Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-04

| comparison with stronger teams, yet one
| which is sure to be heard from in any
| race 1t may enter.
MI and Mrs. Eddie Ainsmith arrived
| in the city late last night 1t seems
! that the report of their marriage was
| incorrect in that it had the event occur
ring Friday when it really took place
earlier in. the week.
1t is hardly to be supposed that Walter
Johnson's remarkable record in the last
season could be improved upon, and yet
there are those who predict an even more
successful campaign for the great pitcher
than he has ever enjoyed before. John
son besides pitching flfty-six consecutive
innings without allowing a run wor
twelve and ten games in row. He was
only beaten seven times all year and
did yeoman service in relieving other
members of the staff when they were
found weakening.
But for all that, good judges of ball
players contend that johnson has only
asserted that he has shown more knowl-
edge of the art of pitching during the
last season and that he will steadily i'm
prove for the next few years. Grimth
actually believes that one of these sea-
sons Walter will go through an entire
schedule without losing a game. He
figures that this would be possible il
Johnson should have the few breaks OF
luck that such performance together
with his remarkable ability would re-
quire.
Griffith, Jack Ryan and Mike Kahoe
however, would not be surprised If Jim
Shaw. one of the youngest members OF
the team, would give Johnson a hard run
for pitching honors next season. Shaw,
of course, will be shouldering somewhat
of a handicap by reason of his lack OF
h,,t I,4 rly, h
ability and once he learns the fine points
of the game there seems to be no question
about his proving a remarkable per
former.
Shaw, Of course has appeared in but
few games for the Nationals. In fact
he was not at his best when he reported
here, having gone through a severe sea.
son for the York club of the Tri-state
League before he made his appearance
here. The winters rest and the benefit
of needed instructions during the train
ing season are going to make a wonder
full change in the youngster-of that there
is not the slightest doubt.
Any one familiar with conditions ir
organized base ball is not apt to see
much chance for the proposed Federal
League to prosper. When it Is taken into
consideration how firmly the two major
leagues are anchored, chance for com
petition which amounts to anything is
rather slim. Nearly every one of the six
teen major league clubs has in the
neighborhood of million dollars invested
in it's base ball plant. A new league
could not possibly duplicate these. Fol
the past ten years or SO the major leagues
have covered base ball territory. There is
no longer the room there was when the
American League came into the field. 1r
those days the National League suffered
from internal dissension and overconf-
dence. The American League was en-
couraged by press and public, and proved
successful. Since then the two major
leagues have worked in harmony. Mis-
takes in the conducting of the sport have
been eliminated and the public has
shown its appreciation of the manner ir
which the sport has been conducted by
giving it most liberal patronage.