New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-29
Baseball Had
Stormy Time
La Year 1913
De PALMA
By Charles A. Taylor


he rocks this year. Blow after blow
rss struck at the game from within
md without. and by the time the Sec
rctary OF Wars work or fight order"
VAS issued the national pastime was in
groggy state. Hardly had the season
rot under way when star player after
star player was snatched from the
diamond and lowed TO the various
military training camps throughout
the country.
Whether the stars name happened
io be Alexander. Benton or kauff
uncls Sam reached out his mighty arm
md grabbed what he needed to help
along the world attack on the minionS
Of the Kaiser.
When the season was brought to its
antimely end, month ahead of sched- /
lie, practically every team in the two
zig leagues was wrecked, and the in |
lerest of the public had waned ana |
saed until even the metropolis was
bic 10 muster corporal'> guard to
the patchwork aggregations |
performed at the Polo Grounds.
Random Resentful
But aside from the inroads made in
he baseball ranks by the necessities
Of war. and the mad kidnapping tactics
Of the shipyards and steel plants OF
he country. the game might have
veathered the storm better had it not
been for general dissatisfaction on
he part of fandom. with the manner
he politics of the sport was being
eonducted.
The scott-Perry case ruling and
he failure OF the powers that be in
sssebal to meet other pressing prob
ems presented from time to time
ielped along the prevalent discomfort.
Finally. John X. Tener, president of
he National League. resigned. leaving
me National Commission with only two
members. Ban Johnson, head of the
american League, and Garry Hermann.
Of Cincinnati.
Perhaps the worst crisis of the year.
owever, came during the playing OF
The world series at Boston, and here
ne players contributed their bit to the
enaos by threatening to strike unless
hey we're assured OF their juicy share
N the receipts. Fortunately. some Of
he few wise heads among the higher
Ups came TO the rescue and smoothcd
over this difficulty. but not until the
Boston fans had waited in the stands
an hour beyond the scheduled time
ior the start of the game. This fasco
also left very bad taste in the mouths
q the fans
With the signing of the armistice
s9me of those interested in the welfare
OF the game and anxious to see it re
stored to its former popularity urged
hat the National Commission be re
luvenatcd and perhaps changed to a
o,1 CT Il
and Frazee, of the New York Nation
al League and the Boston American
League clubs respectively. finally APP
preached eX-President William II. Taft
and asked him If he would be willing to
seve as supreme arbiter of base
ball. 1t was felt that only person of
Nr. Iaft's high standing could save the
atuatlon
Move Arouses Opposition
This move aroused opposition among
ne standpatters, however. and Mr..
Taft felt obliged to decline the offer.
specially as the call had not been
made with the desired unanimity. In
asmuch as neither of the two major
leagues III their annual meetings took
decisive action tending toward a reform
IN the commission, it is fair to assume
mat the conduct of the game will re-
main as formerly unless the Joint
'eague meeting set for January 6 rules
Otherwise
AS for the game itself, the American
League scored another triumph in the
World series through the victory of the
session Red SoX over the Chicago Cubs
Although these games drew smaller
crowds than in former years. consld-
erlng the conditions, the interest taken
IN them was noteworthy and all the
SIX contests were close and exciting
It was merely the old breaks" that
prevented the National Leaguers from
coming out on top, but, of course, these
breaks arc recognized part of Tho
game
The race for the National League
pennant furnished a big surprise il
mat the New York Giants after assum
ing what appeared to be an insur
mountablc lead slumped badly in mid
season, TO be nosed out by the Cubs
IN the American League the Red So,
and Cleveland Inoians fought out
uose battle, the Hub nine only clinch
hg the flag in the closing days of tn
'ampaign.
The New York Yankees disappointe
.heir followers after getting off to
good start, but their hopes for tn
coming season have been revived b
me deal with the Red Sox, which bring
DuHy Lewis. Ernie Shore and Dutch
leonard to Colonel Ruppert's club.