Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-02
Chesrook and Defiance Battle to Tie; Other Sport
harder than ever. This is natu
human propensity"
Baseball.

harder than ever This is a natural
human propensity"
Baseball.
while the old axiom, take nothing
for granted In basebalr still holds
good. l think that l can safely predict
another banner year for the national
game" said President John A. Heyd-
Ter, of the National League, when ask
cd to comment upon the outlook In |
baseball. Certainly there are numer- |
Gus signs which would appear to indi-
cate prosperous season ahead for
the club owners and interesting PEN
nant races and play for the fans.
Tho past year has been one of sat
isfaction TO both the followers of the
game and those financially interested.
The major league pennant races devel-
oped an unusually close and dramatic
climax and the World Series was one
of the best In the history OF baseball.
There was no lack of confidence or
popularity and the game was well sup
ported in both the major and minor
league cities The selection of Judge
lands, as baseball commissioners with
tho subsequent restoration and reten-
|
tegrity OF the sport was perhaps the
outstanding feature OF 1921 In base
ball.
MANY circumstances enter into n
consideration OF 1922 prospects and the
majority of these make for n con-
tinuation of popularity OF the game.
Many trades and deals have been made
which Will strengthen various clubs.
In some cases players have been shift
ed from one team to another. adding
new color. stimulation and power TO
n club for n player can outgrow his
usefulness by remaining In one city
too long. Spring training restrictions
have been removed. making 1t possible
10 send pitchers and other players
South for more protracted session
OF conditioning, thus raising the
standard of early season play.
Speaking specifically of the Nation
nj League, | can say that | expect n
closer race than was the case last year,
Instead OF n two-club race, | believe
that four or more teams will be fight
ing for the pennant In 1922. Even
with pittsburg leading FOR n majority
OF last season, the attendance records
fell but little below those of 1920. and
had the rotation of Sundays been fav-
orable, new record would have un-
doubtedly been made. Many young
and promising players are being de-
veloped in our league and these should
prove n strong attraction next sum-
mer.
"Contractual relations with the play
ers Will be more harmonious and there
will not be the holdouts which helped
10 wreck the early season chances of
teams last spring. l expect TO see bet e
ter pitching during 1929 and conse-
quently closer games. We are also
looking forward TO some form of
agreement regarding better drafting
system with the minors.
These are some OF the things which
lead me TO express the opinion that
there will be no diminution of inter-
est In baseball next summer. There
are likely TO be other factors OF inn
portance develop before the spring
injecting, scheduled TO be held In New
York on February IA, which will have
an influence In increasing the inter-
est in the game.
With the New York Nationals I'm
. the role of Worlds Champions. this
|, feature alone should prove an attrac-
tion IN the National League, and n
boom TO baseball in the cities OF our
circuit Speaking of the world series
reminds me that while the senior
: league favored retention of the nine
game series. we have not lost sight OF
the fact that a reduction to seven
games will go long way toward
meeting the objection OF a certain fac
ton of fans who protested that at
tendance and gate receipts We're rapidt
! ly overshadowing the original idea of
the series !. e., to determine the best
team in the major leagues at the end
> of each season"