Evening star., 1923-12-25

Out into the minor leagues and be-
yond them into the centers Of semi
professional base ball--yes. even the
sand lots extends the American
Leagues espionage system. \ good
ball player down in Blackberry Bush.
still perSpiring from the farm. plays
a spec taCuiar game. Chicago knows
AL the details long before they are
printed in the weekly paper at the
county seat.
The National League used to be
pretty well entrenched. out on the Pa
cific coast. but the American League
this year has pulled the really best
players from the coast. The Athletics,
for instance. got several players who
Were wanted by the National League,
hut who were missed when the bag
was held.
Future Bright. I;an Relieves.
We are likely to have better sea
son in 1924 than We did in 1928" says
President johnson. "Elrction wears
once We're hard on base ball. There
were 50 many mass meetings aud
torchlight paIades that the base ball
enthusiasts forgot 10 check up on
home runs and things. But the toCh-
light parade has just about died. and.
the men who used To get their enter
fainm,ut out Of them will again turn
I" his interest in the national game.
How great was th" attendance of
asked.
Going on toward 100000. How
il was divided matters little. When
attendance is great collectively, it is
good singly for clubs The New York
Americans, with their wonderful
plant Of course had the biggest
crowds. \ winning team makes pa
IRONS y losing team has to limit it
self To holding those it already has.
Vet baS, bail is not in the condition
ii once was. when patrons deserted 4
losing team enti rely.
Uncertainty Is Life Of Game.
Who viii win the American League
championship in i9242"
An. there Is the beauty OF the
game, How do know? How does
us. but twenty things can happen
between now and the end of another
season To change everything. Tn
certainty-that and the demonstra-
tion of physical skill on the part Of
those individual who win their way
to popular faVor-iS all there is to
base ball.
'AIl of the club owners realize
where they are weak. and all of them
are making strenuous efforts 70
strengthen themselves. If we had
four strong teams in the east and
four seemingly as strong III the west.
what race it would be-
If there have been any changes in
gained at the American League offices
is that il is the players who have
changed and not the rules or the i'm
plements of play. The abolishing of
the spit ball was the greatest modifi-
cation in playing rules in recent
years.
Trying TO Aid Pitchers.
The theory at American League
headquarters is that the game should
he played without alteration of any
thing connected with it. except as
alteration comes by play. If the ball
is battered. let it remain battered for
the rest of TIL. game. they argue.
The necessary wear and tear on the
implements of any game are a part
of the sport.
The idea Of throwing in a new ball
every time the one in use hits Il
pebble and suffers a slight abrasion
is not favored. In the old days. it is
argued. they played with bail when
the yarn stuck out ii the seams.
Last year they threw it out if il had
Il SmooCh on its fair hide
Modern folly built up batterS Now
folly has had the brakes put to il. and
they're going to try /" build up a
few pitchers.