San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-10
"WilI Change Complexion
of the Pennant Race"
Says Connie Mack, and
Cobb Declares Baseball
Can't Afford to Lose St.
Louis Star.
BY Join Ii. FOSTER.

Copyright. by The San, Antonio Light
New York. April 10.-The most
significant event in baseball today as
the maj or league season approaches
is the inability of George Sisler to
play for the st. Louis Browns.
The principal reason for this is
that every manager Of the American
League will send his team after the
Browns with teeth filed and barred
ready to sink them into the st. Louis
crowd at the jump. Every manager
will fill the ears of his players with
statements that st. Louis without
Sisler is a different team.
Right in the center of the st. Louis
batting order, or close to it, where
Sisler once hatted. will be soft spot.
At least, it will be considered so by
some of the managers and pitchers.
The pitchers will breathe easier, no
matter who the successor to Sisler
may be, and the manager of the team
opposing the Browns will tell his
pitcher that he has 20 to 30 per cent
the better of the argument with Sis
Ter out. A
at is likely to change the whole
American League race" said Connie
Mack when he discussed the subject
with the writer recently. .
7 "How?n
How Mack Dopes II.
Because it will unquestionably un-
settle the team which finished second
in 1922 and will change the plans of
every manager in our circuit. i GER
tainly wouldn't play my team against
st. Louis with Sisler MS | would
play it without Sisler. That doesn't
mean that ! wouldn't always play
the best and strongest that | had
against st. Louis any time, but j
figure that j would be able 10 open
up and take more chances il / didn't
have to play against an almost per-
feet first-baseman, 400 batter and
one of the best base runners in the
game"
That seems to be an analysis of the
situation; for any time the old sage
Of Philadelphia isn't thinking out
baseball problems, the chimes in the
belfry have rung the curfcw and he
is sound asleep.
When Ty Cobb began to condition
the Tigers he had no thought that
Sisler might not play and he didn't
wish to entertain one. Ty has broad
ened wonderfully these days.
what are we going TO do with
out him?" he asked when it was sug-
gested that Sisler was in far worse
shape than st. Louis sources of in
formation would admit. There was
not thought in Cobb's mind for
himself or for the Detroit team or
for anything except the league to
which he belonged and Of which Sis
Ter is also a member. ave can't
spare Sisler. He is one of the most
wonderful players in the game and
they don't grow them fast enough
nowadays for the younger generation
to take their places.
Stars Affect Leagues.
affect us? OF course it will. How
can any baseball circuit not be modi.
fled when it loses a player like Sis.
Ter? Wasn't the National League
changed when IL lost such men as
Ewing and Arson? / know baseball
history well enough TO know that their
loss not only upset the clubs TO which
they belonged, but that all the clubs
Of the National League missed them
The individual must play his part in
baseball. Don't you suppose that all
Of us know that Ruth made a differ.
ence in drawing spectators to Amer.
lean League games? / guess l would
not be far wrong IL l included Ma.
tional League games as well, for every.
body gets something out of il when
the fans find big show TO see and
can make comparisons accordingly
Cleveland will be the first team
to try out ST. Louis with Sisler moi
playing. Probably the Browns will
start Shocker in the box against
Cleveland and, II not Shocker. almost