Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-02

NCOnllnued from P0Ce One.D
on the other hand the annals Of amateur
base ball will show the year to have been
most prosperous one.
Professional base balls troubles were
largely internal. Observers attribute the
decline in receipts to business conditions,
due to the war Of the nations; tbs Fed
eral leagues opposition TO Organized ball
and a. disposition on the part OF the
players to Jump contracts. to display
disoyslty and to openly show far
greater interest in their salaries than in
their playing on the diamond. Attend
ance in the major leagues slumped woe
fully and in the minors conditions were
still worse. Indeed a score Of minor
leagues were compelled to throw up the
sponge during the season.
But the return Of base ball to the pin
nacle of American pastimes is predicted
for 1916 To wind up the year Organised
base ball and the Federals compromised
and declared peace. Under the new con-
ditions 1t is thought the game will boom
once more and become the great Amer
lean sport.
The Boston Red Sox of the American
league won the worlds base bail cham
pionship. defeating Philadelphia, the Ma
tional league pennant winners, four
games to one.
The victory OF the Phillies in the Ma
tional league was one of the big sur
prlses OF the year. 1t was the first pen
nsnt ever won by the Philadelphia Ma
tonal league club in the thirty-four
years of the circuit. This feat was ac-
complished by Pat Moran. serving his
first year as manager. and Grover Cleve-
land Alexander, a st. Paul. Neb.. boy.
who proved himself the greatest pitcher
of the year.
The games's star performer was Ty
Cobb. who finished the season with a
batting average OF $40 and led both
major loops in stolen bases having nine
ty-siX to his credit. Larry Doyle led
the National league in hitting and Ben
ME Ksuff, the Federals
boxing.
Boxing has flourished throughout the
country in the last year despite the
usual attacks upon It by purists and the
fact that no long-route, decision bouts
were held.
The prosperity Of the manly art was
largely due to the astonishing victory
OF Jess Willard over Jack johnson, the
Galveston negro, at Havana on April 8.
The heavyweight division of this sport
fell into disrepute on July 4, 1910, when
johnson won from Jim Jeffries at Reno.
The championship of the negro was not
popular and the game suffered accord
ingly until Jess Willard made history
by upsetting the dope when he knocked
Johnson out in the twenty-sixth round
of tha Havana mill
The heavyweight title was the only one
to definitely change hands during the
year. although it is generally agreed
Kewpie Ertle should be given the ban
tam honor over Kid Williams. who lost
to him on foul.
In the lightweight division Freddie
Welsh retained his laurels by sedulously
refusing to do more than enter ten-round
no-decision bouts largely with pugilists
OF doubtful reputation. lie was out.
pointed. according to newspaper deci-
sions, in half a dozen bouts, but techni-
cally he retains his crown.
The middleweight championship goes
to Les Darcy, the sensational Australian
pug. There was no holder of this title
in 1914 and there is still dispute as to
Darcy's right to have It now. But the
Australian intends coming to America
shortly to tackle the American doubters
and 1t is the consensus of opinion, that
he will eliminate them ALL
Johnny Kilbane retains his grip on the
featherweight title. while in the welter-
weight division there is no holder. al
though Willie Richie declares he has
that honor.
Golf,
The golf trust-Oumet Evans and
Travers-received a blow that all but
mortally wounded it In the national tour
ney last year. Successfully these cham
pions OF one golf division or another
were bowled over.
Robert A. Gardner was one of the
upspringing factors which had largely
to do with the defeat OF the above men
toned trust" Gardner, considered
good golfer. but not a wizard, won the
national amateur championship WITH