The Washington herald., 1916-01-15
Grifmen Will Probably Open
American League Season
Away from Home.
"FOX" MAILS CONTRACTS
BY WILLIAM PEET.

April u, the date set for opening the
American League season, as announced
by President Ban johnson yesterday,
meets with the entire approval of Clark
Grifith
The earlier In April the better SO
far as We are concerned" stated the
Old Fox, for it often happens that we
have better weather during the month
of April than in May"
Although the American League schedule
will not be made public for several
weeks, 1t is Just about settled that the
Nationals will not play the initial game
in the Capital. for the Griffmen opened
| at home last year and according to
precedent will go elsewhere in 1916. either
4 to New York or Boston.
As guess New York will be the scene
of Washington's plunge into the next
American League campaign.
Griffith was busy yesterday sending
| out contracts to a number of his ball
players. who thus far have not signed.
| and vouchsafed the information that
several of the men would have to stand
4 slight decreases in the figures shown in
their 1915 contracts.
! The Old Fox was forced to raise the
ante last year in many instances be-
cause he obtained Information that the
Federal League was trying to do busi-
ness with some of his players, and ac-
cording to his own way of figuring he
paid out more money than these men
were worth, hence the pruning knife this
winter. o., --.-
| Naturally there wilfsbe the usual num-
| ber of kicks registered, but as Grfff has
! the name or being q square manager
and has always stood by his ball play
ers, the men will eventually sign up.
! Information as to the identity of these
players likely to suffer cuts was not
| forthcoming, and there is no way of find
| ing out, for besides the few who are
working under long-term contracts II is
not known what men have affixed their
signatures to 1916 papers. The Old Fox
| has steadfastly refused to give out the
names of players who sign and when
| they sign, pursuing. for reasons best
known to himself, the same policy adopt
ed last year.
The announcement that Steve, Brodie.
former member of the old Baltimore
| Orioles and until five years ago an Inter-
antfonal Lacquer would coach the An
napolis Midshipmen this spring probably
means that Nick Altrock, the National s
veteran, will not be given a chance to
| pick up extra money coaching the Navy
pitchers as was the case last spring.
Attrock is at present In Chicago work
>
East IN time to be with the Nationals
young pitchers IN Cnariottesviiie about
March 1. -. ..-
According to Billy weart, the Quaker
City baseball scribe: Although II has
been intimated that Hal Chase might
play first base for the ST. Louis Brown
Sox next season, word comes from the
Pacific Coast that prince Hal is fig
uring ON playing in the Pacific Coast
League. According to the Oakland (CaL)
newspapers. Chase has started to sound
| Manager Elliott, of the Oakland club, as
to his chances of getting on the team
there.
! Hal is now in San Jose at the head of
team known as "Chase's Stars" The
| following objections are made to Chase
getting a place with Oakland: Because
! of the high salary that he would de-
mand. Because there is a disposition
among Pacific Coast managers not to
have former Federal Lesguers on their
teams. Because Manager Elliott has four
first basemen on his list, and because
Chase is known as trouble maker.
Chase might get a job with Frank
Chance at Los Angeles. Both Hal and
| Chance managed the New York High
landers. There should be bond Of sym
pathy between them on this account
The popularity Of municipal golf
courses is shown in the attendance fig
ures for the past year on the big and
small golf links In Jackson Park. Chi
cago. The total reached SoS,l74. Dur
ing the month of August, 45,34o tickets
were issued, 26,560 for the 1S-hole course
and 1870 for the smaller courses During
the summer months play usually begins
about $3.50 p. m and lasts until It is
| too dark to see the ball.
The following story is going the
rounds Of the exchanges:
| Where would this team finish II II
were entered either in the National or
the American League pennant race?
Pitchers-Foster, Cubs; Doak, Cardi-
nails; Pierce. Cubs; Hughes, Braves;
Iowedmilk, Phillies: Boland, Tigers.
Catchers-Williams, Senators; Thomas,
White Elephants. ..
First Bs.seman-Gandil Senators.
Second Baseman-Pratt Browns.
Third Baseman-Chapman, Indians.
Shortstop-Fletcher Giants.
Center Fielder-Carey, Pirates.
Left Fielder-Burns, Tigers.
Right Fielder-Kauff, Brookfeds
Pinch Hitters-weiser, Phillies; Aus
Tigers.
It's q men; all were born during this
month of January, which monN also has
produced many athletes who have won
distinguished names for themselves dur
ing the past.