Evening star., 1914-02-07
Circuit Sure to Be Changed
Before Any Progress Can
Be Made by Outlaws.
SCHEME MAY BE GIVEN UP
BEFORE LONG, 1T is HINTED
Connie Mack Recognized Frank
Bakers Ability When He Was
Being Roasted-Gossip.
BY j. ED GRILLO.

L would not be at all surprising if at
one Of these weekly gatherings of the
Federal League the announcement be
made that the venture had been aban-
doned Matters appear to be shaping
themselves III this direction of late Not
only must the proposed circuit of the new
ieaSuo be changed before there will be
a chance to open with eight clubs, but
1t is decidedly questionable whether this
can be done in time. Furthermore. it
seems certain that organized base ball
has something up its sleeve which will
develop at the gathering to take place in
New York next week. lnsinuations are
made that Wee@hman, the financial hacker
of the league. is gradually being con-
WINGED that there is no hope for the
venture and he may decide to accept the
proposition 10 break into organized base
ball He may be satisfied to take a fran
chiSe in the American Association if he
can place a club in Chicago Everything
seems to indicate that the Federal
League is on its last legs. If il manages
to start the season ii is not apt to last
long. for il has been forced to admit that
IT will not be able to give competition to
the major league clubs.
There is to be another conference of
the Federal League promoters in Chi
cago tonight and there may be some
very interesting Developments That both
Toronto and Buffalo will be dropped is
likely. but it seems bit late TO make
any arrangements to take i'll other cities
to ill their places. The Federals may
survive tonight's meeting. but only be-
cause it will be found feasible to wait
until organized base ball shows its hand
at the meeting TO be held in New York.
The latest bluff of the Federal Leaguers
is the insinuation that they will sign
iris Speaker soon as he lands here
with the world tourists. There is little
or no chance of that taking place. for
IL is understood that Speaker had agreed
10 terms Immediately after the last sea-
Sor closed.
: When Connie Mack read that ] Frank
lin Baker had been given the place of
third tas-Inan on the All-America team
he must have induIged in quiet smile.
sayS Willie Neart in the Philadelphia
Telegraph
The jury of eleven newspaper men who
voted for Baker by a large majority GER
tainiy justified the Judgment which the
manage. of the Athletics showed in de-
velopins the Trappe slugger into a third
basenlai.
When Baker first started to play the
thiId base corner for the Athletics many
considered that he would never do for the
position 70 them Frank appeared to be
CLUMSY. and lte had such an awkward way
Of putting the ball on the runner that il
was not thought lie could he trained into
a star at the position Franks batting.
though. Was 50 hard that il was realized
that Mack should lind Il position for him
on the team. Ii was considered that
Baker would make wonder in the out
field
Despite all suggestions and criticisms.
however. Connie decided to have Baker
reuIxin ON third base. How great Frank Is
Improvement has been is seen in the fact
that eight out of the eleven pase ball
writers W.o voted for the Al-America
third baseuiau decided that the best man
In the country for the position was Frank
Bake once NOR it is hats off To the
master mind OF base bail,
Fritz Maisel. the clever little third
taseHan OF The New York club. is ex-
pected 10 give clyde Milan hard strug-
gle for base stealing honors next sea
son. II IS figured tnat Maisel did more
effective work on the bases iii the fifty
one games he played with the Yankees
last season than did Milan in Ill con-
tests he took part in. Maisel. however.
will be busy keeping within hailing dis
tance of the champion base stealer, and.
incidentally. he viii not find II an easy
matter Il Keep aIacc With Dan Moeller
often last season. would very likely have
y,eat.n Milan out OF the hcnuts
Though Bob t;ruom has not conInuni-
Gated with Manager tiriffth. his name
has never been mentioned by any of the
Federal League clubs. In cxery other
instance where q major league PLAYER
has beer al odds with his club the Federal
League has been quick To claim him.
II would not at all surprise Griffith if
Groom made his appearance at char
lottcsvlll.-
Notwithstanding the fact that BIG I'D
Walsh SAYS his arm i as strong as .ver
he will have 10 show before h can be
relied upon 10 do the work which made
him famous 1T former Years Walsh WAS
worked too hard when he was AT his best
He worked III more games than any other
pitcher iii the league, aud II is not Likely
that his arm after giving away viii re-
cover its former pruWess. That it viii
make d wonderful difference in the SHOW :
ing of the White SnN il Walsh should re-
gain his form Soes without saying bur
the team Will not be very dangerous with
ont him. Incidentally the fact must no,
be overlooked that Callahan will also ~
without the services OF Doc White. Who
for many years Was one of his main
81.