The chronicle=news., 1914-08-26
FANS SPEAK IN
Defense OF OLD
NAP La JOIE

| few fans In the country today who
can believe the charges brought by
Manager Joe birmingham of the
Maps that Larry Lajoie has laid
down on him-that the great French
man has not given the club the best
that was In him.
Those who know Lajoic personally
land those who know him only
through his record as ball player
can not believe that Birmingham's
lcharges are founded on fact. For Is
years Lajoie has been in big league
| baseball and during all those years
he has been credit and an honor to
the game. For is years not a
breath OF scandal has fluttered about
his name.
And now comes Birmingham. dis
gruntled and angered because he is
the leader OF a tail-end town and
attempts to blacken the name OF a
man who has done hundred times
more for baseball than he ever has
dcne or ever will do. and whose men,
Iory will live and be cherished for de-
cades after Birminsham's has been
forgotten.
Does Birmingham wish to get rid
of Lajoie because he fears that the
veteran second baseman may sup
plant him as manager? There are
some who feel that this might be the
underlying cause for BirminSham's
cause for Birmingham's charges
against the veteran. Several months
ago report was current that such
nl,n fut
mingham is said to have contract
that still has two years to run, but
managers are not always retained for
the full length of their contract.
None of those who know the great
E'renchman intimately can believe for
one moment that he would deliber-
atelv plot against any man. Lajoie
stacks up as man. clean and
straight, and one who had given the
best that is in him to his superiors
for is years. Certain it seems that
now. in the twilight of his wonder
full career. he could not change his
nature: and he would not sully his
name by any quitting tactics.
! Lajoie has not been hitting them
out this year. His batting has been
woefully weak. But there has been
nothing wrong with his fielding,
nothing wrong with his throwing.
He still is, despite mis- 80 years, the
most graceful fielder in the game,
and he still ranks as one of the
greatest defensive players in the big
leagues.
| II Birmingham bases his charges
lagainst Lajoie on the fact that he
isn't hitting, 1t would seem that La
joie has been in slump and bat
ting slumps come frequently in the
careers II even the most wonderful
and most consistent sluggers. This
isn't the first batting slump Lajoie
has encountered. Back in 1907 and
1903 the best he could do was .299
and .2S9. The general verdict then
was Hes through Laioie upset
the dope by coming back in 1909
with .324, with .3S4 in 1904, 1865
in 1911, .a6s inN912 and .ss5 in
1913.
This year Lajoie hasn't been able
to hit them for better than about
.223. His grand average covering
all the other years of his career is
.331-the best average ever COM
piled by anyone over such a lengthy
stretch. It's wonderful record and
one no doubt that brought to Lajoic
feeling of pride.
An average of .223 for this season
will tear Lajoie's general average
down something like 8 or 3 points.
Bringing it down to around .342 it
still remains a wonderful record, but
not such a seemingly unbeatable one
as .351. Does anyone think that La
joie would deliberately lay down in
his hitting, knowing full we'll that
such an act would rob him in the
final years of his baseball career of
the honor of retiring with grand
average. better than any batsman
ever made before?
/ Lajoie. during the 10 years or so
of his connection with the Cleveland
club, has made thousands of inti-
mate friends there. He has made
thousands of intimate friends along
the circuit. And he has millions of
admirers. Does anyone think that
wou>S cause him the loss of those
friendships, lose for him the admira-
tion that millions have? On the face
Of things it looks as If Birming-
hams charges If correctly quoted,