Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
YANKS' SUPERIORITY
.FR|GHTENS OWNERS
MoguIs Fear for Future and
Are Seeking an AnSWeT
to Problem.
BY GEORGE CHADWICK.

NEW YORK, June 23-The Ameri-
can League Is frightened. 1t is suffer-
ing from iumpy nerves and bad case
of dependency 1t is submerged IN
thick layers of gloom. The cause Of Il
all is the New York Yanks. who haTs
made the league practically a one-cr'
affair this season by running Tar ont III
front of the seven other teams.
Seven American League club owners,
seeing the Yankees APPARENTLY unbe2t-
able in 1923 and equipped to win an
other pennant in i929-which wou,i
be the fourth in succession-are highly
pessimistic. Some of them are quite
respondent.
The league fears for the future aid
the owners are beginning TO ask what
can be done to save the organization
from flattening out. In the past week
or two many letters have been passing
to and from club owners Of the league
and many conferences have been held
between leading advisers to bring out
ideas as to what must or can 1e done.
League Can't Stand 1t.
If the Yankees stand up through the
Fourth of July as they stand row, the
season of the dog days Will IND The
fans ignoring almost all American
League games. except those OF the New
York team. The league can't stand It.
That's all there Is TO 1t and the league
knows it. And yet nothing Is being
done bv the Yankees which Is net per-
,nissible under base ball law and rot
a move has oeen made Ivy ne NeE
York club owner which is not strictly
Today the Yankees are so far in the
load that Connie Mack leader OF the
Athletics. is the only manager VINO VII
not concede victory to New YORK. An
excention NAV be entered. Manager
Miller Higgins of the Yankees VIII not
concede victory to himself. He IS
conservative. one of the tougfest ard
6oiled conservatives who ever headed
base ball team. He won't concede any
thing
10 remnants in 1921. Then ne won Two
more in succession. He nnlSneo SCI
ond in 1924. In 1925 ne was seventh.
In 1925 and 1927 he was again the
leader Of championship teams and
victory in 1928 would give nim record
of twice winning three pennants IN
succession.
The Worst Is Yet to Come.
The worst is yet TO come. Th7
ankles az ear to be Living up strongsr
for 1929 than they a. This year. Tha-
NAV mean a fourth pcnnant II sue
c-ssion and give them seven cnam-
ojonships between 1921 and 1929.
The American League some years
boasted of its ability 10 balance rs
teams. When the New York Giants
were having a lot Of fun aattening the
National League a few years ago, tns
American League Snickered and re-
marks were heard that the Nauonal
vas only a one-club organization.
The very thing against which EoVafH
Barrow, secretary OF the 1anks, one
rsbslled when he was president OF the
international League has come 70 pass.
AS president Of the International League
ne thought the major leagues dipped
too heavily into the market for youns
players. AS secretary Of the New YORK
Americans he has counseled buying up
all the best young base ball material
available.
1t a fact that the American League.
excepting the New York club, is fright.
ened. Never before has the, fear Of
slow starvation confronted the C!uo
owners with such CHASTITY possibilities.
In the leagues earlier days there was
many a hard blow 70 absorb. but with
an indomitable fighter-Ban Johnson
to head II, the league triumphed III
cities where it meant permansncy Tor
the circuit Ban johnson at that urne
was aSsailed and since has been as
sailed. II was said that he was silent
partner in clubs of his league. He
never was. except as responsible per
son for the loaning OF money 10 keep
the league intact. That also happened
time and again in the National LfsE1@
when funds ran short for certain CLUBS.
Situation Different Now.
Now the American League faces
situation which really demands DIS
nlSmberment and weakening Of one Q.
its clubs. the Yankees, rather than ths
leaning Of funds to carry the club
along.
What ails the American League IS
that it is victim Of that policy sno Law
in base ball by which great resources
can hold their own If team once GsJ$
start. II Is impossible 70 buy into
championship. II has been tried and
has failed. II never Is impossible 70
keep q championship going il there Is
nucleus. Miller HugginS was smart
and clever enough 70 lay the ground
work OF the nucleus for the Yankees
One trouble is that the clubs are
permitted 70 hold too many PLAYERS,
Three hundred and twenty players are
tied up annually IN the league where
zoo are enough, That's the dry rot
that is giving the forScaSterS wo-Vy--
and they will worry more II they don't
permit expansion by liberation Of play