The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-06-20

How closely me fans study baseball
and how quickly they observe changes
can be judged BY the letters they pour
in upon writer. This season nave
been swampcd with letters asking ~"
10 explain the difference between t"e
style OF play in the American ana the
National league.
The great majority Of fans who write
demand that 1 tell them which league
I consider the better. and why. The
question frankly has me stumped.
know there = distinct difference be-
tween the way they play ball in the
two leagues. but when one sits down
TO explain the difference IL gets harder
and harder. In my opinion which Is
based upon fgures and comparisons or
PLAYERS which IN turn are based largely
upon the judgment OF managers owners
and PLAYERS. the American League StliI
L. the stronger. yet | am Just as hrmly
convinced that. in spite OF the superior
strength OF the American. the teams OF
the National are playing better ball
That may sound strange. yet the
majority OF the National league ctuoS
are out huStiin6. speeding up and Keep
ing the game moving. and there mas
been more life and spirit. more action
than In the American, which IL not as
IL should be.
A niyvsr that Is running can beat
any eight that IN missing on two CYL
tndeSB.
I have talked with players, managers
and owners. and not one OF them can
tell why the two leagues play different
kinds Of baseball. The general prin-
ciples of the game are. OF course, the
"a me In ANY language, and after one has
studied score after score and game AFTER
game and analysed them. one Is forced
TO the conclusion that II IS the spirit
of the teams rather than any mechanical
dissimilarity that makes for the diuer-
ence.
This difference Is the more noticeable
this season because of the tremendous
hitting power IN the American league
teams. which Is 4 constan; temptation
TO rely upon sheer hitting power 70 win
rather than TO develop faster and moro
scientihc systems OF attack. The team
posse ssinG cleaA-up hltters with this
lively ball may be justified to some
extent n relying upon smuggling TO win
rather than 70 Try the sacrifice or the
running system OF advancing men on
the bases. But such system Is tho
winning one and the smuggling game Is
a loser in the long run. II works out
on percentage and team hitting
around $50 wins little over 500 per
cent OF ball games while playing that
way.
Besides the SLIP there's the Volstead
enforcement guy between the cup and
tho lip these days.
Practically every expert VINO mas
watched n" work OF Dempsey and car
penner in thc.r training camps has de
cIAred that Dempsey Will win the COM
Ing affair IN from one TO Ave rounds,
The exr~rts arc almost unanimous IN
d,rlsrlnc THAI tn" t'rcnchpan is over
na ichcd and t"at n" cannot !aSt !"hk
against DEMPSEY.
I.uf mt There a chance that We are
,,:.r,krn" NJ own idea - that ii the
mon go out 10 meet each other In effort
10 win. Carpenter hasn't any more
rh,n,r than would hayc 4 quit
smokinY cigarettes a week. But is the
Fr,nrh,,an more cunning and clever
tbun We are giving him credit with be-
ing
\ study OF conditions and Carpenters
training methods may give a Clew 10 his
olan OF battle. Carpenter has IN his
amp The Big hard hitting and awkward
1ournr- and IN boxing with JoNrnee
-arpeatier makes ht;la enort to attack.
md contents himself with eEadlnS. s'de
i,epuinr and slipping the blows or the
,lr fellow. He ~ proclcinE taxing
unchrs where they Will do little haFm
md in shjtung quickly into ciinches
The signing of Joe jeanette as Spar-
InK partner gives color 20 inc tdea that
sarnen,ier may be planning an entirely
nn.rerr kind OF battle from the one IN"
rr,hss seem TO think ne Is doing. jean
-. - o,s Of the greatest defensive
t1nters 81 all time and perhaps IN"
= Is.taat purely defensive lighter OF his
~ decade. He still keeps lot OF his
III tine skill. In hts work with car
aptisr ne has been 'HsCb'nG the