Evening star., 1915-01-25
GR|FF|TR0BTA|NS
ANOTHER PITCHER
Trades Tommy Long to St..
Louis Cardinals for TWirler
Named Hopper.
HEYDLER HAS FAITH
IN LANDIS' DECISION
Secretary of National League, While
in Washington, Comments
on Feds Suit.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Manager Griffith has closed 4 deal
which will give the Nationals a pitcher
and the St Louis Cardinals the services
of Tommy Long, the outfielder. who
was farrned out to the Atlanta club
several years
The pitcher is named Hopper. He
was with the St Paul club last sea-
son. from which Griffith drafted him.
Ry some sort of miX-up Griffith re-
huuuished his claim on Hopper and
Manager Huggins of the st. Louis Car
dinals obtained him.
1t was Joe Cantillon vino recon-
nnended Hopper for draft to the local
manager, and when Cantillon came here
this winter and learned that Gr1fnth
had not retained Hopper he was very
much disappointed.
Cantillon insisted that Hopper was
by far the best pitcher III the asSocia-
ton. He said he was the only one VINO
knew how TO pitch, ana triI1l.n, os
course, became interested and started
efforts to get Hopper back. In inns ne
has succeeded, for this morning ne re-
ceived wire from Manager hussihs
informing him that he would take
Tommy Long in exchange for Hopper
and that Hopper had been notified TO
report to the Nationals.
The American Association records OF
last season shows Hopper to nave won
nine games and lost sixteen. His team
finished absolutely last. winning but
small percentage of games. whlch IN
dicates that his record was far ahead
of that of his team.
Griffith is particularly pleased with
the deal, for he has heard so many
flattering reports about Hopper that
he is convinced that he is pitcher OF
more than ordinary ability.
Secretary John Heydler Of the Ma
tional League is spending few days
in this city enroute from the base ball
trial in Chicago to his headquarters IN
New York.
We did not learn anything new dur
ing the trial OF the Feds suit in Chi
cago.'' said Heydler. The Feds had
two chances to minimize our virtues
and exaggerate our faults. But moth
ing developed that has not been ex-
pounded by our opponents in the past.
There is no doubt that had the cues,
ton of jurisdiction been fought that all
but the Chicago clubs would nave
withdraw from the suit. but 1t was the
intention of organized base ball to let
Judge Landis decide the case
I've are anxious to have the case go 70
trial in detail, though it would probably
interfere with our next season, for 1t
would take up lot of time.
Base ball is particularly fortunate to
have the case before a court which is well
versed in the game. Judge Landis knows
is best for the sport
Mr. Heydler will leave for New York
some time tomorrow to take up his duties
at National League headquarters.
Joe Villa. in the New York Evening Sun.
makes it plain that base ball. like all other
sports. must be regulated and governed.
He presents the following strong argu-
Inent:
IF the method of governing profess
sional base ball is violation of the
antitrust laws then horse racing, box
Ing. foot ball. tennis. golf and track
athletics can be successfully attacked
on similar lines. The jockey club rules
the turf with absolute power. which
has been pronounced legal by Federal
Judge Ward. Boxing is ruled with an
iron hand by state commissions in
New York. Wisconsin and Tennessee.
The Sridiron game must be played
under rules framed by college auto
Gratis. The Amateur Athletic Union
controls athletics in this country and
has working agreement with similar
organizations in Great Britain, France,
Germany and Sweden. It is the right
Of the governing bodies directing ten
mis- and golf to arbitrarily draw the
line between amateurs and profession
ais. If these organizations should be
dissolved by court order what would
become of american pastimes?
BEFORE the National League was
formed in 1876 base ball was discredit-
cd. Many games were crooked, and the
public displayed lukewarm interest
The National League. however, cleansed
the sport by blacklisting four dishonest
players. and what was the outcome :?
Ease ball began 10 gain popular favor
and for nearly thirty years the sport
has been kept free from the gambling
evil The American League and forty
minor leagues have carried out the
National Leagues policy to the letter"