New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-28
But Their GameneSS
Won Approval of
FandOm
By w. J. MACBETH

When Colonel Jacob Rupert ana
Csptaiu T. l.. Huston decided TO so
into the baseball business they took
the plunge with their eyes open. IL
cos. them a lot Of money 10 play with
tbc American League magnates-a
rood-sizcd fortune for the Yankee
franchise 10 start with. and there was
little beside the franchise and good
will that Frank ]. Farrell and his as
sociates turned over
Messrs. Rupert and Huston have
been in the game only two years. Ihey
have accomplished more in that time
.hsn many magnate who might De
named who has been dabbling around
in the business all his life.
This snort of baseball has been
costly one to the popular owners Of
the Yankees, but neither regrets the
cost To start with. civic pride had
,bout as much to do with prompting
the venture as any other thing. Esen
was man who had been very sue
eessful in other lines of business
each was Jealous Of his reputation for
success in the new line
willing to Go Limit
Both always have o.. willing TO 50
IN. limit in backing So. ager Bill Don
,ovan's judgment And it may be said
bsvond all question of dispute that
within Two short years these two new
Corners TO the game have shown results
with capital "R.'
Few. If any, aggregstions OF inc ma
Tor leagues were better quaiihed lnan i
these same Yankees for succesSIul
campsicn through 1916. But an ele-
mont of hard luck. beyond human con-
troll. entered into the calculations ahu
nerhaps cheated the Yankee owners
out Of signal success during their
second year In the game.
No less than ten Of Bill Donovan'S
most important players were III or IN
iured at various times during the
championship season. Three OF them
Naiscl. Gilhoolev and Baker-were
crippled through the last half OF the
drive; MsiSel the speed marvel was
out with a broken collar bone pracu-
celly the whole year. :,
II was the accident TO little FRANK
Gilhooley that turned the sea lie DEFINITE
IL against Yankee pennant hopes iase
season. Gilhooley. counterpart OF
Wee Willis Keller. was last becoming
the sensation Of the team wneh on
Julv al Washington he fractured MS
ontIe In quick succession followed
serious injuries 70 the arms oil Mog
ri6ge and Cullop. the seasoned leit
handlers.
Host Of Cripples
Huphic High and Lee Nsgee. the
other two outfelders. suffered spralnep
ankles. Home Run Baker cracked three
rihs against the concrete wall OF ire
Polo Grounds. Paddy Baumann, Wal
Ter Pipp. Roger Peckinpsugh and Joe
Gedeon were all laid by for repairs for
periods Of from two to three weeks
because Of minor ailments. And tneh'
at the height of all this distress Kay
Caldwell. one Of the most able pitcheTss
in the big show. took 1T upon himseil
SO seriously TO offend order and disc',
pline that it was necessary TO suspend
him for the balance Of the season.
In spite Of all the heartbreaNng
bufFets Of fate Donovan and his Yam
KEGS refused 10 be discouraged. They
cave one Of the finest exhibitions OF
cameness in the face OF trouble that
over had been shown. and through
sheer nerve and pluck succeeded in
landing a first division berth on the
last dsy Of the season. IL Is team
of this stripc with which Donovan
hopes 10 place New York on the Amer
lean League map IN 1911
Il is generally conceded by close
students Of the game that no team IN
tho Johnson circuit had better pros
meets for 1917 than Bill Donovan
Yankees Rival managers. including
both Bill Csrrigsn and Hugh Jennings,
arc Of the opinion that Wild Bill would
have copied last wear If he had been
able 20 keep his lineup intact. Inc
New York Americans should begin the
coming race better qualified to tight TO
th> bitter crd than they were year
ago.
4 Young Team
Donovan's is 4 young team. Frank
] Baker is tho only veteran to be found
7 IN 4 regular position. and he should
he at the zenith Of his career The
Trsppp farmer IS of tho Hans Wagner
tvpe: he should be good for about ten
more years. Fisher and Caldwell arc
che only other aged athletes. and
neither is old i'm years. Nunamaker,
Tho catcher. is. veteran, but he has
not been long I'm the biz show. He
only found himself last year The rest
arc kids; at least in years II not IN
experience.