Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-23
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NINETEEN HUNDhbD AMI Si-> = i-i'.'
IN soon will pass along into the vista OF
years. The sands In the glass almost have
run their course and when the last grain
has sedled with the birth OF now year
the tweivemonth which rs about TO close
can be placed in the records Of time as
one OF the most successful in tho annals
Of sports.
rbe great world-war has put a damper
on sporting events OF all varieties IN Tor
oign lands but in these peaceful United
states Of ours we have enjoyed sports to
the utmost. and nearly every branch on the
sportlng tree has been blessed with sue
ceases Because OF the wars abroad the
whole world has turned its eyes toward
America, and America has furnished the
thrills for followers OF almost all pastifnes
classified In sportdom.
pasobaIl. tennis golf boxing, racing, row.
ing football and athletics In all their
branches, professional or amateur, have en-
joyed successes. To cover the year OF 1915
Insofar as actual sporting records are con-
ccrned In this country alone would require
column upon column OF statistics. Records
OF the many events which have taken place
In all lines OF sport would show tho break
ing OF many marks and the making OF many
new champions.
Baseball Thrives Since War
when tho pact between organized base
ball and the Federal League was signed the
national pastlme emerged from the most
serious entanglement into which it ever has
been thrown But the stability of the game
and the place II holds In sports have been
amply proven by the "come-baclS' II has
made during the present year. 1t is true
that baseball politics still needs reforming
and reforms may be expected, but from the
standing OF the followers OF the game-the
one who pays tho frelght-baseball has
proven its mettle
From the opening OF the 1916 season until
the Red Sox defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers
In four out of flve games. starting at Bos-
ton on the ninth day Of last October, base
ball furnished thrill after thrill.
Early in the year--on January 5-Charles
weeghman and his associates purchased
the Chicago Cubs. and n few days later the
Boston Braves were sold TO Percy Haugh-
ton and n syndicate of business men. In
the same month the-New York Giants pur-
chased Benny Kauft. Anderson and Rarlden
from the Federals,
In February Judge X. NJ. Landls gave the
baseball world n thrill by dismiBslnR the
famous trust-busting suit instituted by the
outlaw leaguers the exact date OF his an
nounoement being February z. Two days
later Ed Konetchy was purchased by tho
Braves for sum said to have been $4,000,
and during the next week the Yankees
bought Frank Baker from Connie Mack.
Following along In April, after James G.
Dunn had purchased the Cleveland club,
tho sale of Trlstram Speaker TO the Indians
startled the fans all over the country. The
sum OF $4,000 paid for Speaker was said
20 bo tho largest amount ever laid down
for ball player
The seasons close found the Boston Red
Sox worlds champions, after n compara-
lively easy series against Brooklyn. 1t
found conditions in baseball indicative of a
brighter future than the game ever has
known before and tho process Of building
up the props that had been torn down in
the war with the Feds much faster than
had been expected
The various races in the minor leagues
were thrilling, and although minor leagues
had the usual amount OF trouble in some
quarters several leagues going to the wall.
the minors. through their actions at the
annual meeting which was held at New
Orleans in November and through their re-
quests TO the MAJORS, show that the spirit
Of progress is uppermost and that they are
striving to create better conditions,
Pugilists Hold Titles
IN the realm of right and left jabs and
uppercuts no championships changed hands,
although the title of bantamwelght cham
pion was clouded when Johnny Ertle. OF
st. Paul. was awarded a decision over
Champion Kid williams. of Baltimore on
a foul Williams, the least Of all the cham
plons in Size generally is credited as the
champion stlIl
in the featherweight division Johnny
Kllbane of Cleveland, stands out supreme.
His only battle of championship calbre.
against George CLANCY, at Cedar Point.
o., September 1, resulted In an easy
victory by the knockout route in the third
round.
Freddie Welsh was the busiest cham
pion of them ALL for he took part in numer-
Gus ten-round no-declslon affalrs.
As has been the case for several years,
neither the welter nor middleyeight cham
pionship rests solidly upon any one brow
Jack Dillon and Battling Levinsky are dis
putting the claim TO the llght-heavyweight
championships
Standing alone among the heavywelghts.
Jess willard spent year OF virtual mac
tivity. His bout with Frank Moran. which
he won In a decisive manner In New
York ring March 25. left his title un-
tarnished Spending the summer as a
circus attraction. Willard made his title
profitable one.
The wrestling fraternity, which had
hoped for the return OF Frank Gotch. the
Humboldt, Ia, terror. from retirement was
disappointed Goteh has declared himself
through with the mat for all time. and Joe
Stecher, the Nebraska farmer boy, stands
out as the logical successor To the greatest
catch-as-cateh-can master tho world has
known. Many wrestlers OF different weights
held forth throughout the country and the
49, NNNeAHN sA-NseA-NN ~ AHeAA NNtAAAAlH 10
the fore.
Surprises in Football
The football season OF 1915 was fraught
with surprise after surprise. The new style
game-in which openheld playing and the
aerial attack have become outstanding fea-
tures-has paved the way for revolution
In the gridiron world. For the last two
seasons small college teams have come 10
the front by defeating eleyens which in
former years would have annihilated any
hopes they might have had for victories
The last season was very successful
one from a financial stRndDoint. and the
record Tor crowds was shattered when Yale
met Harvard in the Yale bowl November 25,
with nearly $4,000 wild-eyed football fans
looking on. In so far as the records OF
teams, both large and small, are concerned
It only can be said that all classes OF
schools met with varied degrees OF sue.
cess.
In the East. where Yale, Harvard. Prince.
ton. Pennsylvania and Cornell generally
have held sway, the football dope entirely
was upset this Year.
Colgate, through her sensational and de,
oisiYe victory over Brown on Thanksgiving
Day, paved the way for Pittsburgh Unlver.
sity TO claim the eastern championship