The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-07

thorough business-like way,
~ the Federal leasuers are now
causing the sarcastic smiles of major
league moguls to turn to sickly grins
and angry expressions. Whatever may
be said of the new venture, about its
financial backing and ability to whether
a baseball tumult, the fact remains that
the new league is cutting quite a figure
in baseball circles, and from present In
d.oations it looks as if the new leaguers
have only begun their campaign against
organized ball.
Sometime ago when President Gill
m,re of the new venture, announced
that the Federals proposed to sign play
els of organized ball. regardless of the
reserve clause. the declaration was re-
ceived with amusement and the idea
that baby league, much less one out
side of the pale of organized ball, should
attempt to buck the major leagues was
declared absurd. In fact, so little at
tention was paid to the message of
President Gilmore that none of the ma
jcr league moguls made any preparations
TO curb such an attack by signing up
their players early Since then, however
fhe Federals have convincngly demon
siated to the doubling Thomases that
they We're in earnest and new organized
ball has awakened to the fact that the
new attack is liable TO prove the fourth
real invasion into the ranks of protected
ball.
The signing of Joe Tinker and Morde-
cal Brown, two stars of the game, was
ar awful jolt to major league magnates
and 1t was then they realized that the
declaration made by President Gilmore
several weeks Previous was not an effort
on the part of the Federal league exc
oHtlye to jump into the sporting calcium.
While 1t is argued that these two play
ers We're nearing the end of their use
fuiness as major leaguers ard that their
Jumping was of little Importance, tho
fact has been realized that the move of
the Federalists in securing these two fa-
nous players was a master stroke. The
new league did not secure Brown and
Tinker mainly as players, but to utilize
their fame in promoting the new venture.
And in this they seem to be successful.
Before the Tinker Brown episode play
ers, both young and old, We're skeptical
about the financial condition of the Fed
fortunes with it, the stock of the league
has suffered a big jump. The players
know that neither of the two veterans,
Brown and Tinker, would ally themselves
with the new league unless there was
sufficient financial backing to insure
their full salary.
Although during the past several weeks
numerous minor league players have at
II no 10 EYada
contracts, no especial attention was paid
to the jumping of this smaller fry. But
Monday the Federalists again threw a
bomb into the ranks of organized ball
by announcing that they had signed Otto
knabe, the sensational second basema n
of the Philadelphia Nationals. For sew
eral weeks it has been rumored that tt e
Phillie second sacker intended to cast his
fortunes with the new league, but dur
ing this interval he steadfastiy refused
to divulge anything the subject AL
though the rumor was supposed to have
come from an authentic source, the
Philadelphia management took little stock
in it and We're resting assured that next
season would see him back at the mid
way station for the Philies The an
nouncement, however. rudely awakened
the Quaker City moguls and an awfsl
howl has been raised.
1t has also been limited that announce
ment of the signing of other stars would
be made shortly and interest is running
rampant as to who will be the next play.
er to forsake the majors. Tommy Leach
has received an offer to manage the
Pittsburg club, while Miller, who was
sent to st. Louis by Pittsburg in the
deal for Konetchy. Max Carey, the feet
outfielder of the Pirates; Ed Foster, a
third baseman, and Joe Gedeon, an out
fielder. both of the Washington club. are
among the major leaguers who have been