New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-28
Baker Will Lead Fight
On Mter-League Games

parent evil. By stopping It's members
from scheduling spring games at home
with rival American League clubs the
practice would be killed. There are
rules in the big leagues which prevent
clubs OF the same company from meet
ing except by the unanimous consent
OF all the club owners.
Baker, like most Of the other major
magnates. believes that interleague
games in the South are beneficial TO
the early development Of the clubs m
fast company. He would prevent 5ucn
meetings only In major league terrl-
tory. He believes. however, that games
between teams OF the same league
should not be tolerated.
"Fhe Cubs lost irreparably IN pres
tige last spring by playing the cham,
pion Phillies." he said. Chicago failed
to win one game Of long series. BACK
home the Windy City fans had been
led 10 believed by Weeghman and Tinker
that they were in line for a National
League pennant. The city never re-
covered from this carly spring disap-
pointment"
If the National League favors such
a rule as Mr.. Baker will propose u
may not be made effective until 1917.
Already arrangements have been made
for spring series between the
Dodgers and Yankees. Washington has
planned 10 entertain n number OF Ma
tional League clubs at the Capital City:
In any event there will be an unusual
number of interleague spring exhibit
tions. for wherever possible two teams
of rival leagues will tour northward IN
company, playing the most fertile
towns in transit.
Anxious 70 Try Scheme
In this way the Giants and Tigers
will come from Texas and the Braves
and Yankees from the South. The
Dodgers and Athletics have practically
agreed upon a like pact. The con-
veniences and advantages appeal so
strongly that every major league man
ager seems anxious to try it, for it is
known that one game with a rival OF
equal rating is of more benefit than
half a dozen exercises against weak
minor league clubs.
On its part, the American League
can afford TO let the National League
sever spring athletic relations. For
many years the Johnson circuit has
QlSDldytu
these contests. The question of SUI
premacy was never more forcibly
demonstrated than last fall, when, in
fourteen interleague games played, the
National League was able to win only
two.
What terrible fate must Cincinnati
fandom hold in reserve for our be-
loved Christy Mathewson? Just now
an agitation is on in Porkopolis TO
make Big Six president of the Reds
in place of August Hermann.
1t was ever thus with Cincinnati
heroes. When Hank O'Day took the
Rhinelanders out to a flying start sew
eral years ago and won twenty Of his
first twenty-three games, popular opln-
ion along the Rhine had him slated for
nothing short of the Ohio Governor
ship. A few months later, when Hank
and his Reds took the inevitable flop,
these same boosters clamored most
loudly for his head.
New York loves and admires Mathew
son too much to onthuse over his can
didacy for the presidency of the Reds.
Unless Matty can overthrow precedent
and tradition, such an ovation can be
interpreted only as the prelude to an
anvil symphony later on that will make
Cincinnati blush for all its earlier at
tempts. For it seems the custom in
Cincinnati to exalt only that the fall
may be the greater when it comes.