Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-12
Judgments

pleasure of seeing the game
grown into a mighty institution. HIS
own contribution to it's wonderful ex-
pansion was not small. AS a player,
manager, team owner and sporting
goods manufacturer, he contributed
quite as much as any one man to make
base ball popular and the professional
game successful. He was one of that
coterie of players whose list includes
Harry Wright and others whose names
are recalled with loving tenderness by
the oder men of the country, who have
followed base ball for all the days of
its half-century Of real growth. AS a
pitcher Al Spaulding was noted in his
time, and his achievements in the early
days OF the game were quite as note
worthy as are any of his SUCCESSORS,
who Rave aided in reducing the game
TO the beautiful scientific contest 1t has
become. As owner of the old Chicago
White SoX, he helped to bring the game
to the highest point of business de-
velopment and his achievement in de-
vising the reserve clause in base ball
contracts really made organized ba pos
sible. For many years his connection
with the game has been that OF semi
detachment, his sporting goods Interest
Keeping him concerned in the prosperity
of base ball. as well as all other games
that require apparatus or equipment. but
his attitude was that of one who Is
deeply involved in the work Of pre-
serving the best interests of base bail at
all times. He will be sincerely mourned
bv many and his parting will be no
uced by millions who know him only pe-
cause of his connection with base ball.
The drafting season opens next wed
nesday. and in a little while the minor
league owners will know just to what eA-
tent they will have TO repuild their teams
for the coming season, 1t Is scarcey
probable that experience Of the last rev
wears will be duplicated, for the big
league owners are held back by th@
twenty-one player limit, and mighty re"
of them are anxious to load down TIE
payroll with untried ball tossers, Just 10
keep the other fellow from getung nun,
The leagues have been pretty well picked
over already by the scouts, and a mum
her of sales have been mace to the Dig
leag ,es. and the fact that the new player
has been chucked right into the game. to
take the place of the man he displaced on
the roster. gives color to the peiief that
the big league magnates are buying lor
immediate consumption, as they say on
The board of trade. and not for tutures'
However few days will tell the story
Somebody over in Chicago is wonder
fully busy these days, turning the Omaha
franchise and grounds over to successor
to Pa Rourke. So far no amount OF
inquiry has been able to develop the
identity of this person. He Is on
warm trail. however, for Rourke is WILL
ing TO sell out, If he can get his price,
II af4r
team away. For the Information OF some
of the persons who may be Interested IN
the transaction it may here be stated
that TO make the deal effective under
the national agreement, and the laws OF
the National Association, both Rourke
and the Western league must be salts
fled. and then the matter must be passed
upon by the National Association. Gu te
a little red tape has to be unwound these
days when transferring ownership OF
base ball club.
LOT of folks who thought they were
not seeing the usual high grade OF base
nan In the Western league during the
last season, and especially at Omaha,
NAV be referred TO the performance OF
the players who have been sold and are
now being used regularly by the big
lea HIleS. TAKE hFttbtEt iot SAoihfANf "'-'N
went from Omaha to the Nanks; ne mas
been working oftener than any other
catcher since he Joined New York and Is
,nakinR good The proceedings had quite
a Western league flavor the other day
when Mogridge and Kreuger formed the
battery for New York. anc they beat the
Roston Red Sox We did have some
prettv good ball here during the summer
when the weather man would let the boys
play.
The race is not over YET IN any OF the
major leagues, and the fans are oetinning
to warm up as they haven't since the
days when Chicago ana New York tied
for first place and had to play off that
celebrated Merkle game. Almos- any OF
them can pick the winner. and tell you
Why he Is right and that's wnat really
makes the game g~od Also. almost any
OF them may be wrong.
Connie Mack Is able to smile these days.
He knows he isn't going 20 win any PEN
nants, but he has banked a lot OF good
iron men through the sale OF players. and
that helps a lot
FOgRrty Retires.