The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-08-24

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winner in there IIuggins seems to
have the goods as a result Of what ne
delivered this season.
In suggesting Higgins might 60 TO
the Yankees. l don't want even to I'M
ply that Bill Donovan has been fall
ure. Bill has tried hard and has
shown results as long as he had bali
team and not cast of characters roF
a hospital. Since he came 70 New
York he has had the worst luck IN the
world with injured players. and he may
90 somewhere else to see If he can't
change It.
There Is another possible candidate
for the managership Of the Pirates II
a new crowd buys the clu6-Jack Hen,
bricks. the present manager. OF the In
dianapolis Club. He has been meni lon
ed. too. Hendricks has a good record.
These are some Of the probable changes.
OF course they arc based on the rumors
Of baseball and the news papermen who
follow the clubs.
The future Of baseball is a subject
much under discussion these days
among club owners If the war runs into
the next season. OF course" the Big
Leagues will play to hold their fran
chtses just the same as n car line runs
cars. but ! know Of several owners
who believe that the sport Will not hold
It's present popularity when the casulty
lists begin to come back and the FOL
lowers Of the game have son or,broth-
er or sweetheart among those named.
There won't be much enthusiasm for the
big. husky ball player. full OF health
and getting his three squares day II
he IS OF military age
What would be good attraction? One
club owner holds that a team OF stars
who played ball years ago would pack
the parks. There could be no critl-
ctsm Of them for not going TO war.
They are all far beyond the age when
their services behind musket would
be Of much value to Uncle Sam. They
would be q drag on an army.
The patronage OF the bail parks Will
depend on the older men and the boys
below twenty. The youngsters. who
have only read Of these stars Of another
day. would be crazy to sec them in act
ion. and the old boys who grew up IN
the bleachers. when Willie Keller was
hitting 'en where they amt would
be going out to watch their old favor
ties work again. 1t would bring back
memories. OF course. the game would
not be so fast. but. in my opinion. 1t
would put new life into the Big Lea
CUES.
With Willie Keever McGraw. Mike
Donlin and the rest in the box scores
again. 'there would be about as much Of
following as Of the present day sport.
II not more. and no criticism You
can't expect man. who has just lost
son. to applaude some big husky who
ought to be carrying n rifle for making
a base hit. And the only timers would
play lot Of smart baseball. too.
But baseball has been more prosper
Gus in Canada since the war argues
one club owner.
, But" answers the advocate Of the
team Of old timers. they were watch
ing Americans play-the men OF n cuun-
try not in the war at that time. We
would go to see games between Chinese
teams over here"
And maybe might get In the class
where 7 could pitch again myseif.
Something to put In the punch will have
to be done about baseball next year.
The fight in the National Leag1:e at
present is for place. The only chance
to make II a race Is for the Giants 10
run into a few games like Brooklyn
put up when the Superbas won three
from New York in three days out Of
flock OF double headers and lost two
more through tough luck. a few ser
les like this one would bring them back
to the field yet.
There are six clubs in the National
trying for second place today and all
Of them have good rhance to make It
one about as good as the other. 1t
seems to me there ought to be some
compensation to the players on a team
that finishes second or third or even
in the first division. OF course. all
The six that are shooting for second
place now are also hoping. II they miss
this. they will at least stop on In the
first division. I'know We do.
The FIRST three clubs TO finish should
get prizes as in a horse race. This
would awaken interest among both
fans and players especially II the
players got little piece OF the prize.
Under the present Arrangement it does
not make much difference whether q
team finishes second or NTH. No one
remembers II the next year. When there
was only one league. the Temple Cup
Series was played after tho regular
season. and not infrequently the club
that finished second beat the one that
landed on top In this post-season set
OF games. The series was between the
first two clubs.
Sometimes. fans even contend that
club that finishes second or third has
tne eQSe on the penllanl winner because
over the run Of the season. II won
majority Of games from the champions.
Fans will argue therefore. the runner
up Is better able to represent the Amer
lean or National League as the case may
be in the big series. OF course. there
Is no way to correct this Impression.
but I am in favor OF some arrange
ment for the clubs that finish second
and third to receive a prize. McGrnw
thinks II the Giants get any fight yet.
the Phil!ies will make 1t. The idea IS
just habit with them.
Did your son get a commission"
one fan asked another the other day.
He was inQuirine about a boy who had
gone to one Of the officers training
camps.
NO" answered the first. straight
salary"
Copyright 1917. by The Bell syndi-
cate. Inc.)