The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-22
LITTLE FOUNDATION FOR
) D|RM|NCHAM's CHARGES
Fans Who Know Lsjoie Do Not Bc-
lieve He Has Deliberately Laid
Down on Manager.
ONLY IN BATTING ST.
Grand Record of Past Seasons Show
Worth OF Maps Second Sack Guar.
dian Was Up Against II rs Hard
During 1907.


There arc few fans IN the country
today who can believe the charges
brought by Manager Joe Birmingham.
of the Maps, that Larry Lajole has la id
down on him-that the great French
man has not given the club the best
that was in him.
Those who know Latoie personally.
and those who know him only through
his record as ball player, cannot
believe that BirminEhams charges arc
founded on fact. For eighteen years
Leioie has been in big league base
ball, and during all those years he has
been credi; and an honor to the
game. For eighteen years not a breath
Of scandal has 1uttered about his
name.
And now come Birmingham. ills
gruntled and aneered because he is the
leader OF n tail-end team, and attempts
TO blacken the nsme of a man who has
done a hundred times more for base
ball than he ever has done or ever will
DO, and whose memory will 1.-Two and
re cherished for decades after Rir-
mingham's has been forgotten
Does Birmingham wish to ret rid Of
I.ajoie because he fears that tho vet
eran second haseman may supplant him
as manager There arc some who feel
that this might he the underlying cause
for RirTningham's charges against the
veteran. Several months ago report
was current that such change would
take place Birmingham is said to
have contract that still has two years
10 run but managers arc not always
retained for the fun length OF their
None OF those Nho know the great
F.snchn1an Intimately can believe for
one moment that he would deIihearteIv
plot against any man. Lajoc stacks
W as man, clean and straight. and
one who has given the best that is
In him to his superiors for eighteen
years. Certain II seems that now. in
the twilight or his wonderful career
he could not change his nature and
ne would not sully his name Ivy any
quitting tactics.
La ioie has not been hitting them ont
this wear His batting has been wocfui-
y weak. But there has been nothing
irons With his FIELDING. nothing wrong
ms thirty-nine years. the most graceful
fielder in the game. and he etiil ranks
as one Of the greatest defensive players
II Birmingham bases HIST charges
against Lajoie on the fact that he isn't
hljtine, 1t would seem that l,.ajoio is
IN slump, and batting slumps come
frequently in tho careers, of even the
most wonderful and most consistent
siuggers.. This isn't the first batting
Back in 1907 and 1905 the best he could
90 vas 29a and .2Sa; The general
GIN.NN iHcn WIS. HOS through
LaJoie upset the dope by coming back
In 1909 with .324. with .SS4 in 1910
800 in 1911, SOS in 1912 and $50 in
1919.
This yea: Lajoie hasn't been able to
hit them for better than about .223 His
grand average covering all the other
ears OF his career is 35l-the best
average ever compiled by any one over
such lengthy stretch It's a wonder
tul record. and one no doubt that
brought to LGtoie feeling u pride.
AN average of .22% for this season
viii tear lajoie. general average
Gown something like or points
Bringing II down to around .S42. II
still remains q wonderful record. but
lot such seemingly unbeatable one
Iajoie deliberately would lay down IN
his hitting, knowing full well 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?
LaJo!c, during the ten years OF so Of
his connection with the Cleveland club
has made thousands Of intimate friends
there. He has made thousands OF init
mate friends along the circuit. And he
has millions Of admirers. Docs any
one think that Lajoie would do any
thing that would cause him the loss OF
those friendships lose for him the ad-
niiration that millions have.
On the face OF things, II looks as II
Eirmingham's charges, II correctly
quoted are without foundation