Evening journal., 1914-12-09
FIVE STAR players
COST feds $4,000
Big Slice Is Taken From
Their 100000 War
Fund
COURT EXPENSES
WILL EAT MUCH

That the Federal League will not per
NIT expense to stand in the way of its
becoming a major organization is evil
denced by the signing, during the past
seven days, of five stars at a cost OF
approximately sl20OOO The acquisi-
tion of Eddie Plank, Chief Bender, Wal
ter johnson, Rube Marquard and Lee
Magee is some weeks work and makes
serious inroads into the material of both
the National and American Leagues.
Ban johnson and other magnates have
tried to belittle the success of the Feds
but facts is facts and the public Is
not fooled.
IL is said that the Federals have a
war fund of 100000 and that they will
spend that amount to bolster up weak
places and place the league on "A paying
basis. The fund won't last long at the
rate the scouts went last week and they
/ do not have enough stars yet to give
every club enough strength to compete
with the majors. The Hopping of the
two Mack twirlers, the Washington phe-
nom and New York's own rube are sig
niiicant features of a significant situa-
tion, however, and may be expected to
be followed by the desertion of other
shining lights of the organized baseball
constellation.
Perhaps organized baseball is wor-
ried. Perhaps not. At all events there
is every evidence that the Feds believe
they are in the game TO stay and there
! is a great deal in confidence, especially
] I.trh. - a.I I.- ..f N1ta
realm. There is no denying the fact
that the majors lose a great deal with
the departure of Plank, Bender, John
son and Marquard, most especially the
three former men. Marquard still has
some good pitching in him but he is
not the finger that he used to be.
With the other three it is different,
however. Last years records show that
Bender won rs games and lost three, a
truly remarkable showing but admit
tedlv not the best the Indian had IN
him. Bender was Indifferent last sea
son. There is no doubt OF that but
the suddenness with which Mack LEI
him fall may have awakened him and
il is probable that his chiefship will
jump into the game with the Feds in a
much different way.
] ildNk Wou la IhNleS anu ioSl rtNti
during the 1914 season. His pitching
was steadier than Bcnder's, however
and although Al years of age. the Get
tysburg farmer will surely deliver the
goods for several more years. Planl
) has always taken excellent care of him
self physically and is less run down al
his age than many players are at 81
years.
The Feds may have more use for theil
war fund than paying big salaries, how
ever, as there is every reason to believe
that they will have to defend lawsuit,
in order to retain the five stars they
signed last week. Ban johnson is a lit
, tie shy of the courts and does not favol
/ suing TO recover Walter johnson. Bu
p the Washington club feels differentl,
I and Clark Griffith is quoted as saying
e that he will 90 to the highest court il
2 the land before he allows the Feds L
F. keep his Walter.
D The National League feels the sam
70 way about Magee and Marquard an
will sue for their services. It is no
T. likely that suits will be started for tn
a recovery of Bender and Plank. Thei
salary demands were much too high 70
d Connie Mack Ia meet and he had prac
$ tically released them few weeks befor
g they fooped.