The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-03-02
McGraw's Team Looks as Good az
Any in Tener's Circuit-Ex-
pect One of Best
Years.
INTEREST IN YANKEES
Change In Ownership and Manager Of
Yanks Give Fans New In
terest in the
Club

IBy Hal Sheridan, written for the
United Press1
NEW YORK, March 2.-The Giants
have an excellent chance to win the
National league pennant this almost
here season. The best the Yankees
are hoping for is a first division berth
this year. That, il substance, is the
way New York is looking at the COM
ing pennant fight. And there is lot
more interest in both teams this year
than there was last. The monotonous
succession of pennants the Giants won
rather killed interest in them from
the sportsman's viewpoint. Losing
last years flag has stimulated the
satiated appetites. Interest in the
Yanks was dead last year, principally
because of the ownership and the way
the club was run. This year the own
ers are popular, as is the new mana
ger. Bill Donovan. 1t will be surpris-
ing II 1915 isn't the banner year in
4harN times and lean year"
With the exception of his pitching
staff McGraw has as good team to
start the pennant fight as any mana
ger in the circuit-and whole lot
better than most of them. The return
OF Title Shafer would give him a
mighty sweet infield AS it is, he
has nicely balanced one. Merkle on
first will probably perform in his
usual style. Should Shafer really re-
turn he and Larry Doyle would put up
pretty scrap for second Fletcher
on short seems to have his position
clinched and there is practically no
doubt at all that Hans Lobert will be
seen pickin' them off around third.
Lobert Plugs Gap At Third.
Lobert at third has solved a great
problem for McGraw. Many is the
game that rolled away through Eddie
Grant and Milton Stock last year
while McGraw sat On the bench ours
ing the day he ever let Charley Her
zog get away to Cincinnati Yes, NC
Graw has an infield that will compare
favorably with any in Tener's circuit.
In the outfield there are four regu-
s-Snodgrass, Burns, Murray and
Robertson. All four are dependable
men-good fields and steady with the
bludgeon. Jim Thorpe, the big Indian,
expects to make hard fight this year
for regular berth.
McGraw freely admits his pitching
staff is giving him worry. Mathewson.
Tesreau and Fromme are his only
veterans, as Rube Marquardfs case is
unsettled He has two youngsters who
have sat on the bench for two sea-
sons now and they should be about
ready for the firing line. They are
Schauer and Schupp.
McGraw probably is depending more
~ :, Dc cd. "a I,
paid expenses for to Marlin than ever
before He needs a young catcher and
could use couple of promising young
hurlers. Meyers and Mclean will
probably bear the brult Of the receiv-
ing again this season.
Yank Pitching STAFF Strong.
Bill Donovan's best asset Is his
pitching staff. It stacks up favorably
with any in the league. Caldwell
Heating, WARRIOR, Fisher, Brown and
a number of promising rockies com
prises his hopes. Frank Chance one
said that Ray Caldwell was the best
pitcher in the American league.
From this early angle it appears
the big thing that is going to keep
Donovan's crew down in the race Is
its lack of batting strength. If PipI
and high Cbule W tSl LIS thiiS III bS
partly solved, as Pipp especially Is g
snappy hitter. Pipp is generally con
ceded first base il he comes to the
Ya1ks; if not. then Charley Muller
undoubtedly will cover the bag again
Luke Boone appears the most likely
candidate for second He played the
bag the greater part Of last season
Peckinpaugh. of course, will assume
his old place at short and there does
MT seem any chance for Fritz Maise
to be rooted out OF his position al
third
The Yanks have a fast fielding out
field. but like the rest of the team
weak at the plate. Birdie Cree is
fairly certain of berth; Cook, Hold
en- Hartzel and High. if the Tigers
will relinuuish him, will scrap it out
for the other two places. Behind the
bat Donovan is fairly well supplied ir
Ed Sweeney and Leslie Nunamaker
They are seasoned, steady, and should
perform creditably
Support is going to do lot to keer
the players keyed up to the fighting
pitch this year They know the bugs
are behind them and it's going to
help lot Last year the fans were
soured on the club The wide pub
Lefty given the sale of the club and
the individual players is sure to have
some effect.
The American league. it seems
rather handed Colonel Rupert and