Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-16

TT THE National League desires 10 retain
Il its position as n major league the hour
is about ripe for those in charge 20 60 out
and get busy the job. There isn't any
question but that through 1919 the older
circuit was utterly, absolutely and irre-
yocably outclassed. Brooklyn was good
enough to win n pennant, and yet we doubt
very much, after having watched both
leagues all season. whether Brooklyn could
have finished fifth in the Johnsonian cir
cult You can write It down as certainty
that Brooklyn couldn't have beaten out
Boston, Detroit or Chicago In the A. L.,
and we don't believe she could have finished
ahead OF the Yanks and the Browns.
About Time for a Shift
Compare the Robins and the Browns
pennant winners In one league and NTH
pacers In the other The catching depart
ments were about the same The Browns,
with Davenport, Weilman Plank and 9TH
era, had a pitching staff to compare easily
with Marquard, Cheney, ,Pfeffer and Coombs.
The Browns with Sisler, Pratt, Lavan and
Austin. had far better inheld than Dau-
bert, Cutshaw, Oldson and Mowrey. And
the same dope goes for the Brown outheld
with Shotton and Marssns around.
When Il comes 20 a pass where flag
winner In the league doesn't quite stack
up with a second division club in the
other, the moment Is well-nigh prime for
a shift And Brooklyn proved that she had
the best club In the National League
Not Brooklyn Alone
This Is no rap at Brooklyn alone. The
National League hasn't won but one series
In seven years, and that series was won by
an inspired ball club in a delirium. The
Cubs. the Giants, the Phillies and the Rob
ins all have been crushed In turn. outside
OF the one Brave uprising, the American
League In six years, since 1908, has won
twenty-four games and dropped but nine In
postchampionship affairs. This season, In
four major league cities, there were four
| teen post-season battles OF the fourteen
| the American League won twelve and lost
two. These are figures that admit Of no
| debate. They are not matters Of opinion.
They are conclusive results, set down In cold
type beyond any partisan rave
All-Star Teams
The same goes for almost every all-star
| team picked. In such a selection no man
| could leave on Speaker, Cobb, Schalk, Col
| Inns. Johnson, Ruth, Slsler-the bulk OF the
| team. There are many who also added
| Gardner Scott and Lewis. The best the
| National League could get would be about
one-third.
Leaving the figures aside, We talked with
one or two ball players who had served
| time In both circuits. Their dope was ex-
| actly the same-in both batting and Pitch
ing, they averred the American League
was far ahead. And batting and pitching
happen to be quite part OF the game.
A Long Stretch
The American League has been well
ahead for the greater part OF the last seven
years, ever since the Cubs began 70 sub
side. But the gap was wider In 1915 than
| II ever has been before. No one who saw
Boston and Brooklyn play the recent series
could figure the two clubs within a league
/ OF the same class.
| AaA ~ A a
this without any extra effort that the COM
| petition most OF the way was pitifui You
might suggest that Boston won the first two
| games by only one run each. But ask any