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Show HIGHER CLASS IN 1916 President of American Associ3' tion Is Quite Optimistic. Predicts Faster Ball Will Be Played! Account Large Number of P(ajrer Thrown on Market After Federal Fed-eral League Disbanded. Faster ball will be played in the American Association during the -sear son of 1916 than in any period iia the history of the organization. The reason for this is the large number at good players that were yi the market after the Federal league disbanded. The club owners Of the Aincricani association were prompt in taking nil-vantage nil-vantage of this situation, and I think their patrons will appreciate thetr energy when the season is under way. It is a fact that the Federal leagwc developed a large number of young ball players, in fact, too many for tb major leagues to take care of ndr the existing limitations on major league teams in the number of mem they can carry. Most of these players have coma ta the American association teams and this class of talent combined with thn-best thn-best men on the teams of last jear will serve to advance the general standard of play to a plane higher than has been reached by any organization organi-zation outside the two major leagues. That there has been a decided revival re-vival of interest in the national Ejiort is evidenced by the immense croirda. that attended the opening games. Everything considered, it is but reasonable rea-sonable to anticipate that 1916 will ite the banner year of the association. With the many changes in the -pcr-sonnel of the teams, any prediction a to the final outcome of the pennanS: race before the middle of the season would be largely guesswork. V-nttt the different combinations and caangeB are tested in actual play on the fiai monds during the first two months of the season, their ultimate wortb and comparative ability will remain in doubt. I look for a close race. |