Evening journal., 1916-12-19
STORMY Season
swept BASEBALL
Passing of Federal League
and Player Problem
Marked Red-Letter
Year
WONDERFUL YEAR IN
TWO MAJOR CIRCUITS

Standing out above all else In base
ball was the declaration OF peace be-
tween organized baseball and the
Federal League and the slipping Of
the latter into oblivion. This fight
was waged even more fiercely than
the previous wars that have been now
and again interpellated IN the history
OF the game; but the Federal League,
devoid OF patronage and depleted as
to finances, could not weather the
storm longer, and a peace pact was
signed early in the year. The Federal
League magnates, Charles H. Weegh-
man, of Chicago. and Phil Ball, bought
into the National League. the forber
getting the Cubs and the latter the
st. Louis Browns.
The player problem assumed ser
ious proportions for a time, and at
one period threatened 10 disrupt the
talk OF peace. Finally an adjustment
was made, some OF the organized
baseball teams absorbing many OF the
best-known players in the Federal
League The Giants had long sought
the services of Benny Kaun, and at
last he was awarded to that club
Chase, Magee, Tinker and many
others all found berths. In the ru-
mors there was not evidenced at any
time dur ng the season the same en-
thusiasm on the part of the playing
public. In major league circles, how
4v.fr
70 a close race which developed in the
the mid-season and continued to the
very end OF the playing schedule in
each league. This proved 10 be a sal
vat on. and the attendance figures
mounted until it was said that the
entire season taken into cOnsidera-
tion, they were on a par with the best
years in baseball On the other hand,
the announcement made recently that
players could not hope to be main
tained at the same high salaries that
prevailed before the baseball war
seems TO ind cate that the big leagues
are determined to recoup their losses
due TO the war or that baseball is
not proving quite so profitable as in
the past.
One big change OF ownership was
noted during the year. the sale Of the
Braves by James A. Gaffney to Percy
Haughton, the Harvard football coach
The playing season showed one of
the most remarkable races that has
ever been staged in the history OF
baseball, and until the last few days
before the close OF the schedule 1t was
in doubt as to which National and
-. Il
be the contender for the worlds title
In the National League Brooklyn,
Philadelphia and Boston were racing
along neck and neck, while In the
American League Boston, Chicago
and Detroit were the contenders. Only
few points separated the teams OF
each league. in the last few weeks OF
the schedule, and the worlds Series
approached with the decision still in
doubt. II was not until October /
that the American League pennant
was won and not until two days later
thar Brooklyn clinched the crown in
the National League.
Several times during the season the
Giants threatened to become contend
ers for the National League cham
pionship, and I'm the latter weeks oi
the struggle they made the most re-
markable record ever established in
baseball when they won twenty-s \
straight games. After that they snap.
ped, and in playing against Brooklyn
I'm the last series before the schedule
closed he Giants proved that they
had shot their bolt. and Brooklyn
clinched the title while the Braves
were soundly trouncing the Phi ladel-
phia team. The poor showing of the
Giants against Brooklyn aroused the
ire OF John j. McGraw, manager OF the
club, and he left the field in the sec
ond game. saying that the team was
not playing with any heart I'm the con-
test This aroused a storm, as II
vas taken TO mean that the Giants
we're deliberately throwing the game
In the worlds series the Red Sos
clinched the title from Brooklyn with.
out much show of argument on the
part Of the Robins. Brooklyn sue.
succeeded in winning only one game
OF the five played and for the most
part did not play high-classed base.
ball. There was one game which wa:
an exception, however. This every
one agreed was as fine a contest a.
was ever staged N a world S serie,
hsttie. II was the second game a
Boston, and the Red Sox won onl'
after fourteen innings had beer
played.
Columbia made a remarkable show
ing in college baseball, going through
the season with the loss Of only ont
game. that to Cornell II was tn,
most successful year that the Blu,
and White ever enioved at this sport
and on the percentage basis OF victor
ies and defeats Columbia leads tn,
college world AS 10 a championship
OF course. there Is no such thing, aut
Columbias claim TO one is somewha
dimmed by the fact that the team di,
not play Harvard, one OF the stronges
mines OF the year. Tufts follows CO
lumbia with two games lost in TWEEN
ty-two played and Harvard lost three
Yale did not enjoy a particularly goo,
season and neither did Princeton II
foar, hafffrC Ttsffa lad fha cnilacnl