The evening world., 1919-03-19

interest, especially in the Athletics.
Hotel. Washington-Haven't heard
the subject mentioned. DO they still
play that game?
TN OTHER words, 1t looks as II
| baseball is not coming back with
the rush that the owners hoped
for and have been predicting. In my
own experiences snooping around and
meeting fans l know. of course they
talk baseball because they know II is
my trademark. However, l believe
that interest really is picking up.
The worst feature is the continual
kicking of the fans on the major
leagues for taking back the players
they advertised as slackers last year.
| think that out OF every five men
who speak TO me OF baseball four are
| bitter on that subject.
Some OF the owners seem to think
that America forgets. but the fans
haven't forgotten thus far. II is going
| TO hurt players and hurt teams and,
| II all the fellows who have said
! they'll never go to a game while
those players are on teams stay away
1t Is going to hurt attendance.
Cleveland. with a skeleton OF a
corklng good ball club already in ac-
ton, is first in the field this year.
Harris, Lambeth. Petty Klepfer and
Giusto still are in service. and Klep-
fer was wounded and Giusto wounded
and gassed, so that Manager Fohl IS
anXiously scanning the news of the
arrival OF transports.
Both Chapman and Wambsganss ~
have been released from the service
and are with the Indians in training.
so that around the second sack the
team IS all right. Harris is expected
back from France within a few
weeks at the outside and is sup
posed already to have started home
Those Indians. IL they can assemble
their full strength, will make a lot OF
trouble for some one, and don't be
surprised II the dope shows their
pltchlng, stan to be one OF the best
IN the country, especially IL Klepfer
comes oack anywhere near in form
MS wounds are reported to have
been slight and not in places to erin.
pie him in any way.
III IANK o'DAY still is poundin,
III away upon the most needed re-
form in baseball to-day. Hanl
is urging the enforcement OF the hall
rule and his latest idea is to empoye,
either empire TO call a balk.
Hanks plan Is to increase base rim,
ming and liven up the game. but IT 1,
cinch he Is inviting trouble for him
self and his fellow jumps when h,
wants to call balks.
The balk rule either ought to be en-
: forced or wiped OF the books entirely
1t has been joke and practicable
dead letter for years. Pitchers spen,
more time practicing baking so as I,
deceive runners and not make the mo
ton too raw for the umpires to over
p look than they do studying batters
and the umpires allow practically any
thing in the line OF balks unless a run
4 ner is caught off a base Then the,
I will call balk about once in tel
\ times, provided the coacher of the op
posing team has claimed n balk six o
< seven times prior TO the incident. Tn
. pitcher has no recourse, as he un
y doubtedly did balk. but he feel
aggrieved because. after making
I hundred balks and getting away wit
c them, one Is called on him.
Hank is right, as usual, but tn
= chances OF getting over any reform /
that rule are as slim as the chance c
. reforming the government OF baseball
You remember, OF course, that tw
i months ago they were going to Civ
us great reforms.
When the Cleveland Club passe
p through Chicago the other day, star
ing on it's spring training trip, Privat
IS Ray Chapman and Lieut.. Bill Wamb'
n ganss met for the first time since III
team disbanded and they went int
IS service last fall,
"Slute your superior officer
J. Wamby said TO his old partner.
Like - ! will" said Chapma
TX "If ] start that I'll be stopping to 81
Is Lutte you every time we try to pull o
double play this season."
n IcSsTish' 1919, Tue Bell SYNDICATE. fns.)