The Washington herald., 1918-01-27
TWO PITCHERS
sign CONTRACT
Doc Ayers and Mollie Craft
Fall Into Line with 1918
Nationals.

signed contracts were turned in to
the Old Fox yesterday by Pitchers
MoIlie Craft and Doc Ayers. of the last
season club. Ayers made a visit here
to talk over his terms with Grin.
After a short conference the big right
handler agreed to the figures offered
and fell into line for 1913 Craft re-
turned his signed contract from MS
home in Portsmouth, Va
Ayers, last season. was the leading
pitcher of the club. The Hillsville
noundsTnen got away to a bad start
but he came through with a great
rush in midseason and finished with
a percentage better than 500. Doc
last wear worked on a bonus contract.
but It could not be learned yesterday
whether his new papers called for
premium this season.
The veteran Highlander denied that
he had ever been called in the draft
or even attempted to enlist, but states
that he was ready to answer the call
IL Uncle Sam would take care OF his
family.
Craft will be remembered as the
youngster who Joined the Nationals
in the fall Of 1916. being purchased
from the Norfolk club Of the Virginia
state League. Craft showed a great
deal Of promise at the Augusta train
ing camp last spring and was carried
with the team the balance of the year
During the first series in Chicago. on
the opening hike West, Mollie broke
his left leg and was sent to his nome
He reported back to the Nationals
early in August and warrants another
trial by his good work.
Nick Altrock, the veteran coach OF
the National pitchers. uncovered
Craft. Altrock was sent into the
wiIds of Virginia to look over Cueto,
the sensational Cuban outfielder, who
now holds one OF the garden positions
with Matty's Cincinnati Reds. Altrock
passed up Cueto as not being ready
and recommended Craft so highly that
the Old Fox Immediately signed him.
Mollie is still a younsster. as he has
not vet reached the draft age. He
gives every promise OF making big
league hurler and it would not be sur
prising il he ranks among Grin's WIN
ming twirlers this season.
The new plan for dividing worlds
series money recently announced by
the major leagues. is the topic Of gen.
eraI discussion among baseball men
everywhere.
Club owners, players, writers and
Just plain fans have been busy pick
ing the new system to pieces, and a
great deal of unfavorable comment
has been heard.
Opinion in baseball circles today Is
divided regarding the fairness OF
the plan. Outside the charmed circle
of club owners, who believe the
game will be stimulated with the
ffrst four. clubs of each league get
ting a slice of the worlds series
money, there is a trend of opinion
to the effect that the game will not
profit.
Under the new system, according to
one baseball enthusiast. the premium
for winning the worlds series will be
50 greatly reduced that teams will
lack the incentive to play as they
have in the big series of the past
And in line with this reasoning many
critics are taking the stand that 1t
is unfair to clubs which are good
enough to finish first that they
should be forced to share the fruits
of their worlds series labors with
six other teams. The plan is con-
trary to the ideals of sportsmanship,
II - a NCNs anu may NA~
game in some unpleasant affairs.
Those in favor of the new plan
claim that the provision made for
the two contesting clubs is fair
enough That the winners, with 5000
assured them, will be mighty well
paid. and that the losers will get
enough. They claim also that the
spirit of the pennant races will be
strengthened, as the chase after first
division berth5 will be hot from start
to finish.
Wherever baseball men gather, the
virtues of the new plan are argued
pro and con. 1t will probably hold
the center of the stage during the re-
mainder Of the stove league" sea-
SON.