Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-17
FATHER TIME SWINGS CLUB
Will Make Awful Inroads on the Big
League Stars During the
Next Five Years.
SOME TO FINISH THIS YEAR
Ry FRANK q. MENKE.


NEW YORK, Jan. i6.-Another five
Years and most Of the present day dia
fnond stars viii be but memories. Father
Time has been lenient with some, bu
there Is limit to Father Times pa.
thence. and certain Il is that his patience
viii be exhausted In many cases
t.ajoie and Wagrcr. the grand old
gusrd, arc on the down grade. II is pos.
sible that both may stick II out through
1910. bat it's beyond the hope Of fandom
that they can go through 1916 in major
league company.
Mathewson. the wonderful Giant
pitcher. enters his fifteenth season in ma
jor league company. Matty is stu good
but Matty is slipping Three years at
tho most seems TO be Mattys limit as
a regular worker on a big league mound.
Matty Is only "a years old now. but his
arm isn't as good as It use to be. II has
lost much Of its old time cunning. Last
hits per game. and when 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 probably is good for two
more years in major league society, but
no more.
GnlGl bender anu Elhnhf NNt
twirlers who did so much 10 bring fame
and glory 70 Philadelphia, are near the
end OF their careers. They may pitch
fine base ball for two or three years
longer. but no longer.
welsh May Come Back.
Ed Walsh OF the White Sox may come
back IN 1915. but II he does he can linser
only year or two longer. Age has rob
bed the once mighty right arm Of It's
power.
Another five years and it is hardly
likely that moro than three Of four OF
the Pre- sent day New York Giants still
VIII be in the majors. MerlSle, Doyle.
Fletcher. Movers. snodgrass. Beechor
Murray and some ot the others have
turned the prime time OF their base ball
lives. They are on the downgrade. and
soon they will slip into obscurity
Iris Speaker u 81 years old. He still
Is wonderful ball player but will he be
just as wonderful at the age of 367 VIII
he then be even wonderful enough 20
hold Job In the major leagues. Maybe
yes-and maybe no.
Miller Higgins OF the Cardinals, stiu
ranks ne a wonderful second baseman.
But Miller IS getting pretty well along
IN years. Johnny Evers still is a won
dorful piayef-but will Johnny be able
70 answer the major league roll call
i've years hence. when he will be near
ing the 40-year mark?
Ruhe oliring and Jack Lapp Of the
Athletics arc getting old. They soon
must fall by the waysde. Dick Hoblltzel,
now with the Red sox. Is a &oteran. Sam
Crawford, the old war horse OF the De-
troit Tigers hit like fiend last year
and fleided In wonderful style He showed
no signs Of age. yet Sam has passed the I
turning point. and It seems unlikely that |
when 1919 comes around that Sam will be !
anything else than major league MEM
Dry,
Some Are SkiddinR.
Jimmy Archer, the Cub catcher. and |
Larry Mclean. the Giant catcher are |
ncarly through. They are still good |
but they are skiddlng. Jake Daubert, |
tho great first sacker Of the Brooklyn |
Dodgers Is pretty well along In years, |
A. ball players go.
Charles DOOM, Hans Lobert, Grover Al |
exander. Sherwood Mages. "Gabby" Ora |
vath and "Lvdy' Luderus, who made up |
the main strength OF the Philllos last
year are veterans They rank just now |
as among the best players In the game. |
But how many do you think will DO IN /,
the major league ranks five years from |
now
Heinie Zimmerman Of the Cubs. may
last five years longer-and he may not. |
VIC Safer Of the Cubs. may last five years |
end he may not zech Wheat OF the |
Dodgers. who ranks as wonderful out !
fielder, is nearing the turn "Dode'' |
Pasket OF the PhiIlles, cannot last much
longer. Frank Schultz OF the cubs "a
due. for the minors In another year.
Bodie Grant Of the Giants. Joseph De-
wore OF the Braves. Reulback OF the |
Dodgers. Ames OF Cincinnati aud score |
Of other present day stars IN the National
league soon must travel the trail OF OBJ !
iivinn
Terry Turner Of tho Maps ranking now |
as the greatest utility man In the game. 10 |
near the end So are George Morinrt,
Of the Tigers and Bin Carrigaa OF the
He'd SoN. In the American Ieasue today
where the talent e somewhat younger
than that Of the National league. there /
arc at least seventy-f'Ve players who |
seem 10 be IN their prime. Hut five years !
hence where VIII they be-