The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-11

year, pcIldpos Ioo uiuCu lo iAPSScCu , chances are that this grand veteran is at the end of his wonderful career. Last summer late Plank pitched a wonderful 14-innng game against Washington. At the finish he came to the bench. I'm done" he said, clasp
 Ing his body. q don't think I ever can pitch again Every ball I have pitched for two innings was like tearing my abdomen apart"
 His tremendous effort raked his body, never strong, and he suffered intensely for days. He may try, but if he does he probably will pitch only a few ball games.
 The loss of Pipp will hurt some, but the team is well balanced and well fortified. Very little depends upon Huggins selection of the team that will start the season because Huggins shifts his teams fast to meet emer- gencies. His big problem will be in handling the pitching staff, and in this Eddie Plank, even if he never pitches would earn his salary. THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS. In military service, 3.
 Liable to call, ,.
 Jack Hendricks has come into his own at last. A major league manager who for years has been managing in the minors has finally been given his chance.
 Upon Jack Hendricks depends the success or failure of the St. Louis Cardinals. Last season, under Miller Ifuggins, this team did a lot of sen sational work. At one time they scared the entire league and threatened to slip through to pennant. And they did that With a team that rated just high enough to have chance to break into the first division. which lacked consistent pitching strength. which was weak in several positions. and which required a lot of managing to keep it going at all B
 The unexpected hitting strength of Hornsby, Cruise and Smith, of course, gave it punch that was not sus- pected at the start of the season, but IL got lot more pitching than any one expected it to get
 Hemember that the National league IS not strong-was not strong last season, and that, although it is gain ing Tn strength, it is not yet up to standard It is league that is re- covering from lot of afflictions. a league in which some teams have real. lzed that many supposed assets have proved liabilities, and that are re- building on a sounder basis, St Louis IS one of them. It las discarded the oid and is making a new, virile ball club.
 Last season we naturally expected Ioak to De the burden bearer of the team and Doak failed to come through. On the other hand. Packard Hcrstman. Meadows and the veteran Ames proved consistent winners and showed fair winning averages. Doak pltcned great number of games and was used in the tough" games. He worked in seven against New York and registered. six losses with one win to the Giants.
 The pitching staff did all that could nave been expected. and it is a cork ing staff to start this season. The team has catching strength. has a bic punch. has fair outfield and a rath- CT uncertain infield with Hernsbv :, biz factor
 During the winter Weeghman of Chicago, playing grandstand with a huge bank roll, pulled a lot of C. Webb Murphy brand of cheap publicity which may nave helped Chicago, but which certainly hurt St. Louis He advertised that he was out to buy Hornsby. That Mlillon dollar talk caused Hornsby to De dissatisfied. He evidently took him. sell at something near sWeeghman,., stase,'money estimate. He became dis ccntented. Even worse, some of inc other Cards who know just how eooa iiornsby is, seeing him over advertised became trifle jealous Beyond doubt Weeghmans publicity campaign in chlcago hurt the Cards and gave Hen- dr ticks another situation to smooth over. This may affect the Cards for a tune. but the seriousness of it has, in my opinion, been overestimated.
 Ine team lines up today stronger lhan II dld year ago, Huggins ,ex- rerimented and discovered almost ev- eIytning excepting first baseman- Miller, never quite satisfactory, is in military service. With a little rear ranging the club will do. The recruits do not promise much
 Hendricks is the big problem. have known him ever since he was a youngster breaking in with the Giants as player From the first day he
 became Kid" manager, he showed something and that something was a power to command and lead men ana
 tp win them to him. Every team he. ever has had has been devoted to him because he is square with them is strong for them and is entirely un- preJudiced and impartial He is born
 ieader. In my opinion he is a better leader than is Miller Huggins. He may have bad start because
 ne IS new to the men and they to him. when they become acquainted with e"cn other the National league will do well to look out for the Cards. He ras pulled lot of that Indianapolis, camouflage on the American associa- tion and it will work just as well ii, faster company
 The Cards will bear lot of watch ing especially after June l. Copyright 1918 by the BelI Sym