The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-12-27
III y. y. JOHNSON,
President American Baseball LeaEs.

rrc@adent Ams1can Baseball Le2Rue
With peace prevailing IN the baseball
world. n readJustment OF conditions next
year should be productive OF much good
10 the national game. ali alon.
the line will follow the two-year war.
now happily ended. between the forces
OF Organized Baseball and the Federal
League. and the game Is now due to reas-
sert its claim TO the distinction of being
the greatest sport known to mankind.
The restoration OF peace will have a
wholesome effect on club owners ana
players. and the Improvement of the
general conditions surrounding the game
Will be reflected IN the battles OF tho
eontesting teams on the diamond.
The game Il now about TO emerge
from n period OF storm and stress.
which was caused by the erroneous Idea
Of the Federal League promoters that
league. The fallacy OF this idea was ap-
parent from the beginning to everybody
il took two years to convince the men
behind the Federal League that the
were WRONG. But now that thsy, have
the place OF chaos, and the game will
fore the rSSme viii reach n the 0 sa@ Dss nigh
standard II enjoyed previous to the ad-
vent OF the Federal League.
The American League. with the
worlds championship emblem OF supre-
macy on the diamond again In it's pos
session. will enter next April on its six
expansion, hopeful. i might say comb
dent. with the betterment of condi-
tons, that the season will be rich In
tho club owners.
II is dinieuit to predict several
certainty. II is almost like shooting at
the moon. But with the knowledge /
have gained by past experience to guide
in store for baseball better things fell
to our lot 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 every other sport. suf-
But now an era OF prosperity seems to
have set In. and l confidently look for
renewed interest IN the game-an inter
est that will be reflected by large crowds
than our clubs played to In either OF the
two preceding campaigns
/ do not agree with those critics who
already are assuming that the race for
our pennant next season will be confined
to three clubs-Boston, Chicago and De
troit. l will not concede that these clubs
are in a class by themselves. Strong as
they are. l will admit, but not so strong
that they cannot be beaten. It Il too
early to count New York. Washington.
and st. Louis out OF the race. a. the
prophets will learn once the campaign
1 know that Colonel Rupert and Cap
tain Huston are making every effort TO
strengthen the and the addition
OF one or two hard-hitting batsmen will
make that club. with its crack pitching
staff, as formidable as any other club In
the country. Besides. Manage Donovan,
profiting by his experience last season
his first as a manage in big league COM
pany-should be able to get better re-
suits from his players.
Donovan obtained last fall from the
minor leagues several promising recruits
who should be OF valuable assistance 10
his club. With a more efficient catching
department than he had last season. "A
stronger pitching staff. and an improved
outfield. he should be able 10 cope with
the best clubs in our league. L expect
the to be very much In the run
ming for our flag In 1915.
The washington and 81. Louis clubs
have not been idle either, az the fans
Will learn when they see these teams I'm
action on h diamond St. Louis for tho
last few years has been engaged I'm
building up Its team. and i think the
time has now arrived when the Browns
will cut An important figure 10 our race.
As for Washington. that club. with the
wonderful Walter johnson, must always
be considered dangerous. and must never
be left out OF the reckoning. Clark
Griffith Is q keen Judge OF ball players,
and he has informed me that some OF the
youngsters he tried out In the closing
months OF last season have added 80
mueh strength to his team tina he feels
no misgivings about his spe for
1916.