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Show WHEN BIG LEAGUE i BASEBALL BEGINS Many Changes Made in Clubs Five National League ' Clubs Have New Owners Several Other Big , Changes. New York, Jan. 15. Big leaguo " baseball will begin the 191G season with practically half the personnel of " those in high authority changed. FIvo National League clubs will have new owners, there is a possibility that the ' sixth club will bo sold and ono of the two remaining ones will have a new manager. In tho American League there will be two new club owners. It might bo getting a little bit closer clos-er to the exact truth If some of those statements about tho National wcro qualified a bit. The Chicago Cubs, Boston Braves and Giants are already under new ownership, as everybody knows. Jimmy Callahan has succeeded succeed-ed Fred Clarke as manager of the Pittsburg Pirates. Two club sales yet to be completed aro those of the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. The chances 'favor their completion com-pletion at a rate of about 4 to 1. The sixth club sale, which just now is nothing more than n possibility, with the odds perhaps 3 to 1 against it, Involves In-volves the Brooklyn Dodgers. The American League changes already al-ready ire those at St Louis, where the Browns have changed hands, and at Cleveland, where every baseball fan knows the situation, which has been made public In all its ramifications. ramifica-tions. It is not possible just now for us to give the names of the men seeking the Cardinals and Reds. Both these deals will be swung before the opening open-ing of tho playing season, however, unless some hltoh now not expected, should develop. Mrs. Schuyler P. Britton, who controls con-trols the St. Louis club, has stuck steadfastly to a demand for $500,000 for the club franchise and players rights, and tho bidders have refused just as firmly to go that high. A compromise is almost sure, since Mrs. Britton is anxious to get out of baseball and avoid the publicity connected con-nected with it, which to her is unwelcome unwel-come She also has tired of the worries wor-ries of the club. August Herrman and the Flelsch-nmnns, Flelsch-nmnns, who own the Cincinnati Reds, want to get out of baseball becaus they feel their money would bring ii bettor returns in something else thai a proposition whero they have to bad n losing team constantly. It would bo breaking faith If w I were to stato tho price Herrman am ' associates have put on their holdings It is such a figure that now owner 1 would make plenty of Interest pro portlonatcly on their investment I they should have a first division clul and would lose slightly if they shouh have a second division outfit. In otli er words it Is a fair price, with a sor of gamble attached to It a chance t gain handsomely or a chance to losi a little. The conditions at Brooklyn have been kept quiet. The club just nov is in good enough condition to enabh it to go ahead without sinking an more money if tho team should gel away to a good start in the coming pennant race and should draw fail patronage during that time. A bad slump that would send the team deep Into the second class earlj nnd thereby cause a pouring out of a few thousand dollars without much coming In would mean a quick decision decis-ion to sell. Charles H. Ebbets, the club president, Is a baseball enthusiast enthusi-ast from the soles of his feet to th top of his head and will stick to the ship until It is ready to sink or, rath er, wants to. |