The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-02

Mike O'Neil, who is named as
another managerial possibility
| for the Cardinals, has made
| fine record as team pilot in the
! minor leagues.
One thing is sure: John McGraw,
not Charley Herzog, is the manager
of the Giants. The Herzog bubble
| has burst.
Now that Lefty Leifeld has come
| back to the big show Dan Brouthers
may apply for a job with the Giants.
There is likely to be a grand grab
for fight titles when the war comes
to a close. Quite a few of the cham
pions of the ring will be inactive
| through the next two years or so II
| the war lasts that long and 81 the
end of that time they Will find them
selves a bit too rusty to defend their
titles successfully against the young
sters who are always coming along.
Johnny kilbane, feather champ, has
announced that he will not Tight
again till the war is over and Il
seems probable that the fans will see
little more of him in the prize ring. A
year or SO of idleness is usually
enough to put an old-timer on the
shelf. Mike Gibbons, Jess Willard.
Frank Moran, Jack Dillon and George
Chip have not actually retired from
the ring, but none of them is doing
enough performing 70 keep him at his
best stride. Charley White, though
one of the best in the lightweight
class, has been away from active .s
likely to show much II he ever climbs
into the ring again. Bonnie Leonard
is young enough to hold on for some
while even. though he has few fights
through the next two years or so.
Napoleon Lsajoie is in general de-
mana. The Clevelands want him to
play first base for them. The Wash
ingtons also are bidding for his serv-
ices. The big fellow would help the
Yankees with his heavy bat even as
urging the Cubs to sign him, while
the Pirates could use him as q pinch
hitter. Lajoie says that playing first
base is taking money under false pre-
as the average, and he can hit the
ball. His only handicap is slowness
of foot but his other qualities make
up for 1t. The Frenchman Is in no
hurry to accept offers but il Is gener-
ally believed that he Will be found
with one of the major league clubs
this year. e..
Boston promoters recently have had
much trouble with that element in
the boxing game that killed the sport
in New York, but they have hit upon
a plan that is bound to bring about
good results. AS fast as the takers
are discovered they are stamped N. q.
and prohibited from ever showing
their wares in Boston again. AS Bos-
ton is one of the few towns in the
east where boxing is profitable the
wrecking crew soon will have to go
to work for a living. A number of
eastern managers and boxers now are
on the Boston blacklist.
. There is a r1lmor that the New
York Yanks might have had the i'm
mortal George Sisler. The deal would
van and Pratt to the Yanks in ex-|
change for Peckenpaugh, -Gedeon,
Pipp, a pitcher, an outhelder ana
$4,000. The large piece Of change
involved lis said to be the real reason
why the deal did not go through.
Philadelphia critics make the pre-
diction that the fans will not turn
out next season because the stars
have been sent to other clubs. Tt
fans never were noted
for their attendance, even in the days
when the greatest team OF many years
was operating at shibe park.
Having lost Doc I4avan through
enlistment, Clark Grifith will open
the season with Shanks at shortstop.
Shanks had plenty Of experience at
the position last season after George
Mcbride was relegated to the substf-
tute ranks.
Shelley. a former catcher, who
played first base for the Salt Lake
City team last season, may be added
to the Cleveland roster, as the en-
listment OF Harris and .Guisto leaves
the Indians without a first sacker.
Bobby Wallace is not likely to 10
much work for the Cardinals, but ne
is a valuable player for any ball club.
He can act as coach and also is capa-
BILE Of playing a fair game ii circum-
stances make his presence necessary.
1T may be that Bonnie Leonard has
had a calling for tt, but he isn't
likely to dash around the country
picking up change in small bouts
from now on. While he was sup
posed to be boxing instructor at |
Camp Upton, N. r., Leonard was
spending most Of his time in set-up |
fights far from the scene of his |
patriotic duty. That he was through |
with such for some while became /
evident when he sent out New Years /
cards to his friends. Il don't ex-
pect to appear III the ring again for I
a considerable time" wrote Bonnie. !
Uncle Sam comes first"