Evening star., 1915-02-21
CRITICS PICK BOTH
BOSTON TEAMS TO WIN
PENNANT THIS YEAR
CONTINUED from First Page.)
base ball for six years he is able I
retire with two fine farms. a home al

base ball for six years he is able to
retire with two fine farms, a home and
some money in the bank. He has
shared in four world series. 1t is
probable Baker has taken something
like $4,000 out of base ball, and he
probably has most of it to this day.
But, of course, the chances of sharing
in the world series next season are
some influence on his deciding to quit
the game, unless he can get decided
increase in salary.
There was never a great player for
whom base ball seemed to have as
little fascination. He did not dislike
the work, but he was never enthusiastic
about it, Baker was always lonesome
when on the road. He did not associate
with any one, and was never known
to talk to outsiders around the hotel
lobbies as do most players.
But there is every reason for believ-
ing that Baker Is not through. He
will prove this only by staying on his
farm during the coming season But
he feels that the Mackmen are out OF
the pennant fight and will not share
in those big series receipts next fall
hence his job is not as good paying
proposition as it was
The weakness of the Mack forces is
a good thing for organized base ball.
1t is sure to create new interest whlch
has been lacking in base Dali Tor d
year or so, because it has been fore
gone conclusion that the Mackiheh
would win the flag.
The report emanating from New
York to the effect that 1t is possible
that the National and Federal leagues
will arrange some sort OF compro-
mise cannot possibly be based on facts
The National League is operating
with the American League under the
national agreement, and to enter into
any sort of an agreement with the
Feds would be a violation of the pact
with the Ban Johnson organization;
Whatever else the old league may be
charged with, it is composed of men OF
integrity and business ability who
would not for moment consider doing
anything which was not fair and
square.
if the Federal League wants TO make
peace it will have to open negotiations
with organized base ball as a whole.
The American League has never SHOWN
a disposition to make peace with the
Feds Ban Johnson wants to fight to a
finish and that most probably IS What
will be done.
The New York club has the right idea
and is rapidly gaining in public favor
because of the determination which
the new owners display.
A few days ago 1t was given out that
the Detroit club would not turn over
Pipp or High to the Yankees. That
both of the young players were not
satisfied with the terms offered. and.
furthermore, that the Detroit club was
not satisfied with the price New York
was willing to pay.
Now comes word that both these
ployers have been signed by Manager
Donovan, which means that the play
have accepted satisfactory terms. The
new owners of the club realize that
they must make every effort to build
up winner. and they do not pro-
pose to let anything stand in the way
of bringing this about.
winning team does wonders for
town in more ways than one. The vic
tory of the Boston Braves. for instance.
will be responsible for new ball park
in Boston. The National League park
in that city was one of the most anti
uuated. institutions in base ball, and
had it not been for the fact that George
Stallings built UP winner there. the
chances are there would not have been
a new one built for some time, for the
old park would have been large enough
to accommodate the crowds that would
attend the games of a losing team
Washington had a modern plant when
ii got a winning team. but that was
because there was fire just few
weeks before the season opened. and 1t
was then necessary to make greater
improvements than We're contempla ted.
But for that fire 1T would have bee.l
another year or so before any arrange
mentS Tor a mOuern plant WOuld nave
been made. Fortunately for the club
the new plant was ready for operation
by the time Griffith corraled a winning
team.
For the past forty years Washington
has been represented in major league
base ball twenty-seven times. Until
the season Of 1912, when Clark Griffith
took charge here. the team never fin
ished in the first division, and it played
for several years in a tweive-club cir
cult. 1t finished absolutely last on
eight different occasions. This is per
haps one of the worst records any
major league ball club has ever had
The only bright spots in the local rec
ord are since 1912, when. for two years.
the team finished second, and last sea
son third Here is list of the stand
ing of the locals since Washington has
been represented in the ma jors:
Year. Name of league. Position
1875. Professional Associa tion ..... Tenth
1SSts National Leagne. Last
1887. National League. seventh
1883 Nafional League Last
isS9. National League. .........-.-...-I IasE
1922. Not in league
1881. Not In league. ................
So National League Tehih
1897. National I.ea- Last
1891. National League. Eleventh
1S'o. National League. ......-.. Tenth
1896. Rational Iea.ue. Ninth
1897. National League. .Sevcnih
1888. tationai League. Eleventh
1S99. National League. ..........-..E Eleventh