The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-02-18

at the most seems to be Matty's limit as regular
worker on big league mound. Matty is only "a
years old now, but his arm isn't good as it used
to be. It has lost much of its old time cunning
Last season it rarely that the opposition didn't
belt him for from seven to twelve hits per game
and when the opposition can do that it means that
Matty is going
Tommy Leach is probably good for two more
years in major league society-but no more 4,.
Chief Bender and Eddie Plank. the twirlers who
did so much to bring fame and glory to Philadel-
phia are the end of their careers. They may
pitch fine baseball for two or three years longer
but no longer.
Ed Walsh of the White Sox may come back
in 1915, but if he does he can linger only year or
two longer. Age has robbed the one mighty arm
of it's power.
Another five years and it is hardly likely that
more than three or four of the present day New
York Giants still will be in the majors. Merke,
Doyle, Fletcher Meyers, Snodgrass, Bescher,
hurry and some of the others have turned the
prime time of their baseball lives. They are on
the down grade and soon they will slip into OBJ
security.
Iris Speaker is 81 years DID, He is still a
derful at the age of SO? Will he then be even
wonderful enough to hold job in the major
league? Maybe yes-and maybe no.
Miller Higgins of the Cardinals is still won
derful second baseman. But Miller is getting
pretty we'll along in years. Johnny Evers still is
wonderful player-but will Johnny be able to
answer the major league roll call five years hence,
when he will be nearing the 4O-year mark!
letcs are getting old. They soon must fall
by the waysde. Dick Hoblitzel, now with
the Red SoX, is veteran. Sam Crawford,
the old war horse of the Detroit Tigers hit like
fiend last year and felded in wonderful style. He
showed no signs of age, yet Sam has passed the
turning point, and it seems unlikely that when
1919 comes around that Sam will be anything else
than ma or league memory.
Jimmy Archer, the Cub catcher, and Larry
Mclean, the Giant catcher, are nearly through.
They are still good-but they are skidding. Jake
Daubert the great first sacker of the Brooklyn
Dodgers is pretty we'll along in years as ball
players 60.
Charles Dcoin, Hans Lobert, Grover Alexan-
der, Sherwood Magee, Gabby Cravath and Luder-
us, who made up the main strength of the Phillies
last year, are veterans. They rank just now as
among the best players in the game. But how
many do you think will be in the major league
ranks five years from now!
Heine Zimmerman of the Cubs may last five
years he may not. Vic Safer of the Cubs
may last five years-and he may not. lack Wheat
of the Dodgers, who ranks as a wonderful out
fielder, is among the turn. Dode Paskert, of the
Phillies cannot last much longer. Frank Schultz
of the Cubs is due for the minors in another year
Eddie Grant of the Giants, Reulback of the
Dodgers, Ames of Cincinnati, and score of other
present day stars in the National league soon must
travel the train of oblivion.
Terry Turner of the Maps ranking now as the
greatest utility man in the game, is the end.
So are George Moriarty of the Tigers, and Bill
Carrigan of the Red Sox. In the American
league today, where the talent is somewhat young
er than that of the National league, there are at
least seventy five players who seem to be in their
prime. But five years hence-where will they be?
ENVIRONMENT AND BACKBONE
By Beau Esprita