Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-18
BASEBALL HISTORY MAKING
Year AHEAD--JESS WILLARD
IN LImELICHT- -AThLET|C NOTES

| New York, January 1.-THE baseball
season Of 1915 promises to establish
new record in the transfer or release OF
players and the selection Of new mama
gers for clubs in both organized and in
| dependent leagues. Although the new
year is just gaining Roadway, more than
. 20 players of prominence have figured in
moves upon the chessboard of the ma
tional game. Among those players to don
managerial togas are: Roger Bresnahan
of the Chicago Nationals; Pat Moran OF
the Philadelphia Nationals; Clarence
Rowland of the Chicago Americans; Bill
Donovan of the New York Americans
and Lee Magee of the Brooklyn Federals.
| Trades or cash deals sent Eddie Collins
| from the Philadelphia Athletics to the
Chicago White Sox; Nap Lajoie from the
| Cleveland Americans to the Athletics;
Sherwood Magee from the Philadelphia
Nationals to the Boston Braves: Hans
Lobert from the Phillies to the New York
Giants; AL Demaree, Jack Adams and
Milton Stock from the Giants to the
Phillies and Ivy Wingo from the st.
Louis to the Cincinnati Nationals. The
ultimate destination of WinSo is in doubt
since he is understood to have consd-
cred Federal League offers. If he joins
the independent organization he is likely
to meet Plank and Bender formerly of
the Athletics and several other players
who have figured prominently in organ
lied baseball.
Other famous diamond stars who have
been released outright or who are in
doubt as to the scene of their 1915 activ-
ties include: Jack Coombs. of the Ath-
letics; Kid Gleason of the Chicago
Americans; Herman Schaefer of the
Washington Americans; Walter Johnson
OF the same club; Ray Caldwell of the
New York Americans; RUDE Marquard
of the New York Giants and Charley
Doom of the Philadelphia Nationals.
The end is not yet in sight. however, for
If the American, National and Federal !
Leagues all operate under the p player
plan during the major portion of the sea-
son further shifts and reductions may
be expected Not far from 7G0 players
were under contract to clubs in these
leagues last season whereas about $50
will probably find employment with the
same organizations during 1915.
The increasing probability that Jack
title against the attacks of Jess Willard
brings the Kansas cowboy into the sport
limelight to a degree not heretofore
reached by the gigantic pueilist. VIII
lard's ring record is not particularly i'm
pressive but considered in the light OF
the showing of the average called
White Hope Willard must be accorded
a possible chance against the negro
Ia
opponent that could be selected to go
against Johnson but considered from the
standpoint of experience and mental
characteristics Willard does not appear
formidable.
In his ring career to date he has never
shown the fighting lust and spirit which
made pugilists of the type of Sullivan
and Fitzsimmons so feared by oppon ents.
If the pair meet, Willard will tower sew
eral inches over Johnson as well as out
weighing the negro and having decided
advantage in the matter of reach. Speak
ing broadly he can probably strike a
harder blow than Johnson but these as
sets are offset by the speed, accuracy and
ring cunning that the title holder
possesses.
Willard has never shown aggressiveness
in the ring and boxes with a sort OF S ow.
diffident style which leaves much to be
desired if he is to be considered as
championship possibility. He is slow to
arouse even under a bombardment OF
heavy blows and while standing up wei
under punishment has, up to the resent,
failed to gain the full benefits of his ply
steal advantages over opponents. 1t may
prove, however, that Willard will cause
johnson unexpected trouble once they
cross arms.
The dispassionate waiting sty.e of
fighting that Willard uses will not
be to the negros liking. 1t is too
much like Johnsons to suit the
champion. Forced to take the ini-
tiatve or figure on a contest of many
rounds duration, presents new problems
to the titeholder. His age precludes the
latter and his ring training the former.
1t may uncover the weak link in john
sons chain of defense.
The records of the 1914 major inter-
league series form an interesting part
of the annals of sport for the past year.
Including the anti-season and post-season
series "a games were played of which the
National League teams won 80; the
American League Clubs 20, while three
tie games also figured in the records.
Since 1903, 513 interleague games have
been played. of which the American
League clubs have won 266 and the Ma
tionals 252 The victories from a league
standpoint have been distributed as fol-
lows:
19G3-Americans, SO; Nationals, q.
19O4-Americans, 10; Nationals. -.
19O5-Americans, %; Nationals %.
19O6-Americans, %; Nationals, Z.