Evening star., 1916-11-27

Bob Shawkey of the New York Ameri
cans had the greatest year of his ca
reer in 1916. He attributes il very
largely to the fact that he drove his
high-p racing car in modera ton.
Since he became a big Lacquer, Shaw
key has been strong for his automo-
bile. He drove a great deal each day
during the season, and usually drove
fast. AT the opening of the season last
spring Shawkey left his racing car at
home. The result was his big season.
Lea que teams seem to have the edge
because of superior batting power.
practically every team in the Amerl-
can Leag que has three or more men who
are mighty dangerous with the bat,
says Jack. Detroit has Veach, Cobb.
Crawford, Heilman and Burns. Clepe-
land has Speaker, Roth, Graney, Gan
dill and Chapman. Boston has Lewis,
has Shotton, Sisler anud Pratt. Chica =
go has John and Eddie Collins, Felsh.
Joe Jackson. Fournier. Weaver and
Schalk. New York, has Baker. Pipp,
High and Magee.
Jack Fournier, who had such a great
year at the bat in 1915 and who slump
| ed SO badly last season, blames his trou-
BILE on the infield. Jack likes the out
field, and believes if played regularly
in right field, he would soon regain his
form at the bat Neither does Jack
fancy the role of pinch hitter. He SAYS
to do himself justice at the bat he must
be in there every day. facing the very
best kind of pitching. not merely go
ing against the pitching one faces in
batting practice.
Connie Mack is banking on a husky
btrf nf hya 81 70 n
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, Nc
Innis. Bodie, Witt. Strunk and Scteng
he will have six players in his line
up able to make considerable trouble
for the opposing pitchers.
George Moriarty, former member of
the Detroit Tigers. is to get a chance
to show his worth as an umpire in
the American League next year. Mori-
arty had charge: as manaser. of the
Nashville team of the Southern League
last year, until Illness put him out of
it for the remainder of the season.
Moriarty was always popular as
player, and well behaved athlete,
judges of play. Such a player has
great deal better chance of succeeding
as an umpire than one who has been
a rowdy in his playing days. Ball
players remember such tactics, and
when such player takes up umpiring
he usually draws a strong dose of the
medicine he once handed out to the
umpires
Bill Donovan is to dig up a second
sacker able to fill the bill. which would
round out pretty good inf1eld COM
bination with Pipp at first, Peckin-
no Ioh nj G. ly11 20 Ira OF r1
Donovan has not yet given up hopes
for Joe Gedeon. He looked like the
sensation of the American League last
spring. but illness severely Handicapped
his play. At the bat he was away off
form. shown by his average of .317
for 1915 in the Pacific Coast League.
Among his hits were sixty-seven dou-
bles. eleven triples and nineteen home
runs. A display of such batting power
for the Yankees would put that club
decidedly in the running.
Kitty Bransfield, for years a star first
sacker in the National Lea ague. is being
strongly touted as ready for a chance
to deliver in the capacity of major
league umpire. Bransfieid had most
successful season in the International
OF that organization is confident that
Bransfield is ready to hold his own
in either of the majors. According to
the International League leader, no
umpire III years was a subject LOT leSS
complaint than Bransheld.
National League players are a unit
in the belief that certain way to be
elected from the ball park next year
will be to inquire of Bill KLEIN what
umpires worked in the world series
last fall. KLEIN for years has been
almost as sure Of appointment as the
taking place of the series. National
Leaguers for that reason believe Bill
will take none too kindly to any mem
tion of that rather delicate question.
1t might be stated that the umpfres
get $1,000 each for their work in the
series.
There are a good many wise base ball
men who believe that Walter Barbara
will be the regular third sacker of the
Indians in 1917. Illness put Barbara
out of the running for two years. but
he appears to have entirely recovered.
Barbara is a freak in build. particu.,
larly for 4 third baseman. He is tall
and gaunt, has abnormally long arms.
and a big pair Of hands. Unlike most
infielders. he rarely rests his hands
upon his legs. waiting for the pitcher
to deliver the ball. Rather, he assumes