The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-22

those five years the Athletics were hog
GIN American League %pennants, Is n
real enthusiast over the prospects Of the
Yankees for the coming season. Baker
came to town yesterday at the solicita-
ton Of Col. Jacob RUPERT, president Of
the New York Americans. 1hc Colonel
explained that he was very anxious 10
see the third baseman for whom he and
Capt. Huston paid n small fortune Il
few days ago.
In the opinion OF Col. Rupert the
home run king measured up to expecta-
tions. He found "A quiet. unassuming
but confident baseball player no, yet
turned 80. who was very positive In his
belief that the brightest part OF his base
ball career was IN prospect. The visitor
from Trappe, Md, was a we'll tanned.
husky, two handed fellow who aid
something every time he talked.
Il aim to make 1916 my best baseball
year 20 far" said AXE to a group
Of newspaper men. There IL no reason
why ! should not be as good ~. II not
better than in 1914.
T begin with. l am in better physl-
cal condition now than | ever was At
this time OF the year. ! am only eight
pounds heavier than whei, at my best
playing weight a fellow needs at least
that much excess to stand the r.gors of
hard training.
"And | intend to train hard" Baker
continued. Il will start in tomorrow
when l return to the farm. Mark my
word, l will be as we'll prepared rs any
OF the youngsters that go out with
the second squad. I feel a great moral
responsibility. Messrs. Rupert and
Huston have gambled heavily on the
possibility OF my being as good as when
l quit the Athletics. To my mind IL is
no gamble at all. IL l hadn't thought
| would improve over past form l never
would have returned to the game. SIN,
you see the position in which ! am
placed. That liz all the more incentive
for me to deliver. And deliver l will u
hard work counts"
Are your legs all right" Baker was
asked. you know there was a report
tina, you suffered an injury last sum
mer."
is that so"' said Baker. well. Il
there was ever anything the matter with
M leg | never knew II. No, my legs
are all right that I will guarantee"
"How much ball did you play las,
sumner was asked.
II played twenty-odd games-twenty-
nine | think 1t was--in the Delaware
County League. l played about fifty
games altogether. No. | didn't hit ov,
400. as some reports have il. ! nit Just
.3T9 AMI had eight home runs IN m,
;wenty.nine But ! played qu,t'
enough baseball TO assure myself that
l haven't begun to go back.
"Why should | lie slipping Blkcl
continued. I'm only a kid compared t,
Hans Wagner. ! have always taken car,
OF myself. | am we'll constituted ans
should be pretty nearly as good as ] evei
was for ten years to come.
II cannot begin to tell you how pleaseC
am over the prospect of playing
sevcnty-eeyen games AZ the Polo Grounds
We ball players ali prefer New York
you know. It's the big time OF the biz
leagues. Messrs. RUPERT au1 iiustoI
have treat-d me most literally. ! an
absolutely satisfied with my contract.
shall give Donovan the best Mat j n
me. and that ! hope Will be better THAI
my beet record OF the past
Baker Is OF tn" opinion that mis- new
team viii be very much Ia the pcn'iail
race all the way If the proper cooperation
Is shown.
"Winning a penuant," said he, us no
"A question of two or tire" stars d"in.
their best. Every one on the cluh uus
fight from start to finish. our club should
be- stronger than any AMI outft o
the last ten years, but II VIII lac"
tougher field than any pcnnant WHINE
faced during all hat time. Caldwell AM
Fisher are two OF the greatest lH
handed pitchers of the game Ban play
.rs tell me Lee Magee H. "A cOrklni
player. | have 40 fear OF falling down
never was so anxious for the openinl
of the season. The time cannot come to'
soon for me 10 get \ shot at thtt rls
field bleacher.'
!, The home run slusger has "A natura
preference for thiId base, but - willn'
To play elsewhere If such "A shit shoul'
prove beneficial to the club,
81 have played every position eve
to pitch!ng and catching r'id 10
enough IN tho American League
always served at third. am sure
though, that | could give a pretty Ial
account of myself anywhere In the inhe!'
or outfeli.
"t'ritz Maisel IL a grand ll.,le fellow
"A most Vhluahle asset 20 any c'uh ne
. cause of his tremendous speed. nay
been tull he ~ very anxious ia 20 10 IN
ou.held. with his speed and arm an'
, Judgment NJ mean foul balls he shou.
be "A corking gardener"
The FIRST contingent OF Giant player
will, leave this city for Marlin trida
> morning. The party. In charge OF Edds
Brannick. will include Christy Mhthe"
! son Catchers Wendell, kocher. k'nne
and Sandberg Intielders Hunter, MART
!. and Fish, and Outiclders Harrison, bht
| hington, Rousch and Jacobson. Door
Ritter and Shepncr will b" picked up o
the way to 81. Louis. AZ the Noun
City, Schupp. Schaucr. ltossInger, tai
rel, and Cole will join. Sharnian. kra
? mer. Thorpe. Kelly, Brainirl and tso'
riguez. the Cuban. Will report TO Matt
. direct from their homes. Mc,iraw l
" take Southpaw Palmero with him froi
Q Cuba. McGraw Is due in Marlin Eel
ruary 20.
During the baseball season players |
the Texas League will be insured aga.n'
injury or disability as they will wor
Il under the workmen's compensation Law
according to an announcement made b
= the Texas state Industrial AcCidet
* Board. The magnates VIII contra
. with insurance companies operating ar
. der the supervision Of the State boar'
: During disability suffered while "a, wor
on the baseball field a player viii RI
A c.ive 60 per cent, Of his salary.
The health OF Jess willard. heiv.
o weight champion OF the world, seems
source OF unusual worry to the literar
q lights OF Chicago. Every other dh
\ the pen pushers there have the cowbo
q giant on the verge OF pneumonia, wit
. %intimations that the Wllard-Moran boz
may suffer IA further pu,tpuncment as
consequence.
"Eor tie life OF me cannot tlgui