The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-14
SOME CLUBS LIKE NEW
New York, Cincinnati and St. Louis
to Sit Tight and Will Make
Only Few
Changes.

the organization has decided to re-
build, and from now until the open
ing of the season, managers and pres
idents will be busy hunting and
trading for new material. Most of
the clubs have come to the decision
that changes must be made for the
betterment Of the league.
New York, Cincinnati and possibly
st. Louis are the teams that prob
ably will not undergo any decided
alterations. The Giants are set for
at least another season with the
players that fought and lost the
worlds series. Cincinnati needs only
one change in the infield, and it is
learned that virtually has been
settled with the purchase of Morris
Rath from the Salt Lake club. He
will 60 to short in place Of Larry
Kopf, who is to be shifted to second
base. Rath played in nearly 200 con-
tests in the Pacific Coast league and
finished second in batting. with an
avearge Of .331. He was one of the
best run getters in the league.
Why Staff Lacks Strength.
There is no way to tell what a new
manager will do to the ST. Louis Car
dinals. Miller Higgins seemed to
have fairly good club when the
season closed and he landed in third
place. His pitching staff lacked
strength and it is there that some
changes will undoubtedly be made
! 1t also is possible that a younger
man will be obtained to take the
place Of Jack Miller at second base.
Chicago. Pittsburgh, Brooklyn,
Philadelphia and Boston will look
like entirely new teams when they
are ready for the opening of the 1918
schedule II the plans of their owners
and managers mature. Fans hardly
viii recognize them. President
Weeghman and Manager Mitchell are
bent on replentshing their roster with
young material and star PLAYERS
whom they will endeavor to get this
winter through purchases or trades.
They realize the club requires young
blood Of ability and that is what thew
are willing to spend 100000 for be-
fore the spring training trip.
Changes on Cub Team.
The changes on the Cub team do
not nave to be many to make it
pennant contender. The infield yir.
tuauy Is set with Safer booked for
first, Kilduff for second and Hollo-
cher for short Charley Deal and
Charley Pechous are the third sack
ers, but are not quite UP to the stand
ard OF what Mitchell likes. A strong,
shifty, hard hitting third baseman
would complete the fnfield. The out
field, with Leslie Mann due to come
back, needs no Strengthening. I'M
provement is necessary In the pitch
ing and catching departments.
George Stallings announced that he
has to rebuild his team, the infield
especially, and figured on doing SO
this winter. He may have three new
men on the bases, as he declared
mat ne would have to reconstruct
around his star shortstop, Maranville.
He also needs another pitcher or two.
catcher and an outfielder. Those
ne hopes to get out of the new ma
terial the club has drafted.
Blow to President Ebbets.
The poor showing by the Brook
iyn dodgers after winning the pen.
nant In 1916 was a staggering blow
70 president Ebbets and Manager
Robinson. Like Stallings and Nit
cheH. they are planning on having
new club. Jake Daubert is the only
one assured Of a job on the fnfield
The outfield Is well fortified. as is
the catching department, but better
pitchers are needed
Pittsburgh IS in such deplorable
condition that one would have to 20
from top to bottom to mention the
changes that ought to be made, with
the exception of center field and first
base. Those two places are well
taken care Of by Max Carey and Fred
Mollwitz and are the only two that |
are fixtures for the coming race.
Manager Hugo Bezdek has some
good hurting material that can be |
developed and would probably win |
with a strong fielding |