Evening star., 1915-01-10
MAJOR LEAGUES
0UTCLASS FEDS
Comparison of Circuits and
Players Shows New Organ
ization Lacks Strength.
EXPERT HOLDSIT is NOT
IN A CLASS WITH RIVALS
Dissection of Pitching Staff Shows
American League to Lead-0ut-
laws Shy on Catchers.
BY I. E. SANBORN.

are two tests by which to re
termine whether a base ball
league is OF so-callcd major
league caliber. One of them is
territory and the other is talent.
Promoters of the Federal League
have claimed that they establish
ed themselves as third maior"
last season, and assert they will
continue the war until their
equality with the National and
American leagues is recognized
even by their enemies.
There is a popular belief that
if one says thing often enough
he not only will believe it him
self, but will make others believe
it. The claims of the Federals
have produced a lot of discus
sion in fandom, and several times
the writer has been asked his
opinion. In all fairness, there
fore, let's apple the two tests and
see where we land.
On the territorial basis the Federal
leaguers do not claim to have estao
lished equality with the other leagues
as yet, but assert they will do SO event
ually, explaining with perfect truth
that it requires time to establish clubs
fessedly not content with its circuit.
! which includes several cities that can
not support the highest class of base
ball and does not include several cities
which can. Without Boston and New
York it is difficult to consider a league
of the major class in territory.
Philadelphia was considered a big
league city until recently. The Fed
eral League claims a representative in
New York by virtue of team in
Brooklyn, and that may be granted out
side of Gotham, but the denizens OF
Manhattan Island ridicule any such
idea, even those who actually live in
New Jersey or Connecticut.
Feds Claim Much.
However that may be, the Federal
League claims to be furnishing its
patrons major league base ball. Tho
test of this is the quality of the talent
an attempt made to refute it by the
assertion that the standard of base ball
played is deceptive to the average per-
son. Two evenly matched teams. made
up of players not one of whom could
deliver in major league company, often
put up a sterling article of base ball.
felding. Yet either Of them, stacked
up against high-class team, might
be made to look like schoolboys,
In hisssa
ball strategy cuts more figure than
skill. although skill is not to be dis
credited.
In these days, when ball players are
jumping and double jumping with
great frequency. it is difficult to fix on
any list of star players that will hold
good over night for the respective
leagues to which they belong at the
present writing.
But taking u chance on that, look
over the talent of the American. Ma
tionai and Federal League and see
what men of recognized ability you
find. This does not mean an attempt TO
pick the best players in each league, for
there may be oungsterS who have
greater ability than some of the older
stars, but who have yet to demonstrate
their power to maintain the gait more
than one season.
Starting with pitchers, the Federal
League has several vino have made
good" i'll the American or National
League, thereby demonstrating their
possession of real talent. The same
league has a number of youngsters
who looked good last season, but who
have not stood the test long enough to
be included. The pitchers IN the Fed
eral ranks whose ability is unques-
Falkenberg, Seaton, Groom, Brennan.
Plank and Bender. The last two
named may no ne able 10 pitch mayor
League base ball next season, as they
Irr,f fl1..V n t-A
added to the list to give tEe Feds the
benefit OF the doubt.
Another Comparison.
In the same class with the nine Fed
League hurlers named there are at
least thirteen National League pitch
ers. They are James, Tesreau. Mathew
son, Alexander. Sallee. Doak. Rucker.
Adams. Vaughn. Rudolph, Cheney, Rob
inson and Humphries. II IS not claimed
that all Of these thirteen are as good
as the best of the Feds stars, but the
poorest is as good as the worst.
On the same basis of comparison the
American League has at least eighteen
pitchers OF high class, and their names
are: Leonard, Johnson. Wood, Collins.
Cicotte, Heating, Foster, Duhuc, Scott,
Hamilton. Shawkey, We'll
man. James. Dauss. Baumgardner and
Benz The American League is cred
tied with Walter Johnson, because ac
the time of going to press the last con-
tract he had signed WAS with the Ma
tionals.
He may not pitch a game for Griffith
this year, but if he does not he won't
for any other manager. The name OF
Tex Russell might be added to the
American League list, but for his poor
showing last year. Faber is another
1914 star who is omitted because he is
as yet a one-year man.
There seems to be no doubt the
American League has the greater num-
ber of classy pitchers. with the Ma
tional second and the Fed last.
Behind the bat there is not a catcher
in the Fed League who belonged to
the first string in the major leagues.
Wilson and Rariden come nearest to it.
The American League has it on the
others in pitchers and catchers. at
third, short and in the outfield.
The National League has the ad-
vantage on first and second sbaseS, and
.i..e C.xl I - 6ik In "A