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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
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Prince Albert is so friendly
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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
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cigarette rolling stunt a-while-ago. He counts it lost
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Men, it's so easy to get on the right track for straight-ahead-action
and the ride only stands you 5c or
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ri nge Albert
the national joy smoke
That tobacco appetite of yours, when it gets-golng-good,
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in that corklnt-finm crwtat-glat
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f Aaf not only httpt the tobacco In
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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
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PfPflfl-H(M
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