Evening journal., 1915-12-11
WILL STICK TO MACK
declares NJ INNS
Considered Fed Offers, But
Won't Desert the
Athletics
AVERAGES SHOW
SOME FREAKS

A report from Chicago stated that
"smny' McInnis. the brilliant first
baseman OF the Athletics, contemplat-
ed Jumping to the Whales. Just a
week ago Mclnnis. in letter to a
Philadelphia newspaper. declared that
there is absolutely no chance for the
Federal League TO induce him to leave
ala Athletics.
Mcinnis stated that he was serious
" considering an offer from the New
ark Feds in the middle Of last season
but that. after thinking the matter
over. decided be owed his baseball
success 20 Connie Mack and would rot
desert him. Since the close OF the
baseball season Mclunis has recoi, ed
three offers from the Federal League
ana althouph an we're far IN excess OF
anything he has ever drawn from the
Rfackmen "Smny" declares that ne
viii remain with the Athletics as long
aeDt 'onnie Mack desires 20 have him
onttho team
f.ast season Mclnnis was disappoint'
e1af the showing Of the Athletics ana
bccaute the championship team mad
beer snot TO pieces. His work IN me
early rart OF the season was excellent
individually but OF little value to the
team and the dickcring with the Fed
eral League also had its eject on MS
WORK.
After leaving the team in midscason
for two weeks. Mcnnis had a long
tak with Mack on his return, ara
from ihat time op-played like tie NC
Innis of old AZ the close OF the sea
son Mclnnis says ne announced TO the
other members of the team that ne
was going TO remain loyal TO the Ath'
letics as he was firmly convinced that
Connie Mack would again have a
clampiohship team II the men stuck
together.
M his letter Mclnnis says You arc
liable to hear lot of rumQrs about
me before the baseball season opens
but there is not chance of me jump
ing the Athletics. admit that J listen
ed TO them last summer ana even con
teuplated leaving the Athletics nut
soon realized that l owed everythin
TO Connie Mack and am with nm q
long as he wants me.
Connie has always treated me ial
and square and | believe he VIII a
WAYS continue 20 do so. non can su
for mo that ] will be playing FIRST has
for. the Athletics next season, regard
less of what The Feds oder, and VII
play the best ball of my career Ihing
were pretty much upset last seasol
and guess my work fell on a ltti'
hut watch me i'm 1916. We will have ;
young team, but IL looks good 10 me
il will only be a short time belor'
Connie viii have another champion
ship team.
The National League averages show
jur several freak records one was
that Gabby Cravath. the Phillies' fence
breaker. struck out more times than
any player in the league. barring
Baird of Pittsburgh. but that Crayath
also drew more bases ON balls than
any other player. showing thai ne was
the most feared man in the senior
league. despite his tendency TO miss
his third swing.
other oddities are shown IN the
etrike-outs and hase-on-balls statistics
Charley Herzop of the Reds, turned IN
the lowest average In years IN strike
outs. tanning but 81 times IN los
games. Six of Hcrzog's strike-outs
were registered by Alexander th'
Great, the heuh AduHhNl iaAihr WV
before the Nehraskan In a game II
Philadelphia.
perhap sthe greatest freak ot al
was the mark made by Arthur Fletcl
or of the Giants. in the base on ball
record In t55 games Fletcher ure'
lint six bases on balls. which bear
out the contention made by Manage
NIcCraw two years ago. At that tim
NcCraw refused TO talk of a trade
1sletcher for Doolan, declaring thu
7cletcher's habit OF swinging at b'
halls and not waiting the pitcher on
was the cnly thing which prevents
him from being the leading hitter
fhe league. A player who draws b
siN bases on balls in 1855 games do
lot know the meaning of the word
tience.