Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-20
Judgments


ment once again. The fan is
OF a happy turn OF mind this year, for
he sees the dawn OF a new era in base
ball. He sees the vanishing Of the petty
squabbles between the magnates. the
mercerary rush OF the players for enor-
nous salaries. the breaking of faith and
contracts, and the like. And In turn he
sees the return of base hall as a game,
a sport with the business end an Incl
dent issue rolegated 10 the background.
while the players, their Victories and
defeats. occupy the prominent position
in tho spotlight. That the brand OF base
ball will be superior III every class is
evident. The owners and managers OF
the Western league are getting better
ball players this year. much better play
ers. Every team is fully fifty per cent
stronger in the Zchrung loop this year.
The return to the 154-game schedule will
make the Western race a better race
than 1iC or i6s games. All in all II looks
like bigger and better year than ever
in every league in the country. and the
Western will be leading the procession.
Omaha amateurs will get under way
at a big mass meeting at the city hall
Tuepday night Despite the fact that
split has occurred i'm the National asso-
citation and Federal" association has
blossomed, Omaha has no fears for the
continued success of the sandlot game.
The local officers have abandoned the
idea of promulgating the organization OF
midwest amateur association and will
line up with the strongest Of the National
associations. This is a wise move on the
part of Omaha. Omaha stands with Cleve-
land as one of the two best amateur base
ball cities, in the country and win be
leader in the big circuit. Omaha can hold
its own with Cleveland, Chicago, Pitts
burgh, Detroit and the other big cities
and there's a great deal more honor. fun
and interest in competition with such
great cities than In competition with such
as Lincoln, Des Moines. Sioux City and
the like which would make up possible
midwest loop.
Nothing short of trip to cumberland
will take Jess Willard's title away from
him. VIII Frank Moran be able to pro-
vide that trip when he tangies with the
procrastinating champ next month"; II
will be strictly up to Moran to force
the fight with Willard. Jess VIII be
content to play the defensive through
out the short ten rounds and then col
lect his immense guarantee. Safety
First" will be his motto. and ne WI
make every effort to prevent mixing with
the Pennsylvania coal miner. IL Moran
is fortunate. or clever enough, he may
land the punch which will produce the
seep-there are a lot of fight fans in
the country who are hopeful-put the
chances are the alleged fight will be a
running race with Willard giving ho"eru
Drew an awful battle for the sprinting
,xriru 20 ma n
suit race OF II.
Western league magnates got their first
view of the new league president, Frank
C. zehrung, at the schedule meeting last
week In Lincoln. That is. the, magnates
got their first view of Zehrung in an
official capacity. And they were quick to
pronounce him strictly o. X. Zehrung Is
business man of first water. He has
put a shoulder to the Western league
wheel with willingness and has entered
into the spirit of the game with the mag
mates. Zehrung doesn't know the inside
ropes Of base ball. but he Is a worker and
will lend his avery effort to make the
league success. And that Is the kind
of president a league needs, and the
magnates and players and fans and even
umpires want, one who will get out an
work and keep in touch with the affairs
Of the league. not pull a lot Of gum ,-shoe
stuff, work lot of inside wires and hide
in a foreign city.
1t has been announced that the seat
ing capacity at Madison Square garden
at the scale Of prices decided upon, will
allow for a house OF $4,000 when Willard
and Moran box. Expenses of the big
match including the enormous guarantee
to the fighters, will total about $4,000,
Tex Rickard can, therefore. make as high
as $4,000 on the bout II the suckers fall
sufficiently hard. II there is any city that
has $4,000 worth OF suckers New York
is that city.
1T is not workmanship" said ex-Presi-
dent Taft at the recent National league
banquet. ''to try 10 disconcert an oppo-
nent By making remarks" The e1-presi-
dent made this assertion in an argument
for the adjustment OF the sideline
coacher. Perhaps Mr.. Taft would have .
player stop to say thank you after
the ball had been thrown to him In
close play, and serve pink tea 70 the
umpires at the end OF the fifth inning.
Next they've sold the Cubs the Browns
the Indians and even ]. Franklin Baker
The next sale will be that Of the public
when Willard and Moran gather TO-
gether.
, 1t will cost 80 cents 10 see Jess willard
train for his bout with Moran. Hand II
TO Tom Jones. he'd try TO charge ad-
mission TO an inquest
Now that the Phils have signed Chiei
bender. National league fans can enjoy
the keen anticipation OF battle between
the chief and Jack coombs.