Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-21
WARDS To REMAIN
|NFEDERAL LEAGUE
Death of Robert B. Not to A.
feet Interest of Family in
Brooklyn Club.
SONS AND A BROTHER
TO HOLD MANAGEMENT
High Salaries, Not Lack of Attend
ance, Given as Cause for Lack Of
Profits in Base Ball.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

The death of Robert B. Ward is not
to make the slightest difference in the
future of the Federal League, accord
ing to announcement made by the pro-
motors of the independent organiza-
ton. George S. Ward, brother, and
William and Howard, sons Of r. b.
Ward, have been identified with the
Brooklyn club and will continue to
operate 1t.
The Wards are said to have over
million dollars tied up in the Federal
League, and it remains to be seen II
the relatives of r. B. Ward will want
to continue to put up money to carry
the league along. 1t was the late mem
Der of the family who was instru-
mental in bringing about conferences
with organized base ball during the
recent world series. He realized, it was
said, that present conditions could not
be continued much longer and he was
anxious to affect some sort of com
promise.
so much by the falling off of attend
ance, for it is argued that the same
number of people are paying their way
into the parks as before, but the ad-
vent of the Federal League has SO
raised the salaries of the players that
ton. A leading owner of one OF the
clubs Of organized base ball recently
made the following statement:
THE Federal League has not reduced
our patronage. The gate receipts have
not shown a marked decrease, but the
salaries we have been forced to pay the
players have eaten up former profits, and
have resulted in heavy losses in some in
stances. The Federal League is RESPONSE
Bile for the high salaries, and in that re-
forced US to increase the pay of our
players or lose them. But l understand
that the Federals now realize that they
will not be able to meet expenses unless
salaries are reduced, therefore 1 believe
that the players will no more receive big
offers from the Feds"
Phillip Ball, principal owner of the st.
Louis Federal League club, admits that
his club lost 100000 during the past sea-
son, but he is not dismayed, and willing
and anxious to buy his way into or
ganized base ball He will willingly give
a reasonable price for either the Browns
Or Cardinals. Owner Hedges of the
Browns. however. says that he is salts
fed with present conditions, but if the
Brittons reduce their price of 100000
for the Cardinals, Ball may become the
owner.
The Boston Braves went to the post
this spring the best bet as result of
their decisive victory over the Ath-
letics in the 1914 world series, but this
startling triumph failed to put the
Braves in the same class with the
great machines of Chance, McGraw and
Clarke. And Stallings was the first
one to see it, too.
Although the Braves were Legitimate
world champions, Stallings shifted his
crew considerably. He disposed of
Charley Deal, Leslie Mann, Josh De-
wore. Otto Hess, George Whitfield, Os-
car Dugey. Larry Gilbert and Teddy
Gather. The Miracle Mans" efforts,
the pitching of James, Rudolph and
Tyler and the wonderful defensive OF
Evers and Meanwhile won for the
Braves.
The Braves were not a flash and the
injuries to Evers and Bill James dur
ing the early part of last season alone
made the pennant for the Phillies pos
sible. Will the Phillies come back
as favorites in 1916?
The strength which the Red Sox have
displayed during their own season and
in the world series seems certain to
make them the favorires in the next
American League race. 1t will, in fact
not be a question of which team will
win the pennant: 1t will be what club
can beat out the Red Sox.