iwwhjpim"wh;m11" pwi""ii . " wtmimm EVENING EEDflER-- PHILADELPHIA', MOKDAY. FEBRUARY 14, 1-Q16 - - - ' - , . . , , tusm PHILLIES LOOK BETTER FOR START OF 1916 CAMPAIGN THAN THEY DID LAST YEaJ PURCHASES OF FEDERAL LEAGUE PLAYERS CHANGE ASPECT IN NATIONAL RACE Boston, New York and Chicago Looked Upon as . Favorites, But Phillies Will Start Season in Better Shape Than in 1915 NEVER In tho long history of mnjor Icoruo baseball lmvo the prospects for n pennant rnco been changed bo complotoly during tho winter months as this eefison. As a result of tho sales of Federal League players, Pat Motan's team, Which won tho championship last season and which naturally would bo a favorlto to repeat) la now looked upon as a long shot, with thrco teams considered better betting propositions by baseball men In general. Despite tho great strengthening of other teams, Manager Moran bUU 1b optimistic. Ho says that few people believed ho had a chanco to win tho pennant last season, so ho Is not worrying nbout their predictions. Ho also believes that ho has strengthened his team far moro than most pcoplo bellovo In tho acquisi tion of "Wilbur Good, Josh Devoro and "Chief" Bonder, and will not concede that tho Braves, Giants or Cubs look any better than tho Phils. Thero Is no denying, howover, that tho Dravea and Glnnts havo strengthened to such an extent that both look better than tho champions on paper, but tho eamo cannot bo said of tho Cubs. Tho addition of Ed Konctchy, who will cover flrst baso for tho Braves, and tho news that Bill James' arm Is as good as over will mako Stalllngs' team heavy favorites. Konetchy, Allen, KncUcr nnd "Wilholt Will Help Braves .Both Frank Allen and Elmer Knotzcr, also purchased by tho Braves from tho Pittsburgh Federal Lcaguo team,, no doubt will strengthen tho pitching otaff, but will not mean as much as Konotchy's addition and James' return to form. Tho .absence of James from tho gamo for nlmost tho entire Bennon was a torrlflo blow to Stalllngs last year, as It completely broko up a pitching ntatt which was a sensation In 1914. It also necessitated working Dick Rudolph out of turn 80 much In tho early part of tho year that he was almost useless In tho last two months of tho season, when ho was ncedod most. If Konetchy Is tho Konetchy of 1911, 1912 and 1918, ho will provo a moro vafuablo man than "Butch" Schmidt, whoso retlrcmont from tho gamo had ap parently wrecked tho Braves' pennant chances. Stalllngs also has plugged up tho weak spot In his outfield with tho purehaoo of Joo Wilholt, of tho Venlco Club, of tho Paclflo Coast Leaguo, who Is hailed as a marvol. "With Mageo and WUholt outfield certainties, Stalllngs will havo little troublo filling the other Vfcoancy In loft field. Now York Looks Good, But Needs Pitchers Now York generally 1b considered a hcavlor favorite than tho Braves, be cause McOraw has picked up two sensational outfielders In Benny Kauff and Ed Rousch, of Fcdoral Lcaguo fame. Thcso two youngsters will glvo tho alant.i ono of tho greatest outfields In baseball, whereas In 191G McGraw'a outer gardon was woefully weak after Burns was Injured. McGraw was forced to switch Merklo to tho outfield. Ho contemplated using his star first baseman In ccntro field again this season, but tho purchase, of Kauff and Housch has caused tho scrappy leader to chango his plans. With all tho wonderful strength McGraw has picked up, tho Giants really look little better than tho Phils and not qulto so good as tho Bravoa. Pitching Is half the battle, and unless Mathewson can como back In great shapo and George Anderson, tho Fed pitcher, who Is hailed as a marvel, can Uvo up to expectations, McGraw will not havo a pitching staff capablo of carrying him through without a team that can avcrago closo to flvo runs a gamo. Chicago looked hotter on paper beforo Tinker made numerous changeB. At tho present tlmo his Infield does not look strong. It depends entirely on whether Joe's arm will bo In good enough shapo for him to play short with Mike Doolan switched over to second, whether ho will havo a good combination. It Is also a matter of doubt whether Tinker's pitching staff will hold up. Tinker Depending Too Much on Federal Leaguers According to his own admission, ho Is depending upon Mordecal Bron and George McConncll to win moro than BO per cent, of their games, with Hcndrlx, Lavender and Jim Vaughn turning In victories In at least 60 por cent, of their starts. When McConncll and Brown departed from tho major league ranks three years ago, neither was capable of winning anywhero near half of his games, and, desplto tho fact that both mado excellent recorda In tho Federal League, It is a matter of doubt whether either will hold his own In a stronger league. With tho Phillies It Is different. Moran has a pitching staff which looks a trifle better than others in tho league Ho hns pitchers who havo mado good and held up under flro. Unless Alexander's arm la In poor shape, which la not likely, tho Phils will open tho season better equipped with hurlera than was tho case last spring. Another great pitching staff will bo that of tho Reds. Manager Herzog bo lieves It is tho best In either league, but Moran and sovcral other leaders do not agree with him. For a stretch of two months last season tho Cincinnati pitching staff electrified tho league, but tho absence of a fourth regular capablo of keeping pace with Fred Toney, Poto Schneider and Gene Dalo caused tho team to skid badly In tho closing stages of tho race. Herzog's Pitching Staff Will Be Strong McKcnery, tho lanky youngster from tho Northwestern League, will be a capablo veteran this season, whilo with tho addition of two southpaw stars in Packard and Schulz from the Federal League, Herzog will bo well equipped for tho pennant fight. Tho absence of a star southpaw was a great handicap to the Beds last season, but they should havo little, to worry about In this respect next season, if Packard and Schulz live up to expectations. Tho addition of Jimmy Esmond, who will cover short, with Herzog back on third base and Helnlo Groh at second, also will strengthen the Reds; but the outfield and catching staffs do not look to bo strong enough to mako that team a serious contender. A Kllng, Klllcfer, Schalk or Sullivan behind the plate Is needed badly if Herzog Is to bo much of a pennant contender after tho flrst of July. As catchers of this calibre are scarce, tho Reds do not look nearly so good as thoy would have, if it had not been for tho recent strengthening of all other teams. Managers Callahan, of tho Pirates; Huggins, of tho Cardinal1), and Robin Bon, of Brooklyn, appear to be content to stand pat on their 1915 material. Each believes that team work will bo a more Important factor than stars. In the past this has proved to be the case, but this trio may discover that with peace again prevailing In baseball, thero will be a greater attempt mado at team per fection than starring individually on the part of tho playera. With Every Team Strengthened, It Will Be n Great Race Every Indication points to the greatest raco tho National League has ever enjoyed, with tho teams more evenly matched and generally stronger. Since tho advent of the Federal League the majority of the teams have been noticeably weak In certain departments. The material placed on the market by tho Federal League has enabled every team to strengthen If It saw fit. Almost all have made important additions, and it Is likely that there will be many more Federal Leaguers picked up before tho first of March. Tho race appears to be an open one, with Boston, Chicago, New York and the Plillljea favorites over the field, in the eyea of the majority of baseball men. Phlladelphlans aro satisfied that Manager Moran will again havo his team up at the top or close to it, and look for another great season, Jones and Reidpath Are Through With Match Races An effort was made to Induco the famous John Paul Jones to try to perform a come-back on the cinder path next spring, but the wonderful runner an nounces that ho Is through with tho gamo for all time. A few days ago it was stated here that Charley Redpath was In training and contemplating running again this spring. Reidpath writes that he la still running, but merely for ex ercise, and that It would be impossible for htm to get back in trim to race such a s,tor aa Ted Meredith. They were both wonderful performers, and It is a pity that both gave up the gamo when at the height of their career. Perhaps it Is beat, after all. that they gave It up before they had started to go back. Coast Tennis Men Will Fight Eastern Action Word was received from Los Angeles today that the Paclflo Coast Tennla Association will refuse to sanction, or abide by, any action taken by the Na tional Association which would make Maurice McLoughlln and Tom Bundy ineligible to compete as amateurs. William Johnston, the national champion, lias also announced that he will stick by McLoughlln and Bundy and will refuse to compete aa an amateur if they are barred. BENDER MUST BEAT OUT SIX TO BE RETAINED Half-Dozen Philly Hurlers Are Signed by Ironclad Contracts RELIEF MAN NEEDED By CHANDLER D. RICHTER The addition of Charles Albert "Chief" Bender to tho pitching staff elves Man ager Moran of tho Phillies 13 hurlers. Moran says ho does not see how he can posilbly carry more than 7 pitchers. It Is reasonably certain that the six veterans of tho 1915 staff will be retained, which means that the wonderful Indian hurler must defeat six rivals In order to bo rctnlncd as a regular. Homlor Insists that unless ho shows Manager Moran enough during the train ing season to convince him that ho Is Just as good as ho vat thrco years ago, ho will rctlro from tho game and not hold tho club to tho contract he has Just signed. Bender's case li commanding tho atten tion of tho baseball world In goncral. It Is a great question whether tho famous pitcher can como back but ho Is surely worth tho gamblo to any team, and par ticularly ono In tho position tho Phils will be at tho start of tho season. Great pitching won tho pennant for tho Phillies last season, but Manager Moran really believes that ho must have hotter hurling this Bcason becauso tho leaguo will bo so much stronger. Leading Hurler After being ono of the greatest pitchers In tho gamo for 11 years and the leading pltchor of the American League In 1914, Bonder was suddenly released by Man ager Mack, of the Athletics, to tho amazement of the fans. Eddlo Plank and Jack Coombs wero also released uncon ditionally. Tho latter pair pitched excel lent ball last soason, while Bender, prob ably tho greatest of tho trio, failed dis mally In tho Federal League, and was again unconditionally released In mldsea son, Players who batted ngalnst Bender at the closo of tho 1313 season on a barn storming trip Insist that tho Indian Is JUBt as fast as over. They arguo that no great or experienced pitcher Is over In the "down-and-out" class aa long as ho has tho "hop" on his fnst ball. Bender, ac cording to hundreds who saw him work last fall, still has his great fast ball. Ball players aro unanimous In the be lief that tho peerless Mathewson will como back If he enn get his fast ball working ngaln. They contend that Matty lost his fast ball last season, and that no veteran pitcher can get by In tho major leagues without a "hop" on his fast ball. Will Bender still have bis fast ball working when ho goes to the training camp with tho Phils or will tho failure of 1915 in a lcaguo admittedly Inferior to ono In which ho Btarrcd shako the con fidence nnd spirit of ono of the greatest "money pitchers" tho gamo has ever known? t Veterans Collapse All great veterans of tho past have suddenly collapsed. That Is why tho fans are still unwilling to bellcvo that Matty is through as a star. It pcrtnps also explains tho willingness of Manager Moran to talto a chanco on Bender despite tho fact that ho failed dismally last year. If Bender tan como back It may clinch another pennant for tho rhlllles. Tho gicatcst valuo of the Indian will bo In pinch pitching. If Alexander is forced to jo at tho pace ho traveled l.-i3t year n great pinch pitcher will bo badly needed. It Is nsklng and expecting too much of Alexander to go to tho mound In his reg ular turn and still havo enough In ro scrvo to save gomes for other hurlers. Bender'n wonderful nerve, control and experlcnco will make him the greatest pinch pltchor In the country If ho still has his fast ball. All great pinch pitch ers nro essentially fast ball pitchers, and Bender will need his "hop." Bender's work this season will bo of unusual In terest to fans throughout the country. Ho has six young strong pitchers to out shine to land his Job. Will cxperlenco and craft provo superior to youth and strength? When Joo Tinker won informed that Pat Mpran nas going to Klve Mender a chanco to como back, tho new Cub leader said' "Well, jf any ono was taking Sender after what ho showed me last season I would say they wero crazy Hut Moran knows a pitcher better than any one In the game, and I would not be surprfsed It the Indian came through Moran makia few mistakes, nnd tiny tlmo ho Is willing; to tnke a ball player I don't think much or 1 think twlco beforo letting him go." Charley Herzog says that the neds would hat a caught the Phillies last season when they were ne games behind tho leaders early In August If he had been able to uncover a southpaw. After Denton waa sent to New York Herzog did not een have a southpaw hurler to pitch to the batsmen for batting Iiractlce until the middle of September, when to picked up "I.o(iy" George. With Schuli and 1'acksrd, two experienced southpaws, on his starf this season tho hustling Marylander Insists that ha will win the pennant. Tho American League clubs will have a. rhance to pick up several promising Federal League playorH during tho list half of the week, when tho annual meeting of Johnson's circuit will be held. It Is contended that all the good players of the Independent leaguo have been purchased by National League clubs, but that Is far from the truth. There are several excellent prospects who are still on the market. Manager Mack could use two Federal League oungsters. and It would not be surprising It he landed at least one. He wants no veterans. The moat remarkable thing about the Na tional League race this season Is that every manager thinks he Is going to win the pen nant. All time a chance, nut those of Hug gins and Callahan look decidedly slim. There can he but one pennant winner, so several leaders are going to die hard. WHEN A FELLER NEEDS A FRIEND SALEj "Wells Hats Wear Well" 1101-MarketSt.-1317 Olympla A. A. Broad k Balnbrtdge Harry Edwards, llrr. TONIGHT 8 130 MIAMI HAIUIV UilUNNKU vs. FHKU ltUSSELL AUK UAUACOKK vs.aEOItOK HLACUUUIt.N TIIIPLK HINDUl' WILLIE JIEKHAN s. JACK HUHHAUD IIOMKK HMITII m. LAltHY UII.LIAM3 JOHNNY KHTLK vs. JOE TUHEK Adm. tic, UaL lies., 00c, Arena res., 7So, II. (who's it Tl ftftWx Sv - -"""I FROM JOMMNYI "" I K. S mm s"? The ss II r VALENTINE ''TJk.iSk BALL PLA YERS' UNION PLAN OF LABOR MEN CHICAGO, Feb, 1-1. Officials of the American Federation of Labor arc endeavoring to form a baseball players' union. They have written to Roger llrcsnahan, cx-mannecr of tho Cubs, to ascer tain his ideas on the sublcct, The ball players, it is nrgucd, are not well organized at the pres ent time. Their fraternity, headed by David Fultz, it is held by those back of the movement, has not re ceived much recognition from tho magnates, and a new union, backed by the American Federation of Labor, is figured n good thing for tho diamond profession. The fraternity had ono rebuff when tho Athletics, almost to a man,heid out, saying that thoy had plenty of faith in Connie Mack and his fairness. They did this when world champions. POLO TOURNEY AT AIKEN Philadelphian, Bryn Mawr and Devon Teams Aro Entered AIKEN, 8. C, Feb. 14. There tvlll bo at least 10 different polo teams, with some of tho best players In tho country here, during tho big totirnnmcnt season in March. The clubs represented will Includo Piping Hock, Philadelphia Country, Bryn Mawr, Devon, Myopia, Coopcrstowti, Point Judith and Onwctttsln. In addition to clubs from Dayton, Clnclnnntl nnd Cleve land, O., and Grecnsburg, Pa , there will bo two nrmy teams. Tho winter's schcdulo Includes: Third week In Tcbruary ltound robin tour nament nnd oneday handicap nmtclies of tho Aiken Polo Club. lourth week In rebrunr High goal tournament of tho J'lne 'lreo I'olo (luh. rirst two weeks In March Annunl tournament and rnccs of tho Aiken I'olo Club Last two weeks In Mnrch Annual tour n tmrnt nrpo ihow nnd gmkhanu of tho 'Alkcn l'oln Club, l'lrst week In April High goal tournament nnd gmKlmnn of the lken i'olo Club: low tourmment of tho Pino Tree Club. PHILADELPHIA RETAINS TITLE Dofcats Daltimoro and Kcops Squash Racquets Championship BAIriMOItE, Feb. H. By defeatlnr Baltimore flvo matches to none, at the Baltlmoro Athlctlo Club yesterday, Phila delphia easily retained the Intercity squash racquets championship. That Philadelphia would win was virtually a foregono conclusion, for on the provlous day tho champions had beaten Boston by five matches to nono and Baltlmoro had beaten Boston by three matches to two, this giving them a clear lead of two matches. In conjunction with the Intercity matches tho match for tho singles cham pionship of tho United States was played between Stanley W. Pearson, of the Ger mnntown Cricket Club, Philadelphia, title holder, nnd II. Drcwry, Baltimore, the Maryland champion. IF YOU HAVEN'T IT YOU CANNOT SELL IT That's. What Chandler Says About Thllllcs' Stock The well-known vice president of tho Phillies, Frederick T. Chandler, nvers that ono cannot sell stock that ono docs not possess. With thin apparent truth nB n premise. Mr. Chandler deduces that Charloy Murphy and Charley Tntt aro not nblo to dlspaso of Philadelphia Na tional Lcnguo holdings. "Thero Is absolutely nothing In tho ro port," Bays Mr. Chandler, "for tho good reason that Taft and Murphy can't sell anything they don't own. Taft and Mur phy own no atook In the Phils, and haven't held any for moro than a year. "Taft and iMurphy own tho grounds on which tho Phils play, but they haven't the slightest connection with the club. "I don't understand how tho report started. The only thing I can say Is that It Is 1C0 per cent, wrong. But what an awful waste of good space It was." BLACK, OF YALE, ELIGIBLE FOR ATHLETIC COMPETITION EH Gridiron Captain Passes All Scho lastic Examinations NBW HAVEN, Conn., Feb. . Captain "Cupid" Black, of tho Yalo football eleven, whoso rank In scholarship has been low, has been declared by tho col lego faculty to be fully eligible. Captain Black passed successfully every scholar ship examination, and ho again Is eligi ble to play next fall nnd to retain tho captaincy. Captain Black conferred with tho now head coaches. Tad Jones and Mlko Swee ney, who last night departed for their homes. COCHRAN MAY BE PITTED WITH STAR BILLIARD PLAYER Young Cue Phenom Making! Rapid Progress Toward 1 Championship Form I IMPROVED 100 PER CENT. Wclkcr Cochran Is making ranl.1 . I rest toward championship form .?'?: I hn If Inn lillllnr,! C ...-,.' . """ t Ml tl that Maurice Daly, of No" TorV)1', nouticcs icatllncss to back him a.'.,": any man In the United Stales mm?,1I Cnsflltrnnl nn,1 ltn,,n t ?" .MCPUlW. nishes matches ho need not seek ll0n with Honno. SMlt "cj i Daly will match cither Cneslirnni ' Cochran against him Hihm-"?"' cnunKoments with mm , i.l al 8! prefers two contests, ono to bo nl'nv.j ' New York, tho other In Clilrn!rP ,1' ' pressed opinion Is: "If any prof.in. '( billiard player wishes to piny billiard," money nnd play In 30 or 40 days, 5 . talk nbout playing next October." m, Cochran's Improvement Is so pronouncJ tlmt somo experts contend his cam I. ifi nor rrnt. Btrntirrnr (l.n., ...i"'" .,0B."JW. prnctlslng with Cnsslgnol. An as.!i!!!ll to that effect caused Daly t0 say" aJ Tlirt linv la rintnr ,fAlt t. i 9 that ho Is npproachlng chamrilmlu'l quality. To say ho Is 100 per ccnT. &) ..i.t.i ..nun nu w.miiu uuck irom IOWIl nfl. 1 lin linllilnvn li tn B..,i...wf "W( hns done. But ho Is doing enough to si ' tract many enthusiastic ndmtrers t lif! him to watch closely Cnsslgnol'n methods nii1 rtTAnit nn. nml na r - '"V1! adopt the best of them. That Is justwdi; . prosslvo and gratifying. ." Ira . .... r-.m uummon tft oil young players, professional or luniuW T nmnt h-niih l T - II..,. . l0-teUr. ., w.v .....,,. .v. A,, i mug raster mm. pany than they had been accustom. u i compoting against, they wero too amw 1 tloiiB and cagor. . B0" , ass BAYUlTT" ROM BROS. Tjywjjjk moy Y S Cigai SOLD FROM THE Sanitary Humidor 11V ALL GOOD DEALERS essssssssssmsssssssssssssssssssss Mm Prince Albert is so friendly and so all-iired-good that it just thing and Watchyourstep! It's esjjr to chanso tha shspa and color of unsal able brands to imitats tho Prince Albert tidy r(i tin, but it It impo$tibU to imi tate the flavor of Prince Albert tobacco! The pat-entedproccuprotecUthatl makes a man sorry-like that he didn't get onto this pipe cigarette rolling stunt a-while-ago. He counts it lost time quick as the joy'us goodness of this P. A. tobacco gets firm set into his happiness division. The patented process fixes that and cuts oufbite and parch 1 Men, it's so easy to get on the right track for straight-ahead-action and the ride only stands you 5c or 10c that it sure is due you, due your tongue, due your contentment-container to know how much you'll like ri nge Albert the national joy smoke That tobacco appetite of yours, when it gets-golng-good, is as fierce as a baby's cry for milk I Right now, while you feel it digging in, do that little old tree act leave for the nearest store that sells tobacco! And get yours I Because Prince Albert, jammed into a jimmy pipe or rolled into a makin's cigarette, taxes the joy-speed-limit I And you'll get the listen of what that means the minute you put some Jf. a. next to a match I You'll get flavor and aroma and coolness that will set-to-rest-for-all-time anv nrJd notions you ever concocted about pipe- 2 niOnClirn ri--1 v-i1i-?-'- n1nonial .w(wuiu cum iiioAUi o picoauici lslwlwl.u?;43ifi&;'' T iw i iiiiiyMwtr ,."' astststststsfc TaasesiaKafcMirffiiS&. V. nBASaVi' .- J& fUjHflHHRtt? BILlV&Vr. BRKKSffBt&f&SWtfVi'lC 3aiaai.iK3aaK3&9 &&F ststststslWIKv W f- 7 KiJMZJ-yIr-Y-yC49SX XCTTOialesesesesesalesesesesesVvjeseseseW. -, "C. A. BeV y (-?- V -tfBjswn - . y aHHHiiHM WmmmMi TmBaBKmmsxmmm.. iHHr. fe. HIIIIIIIIIIIlBlilflastHiBSsBaflalsslllflaillllllllllllllllllaalBS k Kii!aiefir:: M MaKK nBmmmmmamMMtfFmM mm JKmSHBmlMmmmmWtmBSMk.M H mmMMMmMmmMt Attovrtht U, S.anJtntvtryclvt Uxtd country in A uiorW you'll nnd P, A, chttrlly awaiting your houidyda In loppy tmd oafs. Set tidy r$d tint, tOef hand torn pound and half-pound tin humtdart and-' in that corklnt-finm crwtat-glat humidor with tpongm'moUt nr t op f Aaf not only httpt the tobacco In such cltetrtrlm, but It sucA a nifty thing to havo about R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO. Wkiton-Salcm, N. C Coprriihlliilbr R, t. ittjroeus Tobacco Co. THF OTHA NYTE AT THE BOXIrJO CUUB n k r'ft.f. . - . .. A ijw ramttdMlTw' EVENING LEDGER MOVIES-QUITTING IN TIME, MICKEY, SAVED McGUIGAN FROM COUNTING NINE-OR ONE MORE SAW A BICt (t CrOOD-NESS, J LEAVE THEIR SEATS. Vhat was ,the MArrrEP-v & THE FIQ-HTS VER.E OVER, 2 7 V r PfPflfl-H(M '" 1 i JLWI 'Ull II I I "B"""1" II II l .'""' " ' " 1 ftTynh.- ii "
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers