The Washington herald., 1914-05-03
BY cHRlsry MArHEwsoN.

The Federal League is affecting base,
ball hold that It is largely responsible
for the upsets In the dope so far, and
maintain that it has had a good deal tC
do with the poor showing of.the Athletics
and Giants, both teams expecting to star
away in front and each having gotten on
to a bad beginning. Few of the ball play
ers themselves realize this, but never
theless the new league is doing 1t.
Why aren't the Giants and Athletics
now ahead, and comfortably ahead OF
the field as generally predicted before the
season opened? Each club had as good
opportunities to train as the other teams
in the big Leagues. Each was subject &c
the same weather conditions when II
came North. Why? Well both teams
are afflicted with overconfdence and
overcockiness.
Now. as j have said, the ball players
themselves do not realize this fact. But
away back in their heads they think that
II they don't make good, the hackers OF
the Federals are standing with fountain
pens poised ready to hand them big
checks to sign with the new league. Be
cause the members of each of these clubs
have won several league championships
they think that they are stars and can
loaf and always win in the end. This
feeling has taken more peunants from
clubs than any other one cause.
McGraw's Troubles.
My trouble this year" declared Nc
Graw the other day, is going to be TO
keep this team hustiing. So much has
happened in baseball lately that 1t has
Aade the bah players think more about
the chances of bigger money than play
ing ball Both the Athletics and the
Giants must be prodded, and expect to
use the prod all season In both cases.
there are too many stars"
Members. of both the Giants and the
Athletics have considered the Federal
League more than they realize. They
believe that they are going to win the
pennants in their leagues again, and
don't think a man on either club has
ever really seriously considered jumping
this year. because they all know how
much there is to be made out Of the
worlds series But if the two teams
begin to drag behind, the players will
think along this course:
We'll. suppose We do lose the cham
Qionship this year? We can sign up with
the other league for more money next
winter" That rs in the back OF their heads
now. though. perhaps. they don't admit
Il 20 themselves. But IL IS looked on in
the light of a life saver just the same
That is Just where most OF the ball
League will either be busted wide open
BY next winter or else it will be in
organized baseball. That all depends
upon how its patronage holds up. Fans
rushed out to see the teams in this
organization play the opening games in
order TO get a line on ii. but this will
not be the case throughout the season
in my opinion. Some Of the clubs are
bound to drop down toward the bottom
Of the standing. and the fans are going
to lose interest in these. Also, the
Federal League has not met the first
had break OF luck in its career with the
present Mexican war situation.
The interest in the war news and the
conditions in Mexico. II the war drags
cut. will hurt the attendance at all the
games this season. but the BeE league
which has not yet established itselt will
he the greatest sufferer from this IS a
matter OF course. I also b-i5eve -hs At
tendance will fail OF rzps5l-- and Ssh
believe that the lEszDe No. ~ s-11ng
through the season
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