The Washington herald., 1918-03-10

One glance at this Stock Yard
combination will place before fan
dom. which new includes the boys
in the e>khAki-somewhere here and
somewhere over there-that TINS
South Side tribe from old Lake
Michigan Is the strongest on the
hemisphere Of the American League
Fandom can even jump over and
upon the other hemisphere. the Ma
tionsl League, and IL they choose
predict Pilot Clarence Rowland's
White Sox world champions during
this war issue campaign of 1918
II is a known fact among the
high moguls in the baseball world
that the major league magnstes
have pledged themselves TO go
through with the season whether
or not money is accumulated or
whether they drop young fortunes.
as the tip is out that these same
moguls are kicking in upon a nifty
fifty proposition should there be q
big deficiency, and all will be
square in the end.
In picking the White Stocking
tribe to win the old bunting, during
this great catastrophe which IA Eo-
ing on a thousand miles from here,
one need but look at their roster.
OF course, glancing upon any ma
jor league roster today means a
great deal, as a new candidate who
has never even been a rookie has
Jumped forth in prominence as q
controller Of everything and base
ball must take its end from this
same rookie who will control all
and everything-Uncle Sam
Granting that the White Sox NAV
blow through with top honors, there
lives behind the wood pile not one OF
dark horse color. but a team which
will prove contenders all the way.
even to this White Sox crew. These
battlers are leftovers and purchased
players obtained by Harry Frazee,
owner Of the Boston Red So.
AnneXing to his crew q pair such
as Ed Barrow, former president Uf
the International League, and Johnny
Evers. the human crab" Of baseball
both OF whom are equal to old msn
Webster in this game. should help 70
place this Hub city team in the run
ming. IL brains. facilities and abilities
are TO be counted upon. These red
hose warriors are sure TO be the STUN
bling block for the world-champion
White Sox. and the Nationals, with
even optimistic powers OF one Clsrk
Griffith. cannot hope for any bette
position in the league race than thiru.
At this position the Grifmen ua."
a chance. But even allowing that
every team in the league stands in
tact, third is the best that local fan
dom can wish for or realize under The
- ~
Tigers and Cleveland Indians have
been set back pretty severely by the
call OF democracy. and il is a Ques-
ton whether or not the Nationals
have been strengthened by this call
on these teams. or whether they. too.
viii be side tracked and pushed away
down in the rut by this same appeal
that our President sees fit TO enact
as law.
Even with the team intact, local
fandom should not desire too much.
as Clark Griffith has a hard row -
hoe and he does it pretty well
Finances have always been the hl-
drawback here. and to consid, Pa
what this Old Fox has done in put
ting the Capital City on the baseball
map. all fandom should don their
hats.
One thing that must be remem-
bered that never before in the his
tory OF baseball have so many prob
lens arisen to cOmplicate the COM
ing major league season. II IS told
that even the brotherhood uprising.
the American invasion, the fuke
Federal League assault which fail
ed to smash major league baseball
or even upset the dope, that this
great war. the uncertainty Of the
season while await and welcome
each and every fan
Grin is the same optimist OF oId.
but he will not this season predict
any chances where, how. or why
his team will finish, but claims hN
has made quite a number Of improve
ments in his club and Is confident
that they will finish somewhere out
in front IL not topping the entire
brigade