The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-11-01

trying TO coax walk out OF me. so
deliberately dropped the next one over
the plate. instead Of trying for a base
hit. he hunted and caught me tla'-
footed and the runner at third scored
with the winning run.
Higgins has the reputation o. being
crab. hut tn those who know him. hc
is 4 most uTable and likcablc fellow.
His actions on the ball field are yer:
often designed for a purpose. and tho
best proof that he IL not really crab
Is that the umpires all like him. They
know he never gets abusive. although
he viii hight for his rights.
HuESins is such n rUiat fellow OF IN"
ball field that ono would hardly expect
him To be aggressive. Yet he is full
OF light. He gives his players n LOT Of
corsidera ton. hut they hay" To do what
hs asks them. He takes baseball very
seriously and expects his players 70 have
the same interest in the club as he has.
have not had much chance 20 see
the Yankees play since Colonel Rupert
and Captain Huston became owners Of
the club. but. from all | can understand
they have lacked what the ball players
call pep. They have not been agrees
sivc.
They will certainly have TO hustle for
Huegins Last season he had the Car
dinals playing great ball. he kept them
on their toes all tho time. And ] think
h.. will Introduce Il new spirit into the
Yankees. II. is an excellent Judge II
hall players. and. with the unlimited
resources Of the New York club be-
hind him. H. should finally fultll the
hope nf New York fans for winner IN
the American league.
met higgins in Cincinnati last wneh
when he returned home after signing
to manage the Yankees. I was helping
to sell Liberty Bonds. and hc came
around To do his biz. They may not
want uS on the firing line, but there arc
Other ways in which VIC can help the
cause.
There seems 10 be divided opinion as
tn whether the war Will hurt baseball
next year. | cant say what effect 1t
will have. but do think we will lose
a good many players before the gates
arc opened next season
According To tho now ruling on the
selrctivc draft. single men will he
chosen first. This will include many
big league players. and. In few cases.
will the.- he able to show cause for
exemption know>~it will intrudo on
the Cinc:n natI team and likewise on
other big league clubs.
Before next year. baseball will have
cause to 10 proud of It's contribution to
the war. W. will miss the players. but
I do think baseball will 10 on Just the
same in tho big leagues.
The plan suggested by Ban johnson
for cutting down the season 10 14o
games next season has. | understand
mot with some opposition. The length
a.. Dlt,to 70 q N n
tied by tho club owners. rs they are
tho men who have the money invested
II might become necessary as war
measure hut the strongest argument !
h1rs heard against il ia that 1t VIII
bring about many conflicting dctes In
the western cities.
However, tho country Is conserving
in every direction now. and IL the base
ball club owners can arrange schedule
thar will help TO decrease their expenses
over the war period aud at tn" Same
time provide tn" public with g"nd
brand Of BASEBALL. there seems to be no
reason WIZ they should not do so. Fr
starting later the clubs would certainly
have better weather fn" their training
season in the south. and. in fact. many
clubs would not have 10 go south. ADTii
IS usually 4 pretty good month in critics
an tho southern edge Of the big league
circuits.
4 few days ago | received letter
from Captain huston half owner or TN"
Yankees who is uuw "aniu"whcr" m
E'rar,'..' with III" American expedition
arr forces. lTc says that thor" nr" quite
a number nf former ball players among
the American troops. many or Whom
ulnyrr in tn" minor leagues before thy
took IN :: gun for their country
And as might be expected. Captain
Huston las organized q ball club In his
regiment. picking out those mon wno
formerly played professional hall
venture 10 say tho rartan had little
tho hnst of il in getting him foam to.
Sether, as he knew ur nearly every ball