Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-27
Present Campaign Most
Successful in History OF
Club; Only Fiue Games
Lost in T,Uenty.six
USES SAME PLAYERS

WHEN the 1920-2l basketball sea-
w son came to q conclusion Bobby
Winskill, manager Of the Rookwood
team, decided to retire. During the
summer months, however, Robert had
change OF mind and concluded to con-
tinue in the game for at least another
season.
The 1922 campaign marked his
twenty first consecutive season at the
head Of Rookwood. which, by the way,
has been the most successful in the
history Of the team. Twenty SIX
games have been played. twenty one OF
which were victories.
Wins have been recorded at the ex-
pense Of the leading quintets, includ-
ing Kayoula, Allentown (twice),
Bridgeton. Hazleton, Media, Phla-
delphia All-Stars. Morris Guards, Sha-
mokin, Quakertown and Pottsvlle.
The five defeats we're Sustained at the
hands of Boyertown, Tamaqns. West
Chester. Pottsv!lle and st. Nicholas,
OF Atlantic City. The latter game was
dropped by single point--score. &c. 80.
Same Players
Manager Winskill attributes the Won
derfus success this season to the rule
he established at the very outset TO
play only those men who would give
their exclusive services to Rookwood
unless permitted to play elsewhere in
an occasional game. The regular line
up has consisted Of Bilson and CHM
forwards; Knorr, center; Parker and
Gillian, guards.
These men have played twenty Of the
twenty.six contests. and the only ad-
n l,,h
fiddle Trautwein, who took part in
three contests, and Harry Franckle,
who engaged in seven games.
Four OF the players In the regular
lineup have not been with any other
club at any time and have devoted
their entire services TO Rookwood. Bill
son, the captain. is the only player who
has been with any other team.
Why Sport Skidded
In discussing the basketball situa.
ton, Winskill advanced two reasons
why basketball skidded so badly this
year. Here is how he explains the
situation:
The first reason for the poor show
ing in basketball in this city this sea
Son Is the fact that the players have
been allowed 10 compete with so many
teams that they have lost their identity
as a combination. They play tonight
with one team and are off elsewhere
tomorrow and for this reason do not
have any chance to develop teamwork.
There has not been sufficient dis
tinctton between the Eastern League
have to 60 to an Eastern League game
to see players in action. They can be
seen on any one Of u dozen independent
teams at half the nriCe Of Eastern
League contests.
'The season among the Independents
has been remarkably good. but there il
one thing that is a menace 10 this
branch Of basketball. 1t is the team
patched together for just one night
under the name of All Stars or All.
Professionals.
Teams Mean Nothing
'These teams mean nothing. as they
are only onc-night combination, and
IL the home club loses they suffer moth
ing In their reputation. Many OF the
players work under assumed names.
the fans are buncoed and become sore.
The only way basketball can be
kept before the public interest, IL to
have individual organized teams where
there is a spirit of rivalry. When one
man plays on five and six teams In tho
one town no rivalry. exists, because
there is no team spirit.
"One of the reasons for the success
Of the old Greystock team when in its
prime was the fact that it was essen
TALLY a Grcystock club and tho players
had a personal interest in the team.
THE two most successful combina-
tions in the Eastern League today bear
this out. Trenton is composed in the
main Of home boys and Camden has
the same combination year after year
and the city feeling prevails among
both fsns and players-'' =.