The Washington times., 1914-08-23

, any sensibilities. Tho minute betting
takes real foothold. a lot Of players
VIII want to quit right off and not re-
main to be the targets for the abuse
OF disappointed pikers.
The Judgment OF q baseball crowd to-
ward player Is not always fair and
Just There are scores of instances
wherein good men have been driven out
OF town, only to prove stars some-
where else. Some Of the well-knowu
Players that Cincinnati has turned loose
and there are enough Of them 70 form
q team that could win a pennant in
either leasue-had to quit because Of the
roasting they got. The fans hoped
aboard them tie FIRST time anything
went wrong and didn't give the unfortu-
nate pastfmer chance to get going
crowds were yelling for George Nc
Brides scalp. He wasn't hitting much
then and every time he popped up or
struck out, tho 1eers would start I am
sure that the fans would have given
him an unconditional release II they had
been allowed to do so. Yet where
would Washington have been the last
three years but for this mans wonder
ful work? Take him out Of the Ma
tional's lineup and the club wouldn't
Even II the washington captain didn't
hit at all. he would be q valuable man
for his fne defensive work. He Il the
key to Griffith's infield and not only
plays brilliant ball himself. but steadie0
the other three men.
There are lot Of men rated a. starr
In the big leagues today who would have
been sent back to the minors II the fans
had been allowed to manage the clubs.
and some Of them doubtless would have
become discouraged and quit the game
for good.
do not see why three pitchers
should not hold q club UP for the great
er part Of season 1t has been done
before and can be done again under
pressure. In the old days, q hurier
who got a couple of days rest thought
he was having regular vacation, but
now II some Of the boxmen are asked
to tS, toll !, oftener q than once week. they
of the boys good to get in there and
work every third day and I believe
that Just as many slabmen are spoiled
by underworld as by over-work
ball dope. you viii see that the big win
ners have been iron men, They are
some exceptions. but they only prove
the rule. Pitchers like Bender and
Plank. who are getting along toward
the close of their days Of baseben
activity. could not be called on often,
but these young and strong fellows
oughtn't to kick II they have to 70
through nine innings twice a week
1t is a peculiar but nevertheless In.
disputable fact that some ball clubs
can plav better on the road than they
can at home. The general idea among
the fans is that all teams win more
than on hostile shores, but there are
any number of cases I might cite to
show that the contrary is sometimes
true.
lot to do with this ability to perform
well at home and abroad. Some men
are inclined to wilt under hostile crit
ic'sm and to be inspired to almost su-
perhuman deeds by the encouragement
Of a friendly throng Others do not
get mad enough to do their best work
when the fans are against them
One fine example Of the sort Of club
that could go at top speed. no matter
vas the Detroit team of 1907. 1905. and
1909. We had fighting bunch In those
days and the more they rode Us, the
better we played. In all three Of the
years. we practically won
the pennant on the road. This vas
especially true in 1907. when we started
on our last Eastern jaunt with little
apparent chance Of winning. All the
experts had II doped out that, az the
Athletics were to finish at home. while
we were obliged to make a swing around
the circuit in September. they would
beat US to the wire. But the wise
guys reckoned without that old Tiger
spirit.
We lust naturally tore the hide off the
Es stern clubs and when We had finished
that trip all we had to do was to beat
the Browns a game and the flag was
ours Then. as now. ST. Louis vas
not by any means a champtnnship cluo
and we had no trouble in 0ofting hat
victory.
Starts on September 10.