest problems which he has
been called upon to face in several years.
It's q safe wager that he will solve it 10
the best advantage.
Pity the poor Phllies,' was an apt
phrase which came TO my attention within
the week, and it struck home with some
force The team which finished second 10
the Giants in the National League race
last year has been shot TO pieces, and
McGraw's task in finding a third baseman
is as nothing compared TO Charley Dooin's
burden in having to replace Mike Doolan
at shortstop, Otto Knabe at second base,
three pitchers Scaton, Brennan and Cam
nitz-and possibly Killifcr. the catcher.
Eppa HiXey also insists that he cannot
report until June, because OF his college
course All ~ which means rough going
and plenty OF IT, The Federal League
may be a joke TO Ban johnson. but it's 4
biting reality TO William Baker. president
OF tho Phillcs. II all depends upon the
point OF view.
Much has been written and said ancnt
'glorincd rcurders" and other English
opinions OF baseball since that now
fam ous game between the Giants and the
White Sox which went eleven innings be
fore the King. The summing up Of that
game. however, I'm TIE Daily Mirror" a
London publication, just at hand is worth
repeating. II said:
In wbirlwind game the Chicago White
soY defeated the New York Giants snd:--
Players made one handed catches Of balls
whiz1inR like meteOrs.
Bstsmen slammed cuyeting redhot deliv-
cries TO the top of the grandstaud.
PLAYED balls swerving like swallows and
hurled with cam ball force.
fans In frenzy yelled XIII him"
Masked" umpire stood behind catcher"
PLAYERS showed skill which earns them
r. 900 year
That. family, was how the Americans
played baseball.
Family says the writer. Surely such
modesty is becoming in one who evidently
felt that he was not doing full Justice TO
the great American game.
Golfers have reason 10 be hopeful OF re-
suits from the invasion OF the links OF
Great Britain by four such represent
alive players as Jerome -. Travers. hold
or Of the national. metropolitan and New
jersey titles; Francis Ouimet. who de-
feated two OF England's greatest and best.
20 say nothing OF the professional stars
OF this country in winning the open cham
pionShip last fall. Frederick Herreshoff
and Arthur G.. Lockwood.
II Is no child's play 20 beard the Eng
lish golfers over their own links but what
man has done man can do, and Il IL still
recalled with keen satisfaction that Walter
j. Travis went abroad several years ago,
ana In his quiet way captured the sma
tour championship Of Great Britain ana
put the United States on the golnng map
Since then others have tried only TO fail
but with At least four strings 10 this
year's golhng bow. and possibly two or
three otherr 10 Chick" Evans. Warren
X. WOOD and T. Heinrich Schmidt decide
10 make the trjp. Harold H. Hilton and
bfa zea.,cfafce NUT rird I'D their lOius