The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-12-27
'FUTURER0SEATET TO-
Old BAN JOHNSON
American League Leader
Can See Nothing But
Prosperity.

CHICAGO Dec. 2I.-With peace pre-.
Iyailings in the baseball world, Byron
Bancroft Johnson, president of the
American League, declares that a 70:
adjustment OF conditions next year
should be productive of much good to
the national game.
Harmony all along the line will fol-
low the two-year war, now happily
ended between the forces of organized
basebaliS and the Federal Lea que, and
the game now due to reassert its
claim to tho distinction ofibeing the
greatest sport known to mankind"
says President Johnson.
1.-THE restoration OF peace will have
q wholesome effect on club owners
and players" continued the magnate,
;"and sthe Improvement OF thesgeneral
conditions surrounding the game will
besretlectsd In the battles Of the con.
testing teams on the diamond.
1.-THE game is now about to emerge
from a period of storm Sand stress,
which was caused by the erroneous
idea OF the Federal League magnates
that there was q demand for a third
major league. The fallacy,o of this idea
was apparent from the beginning to
everybody identified with organized
baseball but 1t took two years to con.
vince the men behind the Federal
League that they were wrong. But now
that they have retired from the field,
order will take. the place Of chaos, and
the game will re.establish itself in
the hearts of tho fans. predict It
will not be long before the game will
reach the same high standard It en-.
joyed previous to the advent of tho
Federal League. =
1.-THE American League. with the
worlds championship. !, emblem of su.
premacyl on the diamond again in its
possession, will enter next April on its
eixtoenth consecutive campaign since
its expansion, hopeful, / might say con.
fident, with the betterment Of condi-
tions. that the season will be right in
promise for the fans, the players and
the club owners.
ut Is difficult to predict several
months in advance.with any degree Of
certainty. 1t Is almost like shooting at
the moon. But with the knowledge i
have gained by past experience to
guide me, l feel safe in saying that
1915 has In store for baseball better
things than fell TO itsSlot in 1914 and
1915. In those years trade depression,
following our troubles with Mexico,
and the war in Europe, affected our
people and naturally baseball. like ey-
cry other sport. suffered.
But now. an era of prosperity seems
to have set In, and 1cINtidentiy look
for renewed interest in the game-an
interest thatwili, be reflected by larger
crowds than our clubs played to !in
l!either of the two preceding campaigns.
Il do not agree with those critics
who already, arc assuming that the
race for our pennantlnext season will
be between three clubs Boston, Chi.
cago and Detroit. / will not concede
that these clubs are in a class by them.
selves. Strong they ore, will, admit.
but not so strong that they cannot be
beaten. 1t is too carly to; count New
York, Washington and st. Louis out
Of the race, as the prophets will learn
once the campaign gets under way.
i know that Colonel Rupert and
Captain Huston are making every eff.
!, fort to strengthen the Yankees, and
the attition of ono or two hard.hitting
batsmen will make. that club; with its
, crack pitching staff, as formidable as
any other club in the country. Besides,
Manager Donovan, proflting by his ex.
perience last seasonAhis first as a
manager in big league company
should be able to get better results
from his players. -
Donovan obtained last fall from the
minor leagues several promising re.
cruits. who should be of valuable ser.
vice to his club. With more efficient
catching staff than he had last season
a stronger pitching staff, and an i'm.
proved 5outfield, he should be able to
cope with the bert clubs in our lea que.
expectlthe Yankees to be very much
In the running! for our flag-in 1916.
THE Washington and st. Louis
clubs have not been idle either, as the
fans will learn when they see these
teams In action on the diamond. st.
Louis for the last few years has been
engaged In building up its team, and
Z think the time has now arrived when
the Browns will cut an important fig.
ure In our race. ,g7;' a
AS for Washington, that club, with
wonderful Walter Johnson, must al.
ways be considered Dangerous, and
must never be left out Of the reckon.
ing. Clark Griffith is a keen judgelo Of