Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-07
PILLS CAN'T HOLD PLAYERS
In American National War, as in
Present Fracas, Phillies We're
the Jumpers.
100 TIGHT WITH BANK ROLL

BY FRANK G. MENKE.
NEW YORK. Feb. e.--Evsrytime sounc-
body picks baseball fight that some
body takes the huskiest wallop az those
poor Phillies. The ouakertown team was
shot 70 pieces during the American-Na-
tionsi league war and the same thing
happened during the Federal league
scrap.
No team ever had brighter pennant
prospects than dId the PhilIies after the
1918 season closed. They had played won
derful hose ban during the 1913 season
and were runners up ali the way. The
veterans looked good for the 1914 cam
paign and some OF tho Philiies' young
sters were due to deliver
And then the blow fell.
The Feds grabbed Tom 6eaton. ranked
az one Of the best pitchers In tho game
they took otto Knabe. the brainy second
sacker, and Mike Doolin. ono Of the best
shortstops IN the game. Also they grab
bed Pitcher Ad Brennan. never won
der. yet man who ranked pretty well
up In the pitching business.
InfieHa a. wreck.
The PnilIies were shot to pioces-even
before the 1914 campaign opened. Their
fnfield was wrecked by the ioss OF Knsbe
and Doolin and their pitching mainstay
was gone. From possible pennant con-
tender the Philiics slumped into second
division certainties.
What happened in the isis-lt seasons
was but a repetition Of what took place In
190l-loo7 The Phillies in those days had
wonderful team. They looked Ike
pennant possibilities And then came the
raid Of the warning American leaguers-
ana was for the Phillies' ownera7
I.ajole. Ed Dclehanty and Elmer Flick,
who were among the greatest batBmen
In base ball, jumped the club and went
with the American league. So did Bill
Bernhard. who held place high up
among the top notch pitchers IN those
days.
Too Light with Coin.
The Phillie owners lost their stars In
1e0i-Ie2 for the same reason that they
lost them in lefs-foI4 And those reasons
were: First. they hold the warning league
and its lure In too cheap regard; and
second, when IT came 20 bidding up on
the salary Question they were too tight
with the banlrroll.
Lajoie was getting t.aoo year when
the war broke out. The American
leaguers offered him about 5000. The
offer was large. but La5oie wasn't very
keen about jumping. lie told the Phillie
owners 20,
Boost my pay 10 5000 and I'll stick
with you" ne told tho Fhlliie owners
Nothing doing" they answered
And 80 Latoie jumped and by his jump
he made the American league IL Just
shout the same way AZ Joe Tlnlser
''inade" the Federal league.
sump Influences Others.
I4ajoie's jump Influenced other players
10 DO likewise. I4ajoie was q star per-
former.
III he can afford 20 take chance on
this new league 30 can we" reasoned
the less brilliant players who We're con-
sidering American league offers. SO they
jumped and the American league became
fixture.
SO Il was In 1eis-if
seaton had gained nationwide publicity
because OF hia wonderful pitching per-
Torrance IN 1914. Tho Feds wanted him.
They knew II they made him good
offer he would consider T. And they
knew II they secured star OF 6eafon's
magnitude that other players would be
influenced BY scatons jump
Gave Phlsr Chnnse.
soaton got the offer. He want overly
keen, as first. about Jumping He didn't
snap at the bait He gave the Phillie
ownors 4 chance to keep higa and Tor a
figure iess than the Feds were willing
10 paw,
III tho Phnlss had given me si.oOa
raise over my 1913 salary I would have
stuck. said seaton. THAT 1900 raise
wouldn't have been anywhere near what
the Feds offered me, but I was willing
10 stay for that $1,000 boost But they
termed me down and jumped"
The phl.ies have tkreo claims to what
might be termed distinction. Fihst. they
have Developed more stars over q stretch
Of years thar any one club in this coun-
try. second. they have been hit harder
during base ball wars than any othes
club. and third. they have had owners
who have been 50 tight-flsted that thes
have permitted the wreeklng OF theil
team rather than pay cut a few Thousand
dollars IN increased salaSses
Had the poi-ee Phillie owners met m
salary demands Of Lajoie. Flick. Dele
hanly and Bernhard the American leaeu.
might never have won It's fight Even .
4 had. thote four players on the Philll'
roster nere drawing cards and IA 4 few
weeks they would have drawn enough
fans TO cover the salary increases.
zzsaas sEsrid'. SERIES.
Il Il the same with the isis-at philliel
Had the Phillie owners met tho demand
or scaton. Doolan. Knahe and brennan
totallinE not moro than $500 year, IN
~ a.