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

II 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 It's
victorious attack upon the National
10 years ago. the American leaguers
went after the younger element in
stead OF signing up the veterans.
The only real old-timers taken over
wore George Davis, Jesse Burkett,
Wnbert Robinson. Jim MCGUIRE, Billy
Keller, Kid Gleason, Clark Grifhth.
I'D Delahapty, Joe Kelley, Charley
Farrell, Lave Cross. Billy Sullivan.
Hugh Duffy. Jimmy Collins and Cy
Young, and the latter was not induced
10 jump until the Americans had care
fully considered his case and decid-
ed he had few more years of sue
cessful pitching In his wonderful right
arm. The others, like Lajoie, Craw
ford. Bernhard, Flick, Chick Stahl,
Dave Fultz, Harry Howell, Doc White,
Tom Hughes. Addie Joss. Jim Gala
han. Rube Vaddell, Jimmy Barrett,
John Mctiraw, Lou Criger, Mike Don
lin, Jack Powell and others were
either youngsters or big leaguers OF
only few years experience
The American leaguers we're build
ing for the future. but the Feds seem
TO be able only to contract for the
present. organized baseball having eff
fectually 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 TO induce only a few
big leaguers TO jump that have q
chance TO last more than a few years
in fast company. In fact, outside of
Walter johnson. Ray Caldwell, Ivor
Wingo, Perritt. Packard. MoseIey,
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 90. Just touching
that figure are Joe Tinker, Mike
Doolan, Fred Falkenberg, Davy Jones
and Holly. Topping 30 years In age
are Bender 80. Camnitz 33, Groom 80.
Ford 81, Simon so. Suggs 32, Muliin
| "a, StoNaD "a, knabe 80, Jim Della
hanty 80, Artie Holman SO, Billiard 80.
Land 80, O'Connor 80, Konetchy 30.
! Bridwell 33, Frank Delahanty 30.
Chase 80. Laporte 81, Crandall 80
Bates 80, Griggs 81, A Wilson 30,
Swac,na 81, Engle 80. Berry 81, Drake
&c. Blair 81. Evans 80.
Others close to the 30 mark are
Walter Johnson, Rip Hagerman. Ed
gar Willett, Jack Quinn. Boucher,
Zwilling. A. Rankin Johnson. Owens,
Ted Easterly. Art Kruger, Lennox
Steve Yerkes. linn. 9ill Bailey. Ed
Lafitte. 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 q 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 Radopted the defensive
system of signing up their younger
valuable PLAYERS to contracts that
cannot be broken. the outlook for the
outlaws strengthening is not the
brightest