The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-14
Nv WILLIAM b. HANNA.

BY WILLIAM b. HANNA.
with the worlds series played and
rone. baseball attention turns back to
matters shelved for the moment by the
Cleveland Brooklyn contests. but OF
much greater importance--vital impor-
,tance--than all the worlds series put
together. These are the Investigations
Of the Chicago Grand Jury. now to be
resumed. into the crooked playing scan
dial. and the continuation of plans to
bring about urgently needed reform in
the games government
Next Monday those big league clubs in
favor Of the proposed board Of three to
be at the head of organized baseball VIII
meet again In Chicago to go ahead with
their work. All of the National League
clubs have subscribed to the submitted
plan. the Lasker plan. as 1t Is called.
and three Of the American Leaguers--
New York. Chicago and Boston. Messrs
Stoneham and McGraw of the Giants
will leave for Chicago on Sunday, and
with them Messrs. Rupert and Huston
Of New York and Erazee of Boston.
This may turn out to be the most
momentous meeting In baseball. 1t can
easily do that IL the reform plans which
those supporting them are determined
to put through cause widening of the
party lines existing in the American
League and which came into being with
the Internal war over the Mays case.
It remains to be seen whether the
American League five, which lined up
with Johnson, will assume the reaction
airy role now and flock together on the
ground that this Is not the time to adj
vocate changes" This IL no time for
mossba ckism, and It is quite within the
bounds of the possible that any blocking
of progress. even by inaction, will precip-
itate another big rurnpus and far
reaching one. None Of the five has
shown any signs OF being in sympathy
with the others but the developments OF
next week will tell better whether all
or any of them have seen the light.
The reform element has strong minor
league support In its attitude for what
Il hasn't the slightest doubt is for the
welfare of the game. One of the strong
est supporting factors Of all. however,
in any kind Of a movement Is public
opinion. and that. so one National
League club owner declared emphatic
ally yesterday. the supporters of the
Lasker plan had with them. They count
q great deal on that.
or the various names suggested as
worthy a place on the proposed board
20 govern baseball none Is more worth
the serious consideration of the mag
mates than that of Walter Carter law
yer fighter. ardent lover OF the game
and old Yale pitcher. We have heard
of the need OF practical baseball men
to take charge of the affairs of the
game.
rt,nra ara vrocfinar ,,,a, opd ,,roc.icai
men. Practical men have not prevent
ed baseball from getting into a pretty
mess little moro ideallsm and n
little less practically might not come
amlss just now. Carter IL both prac-
teal and an idealist He knows the
playing side of the game as well as any
body living he Is q lawyer with long
experience IN big administrative mat
ters he is a live. energetic citizen, up
right and aggressive. The writer also
has great respect for the ability and
probity Of John Conway Toole as quail
Ned for one OF the men of the hour in
baseball. There are, Of course, others,
and a man OF nationwide standing
would fit In well.
Invisible but potent In the success of
the Clevelands In the worlds series was
the quality of leadership. No other one
factor had more to do with winning the
series All season Speaker had to a
degree few managers ever had the fac
ulty of bringing his men back to the
state whereby they could do their mental
and physical best. He did In the worlds
series. The poise. ease and alertness OF
his players were the best I've seen since
the Braves of 1914, the Athletics of
years prior to that and the Cubs of 1908
and thereabouts The two last men,
toned. by reason of individual strength.
had much more license TO take on the
DIR Of lnvincibility than the Clevelands
of 1920. They had more class than the
latter. but they nor any other band OF
players had more OF that influence es-
sential to worlds series success. the
afflatus OF leadership.
Speaker played better ball than In any
other worlds series he's ever been in.
II seems to the writer that with ad-
vancing years he at times Is fussy and
addicted to grand rtandism, which he did
not used TO be. but his fielding and bat
ting have improved and his speed APP
parently In as great as ever. Eight
years ago he was In by all odds the
most picturesque and interesting worlds
series ever played--Red Sox vs.. Giants
and he Is a better player now than then.
Joe jackson says he In through with
baseball. but baseball beat him to t.
Maybe II was the Cleveland pitchers,
but nevertheless the Brooklyns hadn't
che same fighting confidence In the Fifth
city they displayed rumerous times
when overcoming obstacles In their own
race The fire and fight with which they
overcame the Giants and Cardinals on
occasion would have won more than two
games from the Tribe
little Mr.. Seweil led the series teams
IN errors, but ne Is likely kid for all
that. For one thing he isn't weighted
down with responsibility. and for an
other he didn't allow his errors TO upset
MIN. He did all the better on the next
chance. Seems to have right level
head on his young shoulders. In Brook
iyn Il looked as II he was weak on balls
10 his left, but in Cleveland he did capt.
tally on them. The sort that came
straight to him bothered him most