Show A SPEAKING m OF oft AMU n SPORTS by ROBERT mcshane released by western newspaper poper union T THE HE selection of tenants for base balls hall of fame in coopers town N Y is causing more and more heated debate as the months roll by big league baseball writers already have picked 14 players for the honor ty cobb babe ruth honus homis wagner christy mathewson walter johnson napoleon lajoie tris speaker cy young gro ver alexander george eddie collins willie keeler lou gehrig and rogers hornsby hornsby incidentally den taUy was the most recent nomi babe ruth nation the verbal strife centers around the fact that the moderns are getting all the votes and many old timers who also deserve the honor are moving farther into the background those who utter the complaints are fearful lest the latter soon will be forgotten altogether the emphasis upon modern modem players is not difficult to understand the big league writers who cast the ballots arent familiar with the ball players of the 1900 10 era they prefer to evaluate the relative greatness of players whom they have seen in action they do not always pay attention to the fact that there were good ball players three quarters ol of a century ago the present system can be improved on with one exception all 14 men elected to the hall of fame fama by baseball writers were active around 1910 or thereafter the period from 1900 to 1910 certainly la Is not without its share of stars it was then that the american league was waa born for instance there was fred dark clark one of the national league a all time outfielders with the pirates he always draws some votes but never enough babe adams also a pirate has plenty of supporters few of whom have anything to say about the nominations its a pretty sale safe bet that among those soon to be mentioned for lasting greatness are bill lange of the old cubs wild biu bill donovan of the tigers bob grove of the As and red S sox 0 ed walsh of the white sox johnny evers of the cubs nap rucker zach wheat and bazzy vance of the dodgers and harry heilman of the tigers catchers cochrane and hartnett may make the grade in the not too distant future together with bill dickey when the latter is eligible walsh is a likely candidate for elevation he is gradually gaining votes each time a ballot is required it is obvious that the real oldsters of the game are being ignored to a large extent just what win will be done to remedy the situation clear A suggestion already has been made mada that each years voting be restricted to a definite era perhaps 1900 to 1910 and 1910 to 1920 etc such a move would do much to clear up the situation it supply all the answers but at least it would be a start in the right direction the same full share of disagreement exists in filling hall ban of fame the latest entries in this select body include chick evans johnny mcdermott jerry travers alex aiex smith and willie anderson they now are in the august company of bobby jones walter hagen francis ouimet and gene As in baseball there is no lack ol of t talent a lent in tact fact there is a superabundance among ast the players eligible for membership are tommy armour and jim barnes both winners of the U S open the british 4 le open and the there is macdonald smith one of the games topnotch ers for the past 25 years despite the bobby jones fact act that he has no major title lawson little is twite twice winner of both the U S and british amateur titles and is a winner of the U S open little den ben hogans consistent money winning career will go down in the books it is one of most remarkable records byron nelson proved his greatness by winning the U S and crowns craig wood Is the present U S open and PJ masters asters champion among the former great men of golf walter J travis ranks rank 3 near the top travis become in te rested in the game am until he be was 38 |