The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-02-09
bnY War Can Keep Alexander Off of Cubs Payroll
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Copyright 1918. by tho Tribune Asso-
citation tNcw Yogk Tr.buneD
Doping out pcnnnnt races In February
or March hHa never been one " the most
certain undertakings IN the realm ~
things Even In steady years when
everyone knew Just what man each club
had 90 offer, tho assignment has been
fraught with considerable upset
But 1915 II going 10 be- the toughest
~ the lot. Few managers ARE going tu
know In advance every mnn they can
keep And others who have lost men Will
not know just what the deficit viii be-
untll the actual test arrives
How the Game Goes.
Baseball 10 a queer game In this
respect, There has been more than
one club that fnls1ed In the second
diVislon-that looked Ike q bad ball
elub-whsrs Just one or two men
added at certain spots would have
produced Championship winner.
There have been other championship
clubs where The loss uf one or two men
would have brought on disaster But no
one can ever know just when this HhIii
s due. EARLY IN 1915 the rhillo- lost
any number ~ stars They lost u good
catcher. two good iniieders, a pitcher
and nm Outflelder They had not been
able 10 win In 1914 Vet In 1915. despite
these losses Pat Moran stepped out and
won n penunnt IN 1914 the Braves won
q championship and world series m
four games. In 1915 they lost liill James
and one iuNcldrr and Immediately
dropped out Of the running
For 1918.
Il ia pretty we'll established for
1918 that both McGraw and Rowland
can afford 10 lose q man or two, or
even more, and stIll have good ball
clubs
Their losses are hardly likely 20
grow sufficiently In volume 90 haul
them back any great distance.
But on one can tell Just what the
losses that Cleveland has suffered
slI mean. Thl, club was on lts way
up last year. II was Just beginning
20 reach lie stride. But II wasn't
strong enough 90 stand any such
IoltS az the draft brought on.
In a football conmb the other doy
someone brought up the subject OH tu
who should stand us tho greatest lino
hitter of lll time.
All time covers quite a biz n ground
fnr more than We can see boo our limited
observation
Br some interesting data wns FUR
nished In the East Ted COY was given
prominent mention Mccormick oi
| Princeton was another In the west ther,
were Hoston. Salmon and MluIbcisch
among others.
But II Is extremely doubtful N any
man could hit line harder than Ted
| Coy Tackles, guards and defensive
| haltbaoks who have GOT In his way
all give him the leading vote. Coy
ran with terrible power. ne was
harder than an auroohs bull 20 over.
! throw, He landed Win crashing e.
feet and only the stoutest sort Of
resistance could hold him In check.
He way have had his superior at this
peculiarly gentle and delicate art,
| but no man who ever tried 20 stop
the old Yale star Will believe Il.
There may have been greater line hit.
tcrs In the old days, when line hlttnl
| was "A big part Of the game. The ole
| guards back and tnCkles-huCk formations
may have produced more powerful pung
Crs than GOV, but they must have beet
exceptionally supormen Hcstun nnt
| Salmon were among the grcnt lin'
smashing stars OF the west HcstOn wa
"A fine broken field runner. but with MI
ability 10 start at top speed and his un
usual leg power he could also tear int
"A set Of forwards with dcmOlishing effect
Salmon Of NOtre Dame was another Whl
could fight his way along with my sor
OF help The list Is too long to he givcl
In fun. but II is very doubtful that an
four men had n ON COY Mccormick
Hcston and Salmon for all-nround lin
plunging worth.