Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-21

yT,HE astounding denouement OF the even
i more astonishing Cubs Is another Uf
umph Of the Blends.
when the campaign opened the Cubs were
supposed to be the Joke machine OF the CIR
cult. Much after the manner OF the
Foreign Legion, they were recruited from
all sections Of the baseball universe. Most
of their pitching stan was composed OF men
other able managers had been unable 70
handle. Doyle, the lnfeld pivot man. was
still suffering from the effects OF cracked
ankle. Safer, the first baseman, was on
the poInt Of adding another busted bone to
the ensemble. The outlook all around was
decIdedIv indigo frlnged with purple and
dark blue.
But the Cubs had this in their favor
they were team OF Blends.
The Blends
What are the Blends? For one thing. the
championship Braves of 1914 were Blenos'
Stailings had Rudolph and Gowdy from
the Giants. Evers from the Cubs, Red Smlth
from the Dodgers, and one or two outnelu-
ers lifted from other clubs.
In 1915 the championship Phillies were
even more members Ol lHe bie"N EA7'
ton
Moran had Stock and Demaree from the
Giants Niehoff from the Reds. Whtted
from the Braves, and one or two other
athletes from outside ports. In 1916 the
channpionship Dodgers led the Blend parade
Robby was charged with having ball
club of cast-offs. The liyf included Meyers
Merlle and Marquard from the Giants
Mcwrey and Olson from Cincinnati and
Cleveland. Coombs from the Athleucs' ana
Cheney from the Cubs
These had all been considered about
through in the old organizations. Trans
nIantinR gave them all new lease on
baseball existence. In the new Blend they
looked to be different persons.
SO here were three clubs in a row, all
made UP in goodly part from other CLUBS,
| who in the new shift sauntered forth and
returned with pennants.
The proof was offered here that ball
| plaver. in the rut with one club, might
easily regain his old form under dntereht
conditions, in changed surroundings.
The Blended Cubs
The 1917 Cubs are nearly all Blends.
| There are Merkle and Doyle from the
Giants and Dodgers Vaughn and Wolter
| from the Yanks, Seaton and Demaree from
the Phllies Douglas from the Reds, and SO
| on down lHe llHe'
The result has been new deal and new
pep. In place Of being Jokes the Cubs have
| been raising the well-known dickens. Larry
Doyle despite an injured ankle, has been at
his best. Fred Merkle has been shooting
along at dizzy clip, playing nne ball
| around first and batting heavily and with
| timely effect. The Cub pitching has been
good. while Fred Mitchell has worked Won
| ders with Seaton and Douglas.
On copy paper no one would call the
| Cubs a great ball club. But on the ball
| field it has been the seasons leading sur
prise The Blend has apparently been an
effective one and has produced results.
The Giant Blend
The Giants also have their share OF the
blend array. There are Kauff Anderson
| and Rariden from the vanished Feds, Nc
| Carty from the Dodgers, Zimmerman frcu
the Cubs, Perrtt from the Cardinals, Ben
ton from the Reds. Gibson from the Pirates
| and Salee from the Dodgers. Herzog. being
| a Giant originally, is not counted. The list
| Is heavy enough without him.
Judging from these returns, the nomadic
life Of the gypsies is strictly hearthsde
! affair compared to baseball Athletes now