This After He Has Lamped Both Ball Teams

By Tim Murnane

BOSTON – What do you think of the Braves’ chances with the Athletics? Is the important query now passing among the base ball fans of the whole country. While I find very few willing to admit that the Braves have an equal chance against the Mackmen, I find several clever base ball men willing to predict that the World’s Series will go at least six games.

I know the style of game put up by the Athletics and now have a fair line on the on the local surprise party. The Athletics look altogether the strongest batting team and as for pitching, I am inclined to think that Bender and Plank will outpoint their youngest rivals. The two infields are very evenly matched-it is a standoff between Collins-Barry and Evers-Maranville. I believe thet Maranville will cearly outpoint Jack Barry and that Collins, easily the greatest second baseman of all, will have a shade on Johnny Evers. There will be little difference in the work of Smith and Baker at third, while McInnis should slightly look stronger in the catching department; outfield is a standoff.

While I am not in the predicting business, experience, confidence and base ball brains should pull the Athletics through, although you never can tell what will happen in a short series of games. This has been shown already this season, where the Boston Red Sox defeated this great Philadelphia eight straight games and had very little trouble in doing it, though one hardly would rate the two teams on a par.

A Grievence Case For Fultz

The Boston Red Sox will play the first three days of the week with the Senators, and then the players will depart for their respective homes. Since returning home President Lannin has signed up Manager carrigan for two years, and Smokey Joe Wood and Charley Wagner has been engaged for a year, although the latter has not played a ball game this year and drew down $5,000 while doing absolutely no work whatever. Here is one case of extreme kindness that should be reported to David Fultz, president of the Players’ Fraternity., for I wonder if the players would do if as much for a magnate. Charley Wagner never earned a dollar for President Joseph Lannin, but he got his full pay and a new contract presumably without a cut in salary.

Of the old men wanted by the Red Sox Club, Hoblitzel alone remains unsigned, but President Lannin feels confident with the club for next year. I doubt if Thomas or Bedient will be asked to sign at the old figures, and they be allowed to drift away, as they are players with little enthusiasm and no fighting qualities.

Scott has been laid up with a slight case of charlie horse and young Swanson has been covering second in the home games. This young player is of Class B caliber only, with little show of ever reaching major league form.

President Lannin is satisfied that he will have a team of capable, seasoned players for the breakaway next spring, and will fight it out for the championship as the Braves are sure to be in the running, it looks like Boston would have two top-notch teams, both, perhaps, playing at Fenway Park and giving the Boston fans a finer run for their money than they ever got before.

Manager Carrigan must, however, strengthen his infield, for today it is at least 20 per cent less than the superb infield of the new National League champions and without a high-class infield it is almost impossible to win a championship these days in fast company. The one absolutely first class infielder connected with the Red Sox is young Harold Janvrin, who has come like a whirlwind this season and promises to continue his grand performances for years to come is any one of the four infield positions.

Using Lannin’s Name in Vain

Some one has been very busy of late in using President Lannin’s name in connection with the Federal League and a New York dispatch to a Chicago paper said that Mr. Weegham of the Chicago Federals and John Ward were playing golf with him at Garden City, etc., and presumably talking over the peace measures. Word also was sent out from New York that President Lannin had visited the Brooklyn Federal League grounds to see a game and met the owners, the Messrs. Ward. Next a dispatch was flashed from Pittsburgh saying that Mr. Lannin, Mr. Somers and other American League Magnantes were in conference with the Federal League backers there.

Now the truth of the matter is, that Mr. Lannin was at his Garden City hotel last week the Chicago Federal League and John M. Ward, after playing a round of golf, dropped into the hotel and had a short pleasant chat with the proprietor, Joseph Lannin.

“Why don’t you throw up the sponge, as you are surely beaten?” asked Mr. Lannin of the Chicago Federal owner.

“Oh, we are not beaten yet,” said Weeghman. After a few jolly remarks the party seperated.