The Washington herald., 1916-12-17
PLAYERS NOW ON THE
OVER-ANXIOUS Bench
Wartime Contracts and Pay Roll of
Major League Clubs to Be Cut.

The baseball magnates Of the major
and minor leagues have had their in
ming. A little later IL will be the turn
Of the Players Fraternity to go TO bat.
The magnates, big and little, have de-
cided that they must retrench.
They are unanimous in the assertion
that expense must be cut down If they
are to pay even a fair return on thei-
investment What Is q fair return" they
do not say. The main point Is that they
have not been making as much honey
they think they should have done.
For three years the minor leagues have
suffered losses all along the line. They
we're the innocent parties in the recent
hght between organized baseball and the
Federal League In other words, the
minors were the Belgium of the base
ball war" For two years the major
leagues suffered heavy losses. but las
season, thanks to the close races for
the pennants. many OF them made good
profits
Now the players who were the Chief
gamers during the baseball war are go
ing to have their salaries cut down. War
time contracts fattened the purses OF the
players, and it is in the pay-rolls of the
players that the clubs intend to make
the big cut. In fact except by cuttin'
down the salaries of the club officials.
about the only. place for the maZnates
to make a substantial saving is. in the
salaries of the players. With the eX-
ception Of one or two clubs there has
been retrenchment> in various matters
during the past two three years.
Whenever the clubs saw chance to save
a few dollars they di1 so. but with the
players signed TO long-term contracts
there could not be any slash in this re-
spect. In reducing the salaries >of the
players the major league lagnates de-
clare they intend to put the pay of the
men who wear the uniforms back to
where it was1n 1913, or before they were
compelled to submit 10 the demands OF
the stars Of the diamond.
Baseball has certainly developed a lot
of specialists in recent years. The Bos-
ton Club carried Catcher Cady largely
because no other receiver was able to
handle the delivery of Ernie Shore.
Cady's sole duty was to work when Shore
was Carrigan's pitching selection. Shore
lnsisIs he Is much more effective with
Cady doing the catching.
For a wonderful fielder. Shortstop
Scott. OF Boston, has the most indif-
ferent style Of any player who has ever
starred in the majors. Scott goes abou:
his work in such careless fashion
that his style takes away much of the
erilitancy Of his work. He never makes
false move and usually after a great
play that retires the side he is under the
cover OF the bench before the crowd has
half chance TO pay him tribute
Connie Mack is banking on a husky
youngster by the name of Thrasher to
come through with some wallops next
summer which will make fans at Shibe
Park recall the days of Frank Baker
and his big stick. Incidentally. Mack is
of the belief that in Thrasher. McInnis.
BOdie. Witt. Strunk and Schang he will
have six players in his lineup able TO
make considerable trouble for the op-
posing pitchers.
George Stovall. former firebrand OF
the Federal League. will quit baseball
unless he can land a job as manager
of a Coast League club. according to
his statements to friends in Los Angeles.
1t is thought that StovaI will be con-
sidered for the leadership at Vernon
when Tom Darmody's negotiations have