Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-10
HIGGINS HAS POOR
ARRAY OF TALENT
TO START WITH

The St Louis Cardinals will open
the season rated as selling platers'
by most of the critics. They will be
'lcng odds" for a first division finish
to any of the sportivc ones who want
to back them. for on paper they are
one of the weaker clubs in the senior
league
But the status of any ball club on
paper and the capers it may cut in a
championship race are often two vast
ly different things The Braves Of
1914 furnished a vivid example.
Miller Higgins and his athletes
have long. hard row to hoe in bet
tering their position in National
League company. They finished the
season Of 1916 tied with the Reds
for the sub-cellar berth. They sim.
ply did not have the punch after the
first few weeks of the season and
their prospects for 1917 are none too
brilliant
During the winter Manager Hug
gins wore out more shoe leather than
any other National League pilot in
hunting for players But Higgins
was unsuccessful in pulling off any
realty big deals, for rival managers
would talk nothing but trades in
which Higgins best bets figured,
and Hug" could not see himself part.
ing with his standbys.
Much talk of new ownership for
the cards has been another draw.
back to Higgins, and, all in all, the
scrappy little leader of the Mound
City outfit has had to stand some dis.
couraging bumps from all directions.
But Higgins is fighter, and he is
going out this year to make a valiant
attempt at Installing real fighting spir.
II into his players.
1t appears that the morale of the
Cardinals is in need of thorough
house cleaning. The club lacked gin.
ger last season But if Higgins sue.
ceeds in developing several of his re
cruits and getting away to good
start in the coming race. who knows
but what the downtrodden Cardinals
may find themselves? True. they are
scarcely a strong enough combination
to be contenders for the pennant, but
that they will make hard fight to
get out OF the ruck is certain. for
last place club has every incentive
to better itself, and few good
breaks may put heart in the Cards
Bill Doak, Lee Meadows and Leon
Ames form the backbone of Higgins
pitching staff. and all three are high.
ly respected by National League bats
men. II some Of the other twirl
ers vii! come through for Huggins
the team will be able to start the sea.
son with fairly balanced sharp.
shooting corps.
With Roger Hornsby, Bethel and
Miller of last years infel1 as nu-
cleus, Higgins has healthy herd of
recruits who will fight it out for the
shortstopping job, while Bescher,
Long, Wilson and Cmith will make up
the outfeld squad.
With Roger Hornsby, Bethel and
Miller OF last years iniield as a nu-
clcus, Higgins has healthy herd of
recruits who will fight it out for the
shortstopping job, while Bescher,
Long, Wilson and Smith will make up
the outfield squad
II Higgins is given free rein to
run his club this season, the chances
for uplifting the Cards will be great
y enhanced. The scrappy Card pilot
has been held down for several years
and there are good. many baseball
critics who firmly believe that what
he needs most of all to assist in
building up winner is a clean path
ahead Higgins has been consc
entious and Woodworking manager,
and he deserves better fortunes than
ne has had for several years past.
1t is Il toss-up now as to what the
Cards will accomplish next Summer,
and although they, don't look like
frst division prospects now. it viii