The mirror., 1922-03-09

everyone connected with the organization
and informed Hornsby, Sisler, Cobb and
Heilmann that he (Chance) was there to
see that the people were given the goods.
And the Big Four supported Chance
Loyalty. Once, during the campaign, Cobb
broke over the traces and started fuss
with his friendly enemy, the umpire.
Whereupon, President Chance calmly
plastered fine of 500 on the Detroiter
and the pennant-race went on.
Besides the race for the pennant, the
fans were anxious to see which of the
Big Four would hit for the highest average.
Official figures are lacking but the race
was mainly between Cobb and Hornsby,
both of whom were around the 800 mark
all the time. This does not mean that
Heilman or Sisler fell down in hitting. AS
a matter of fact, Harry and George clouted
over the $50 mark but Hornsby and Cobb
were the leaders. Cobb began to run
bases as he did several years ago and Sis
ler also showed why he led the American
League in base-thefts last year.
Great credit is due these four Winter
League managers. Each one of them not
only handled his team splendidly but each
man, individually, gave of his best at all
times. The players were kept hustling
and Heilmann, Sisler and Hornsby have
shown that they can manage as well as
play. Cobb already had proved that.
These four stars, hired to show coast ma
tives, just how good the play in major
leaguedom is, showed it to the queens
taste and the Coasters will have something
to talk of for the balance of the Winter.
From an advertising standpoint, the
chief gamers in the project were the ma
jor leagues for their best men showed why
they were best and at what terrific pace
they had to travel. to attain that SUI
premacy. They "played the game" and,
by their demeanor and personalities, won
hundreds of friends that will watch the
big league races with keener interest than
ever beforehand go to see the majors in
action whenever possible. Rules of con-
duct were strict and they were observed.
The games were well-run and the super
vision was all that could be asked.
And through the Big Four, major lea
que magnates were able to get lines on the
more promising Coast players. Every one
of the managers have recommended men
with whom they played for two months
and, surely, no better scouts could be en-
ployed than the aforementioned four
However, many big league clubs sent their
sleuths out to California for prolonged
glimpses of certain players so that several
rosters will be increased when the time
comes for the Southland trek.
The promoters figure that the league did
more to advertise the benefits of the Cali
fornia climate than tons of Chamber of
Commerce literature. 1t was not expected
that mint of money would be made. AS
a matter of fact, the margin of profit
probably was very small but the idea,
carefully planted and nicely nurtured,
may grow so that, another year, the pro-
fits may be greater.
Naturally, the fans expected that if
Hornsby, Sisler, Cobb and Heilmann
played to the limit of their ability-and
the record shows that they certainly did
that these four would, as they should, lead
the league in hitting. And, they did: 1t
would have been big boost for some
aspiring Coast Lacquer to outhit one OF
these major sluggers, for a schedule of 70
games is long enough to show the real
class of a man. But while several OF
them went bigger than during the regular
coast season not single minor star came
close to beating one of the managerial
quartet out for the swatting honors.
Again, three of the four leaders gained