Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 232, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1911 — MANY PLAYERS HURT [ARTICLE]

MANY PLAYERS HURT

Chances of Several Clubs Marred by Injured Men. Detroit’s Chances for American League Pennant Materially Lessened by Accidents—Other Clubs Suffer Same Way. It isn’t in the breaks of the game that luck counts in the long run in baseball; the strongest team will win the pennant) every time provided it has no worse luck In the way of injuries and illness to players than other teams. It is luck of this latter sort which often goes a long way toward making or breaking a team; making the team by its absence, breaking it by visitation. Injuries or illness are playing a big part this year, and it has come to be almost an axiom that a team to win the peonant must be lucky !n not having players incapacitated. A probable exception this year will be the Athletics. Last year the Athletics were extremely fortunate in the scarcity of players laid up. This year they had Eddie Collins out of the game for a while with an injury, also Dan Murphy, but threaten to win the pennant nevertheless. Detroit’s chances for the American league pennant were hurt materially by misfortune to players. Nor did these come singly. Gainor, the hardhitting first baseman, broke his wrist early in the season and has been of little service. The shifts necessary to fill his place broke up the team more or less. The spiking of George Moriarlty crippled the Tigers at a critical time and the absence of George Mullen while getting over the effects of an operation was a further handicap. Then Cobb became overtaxed and was forced to lay off and rest. Mishaps are part of the game and each manager endeavors to keep his team fortified against them. He is a fortunate or far-seeing manager who can keep wholly fortified, and a still more fortunate manager who escapes hard luck coming from casualties to his men. One of the most fortunate In that regard has been McGraw of the Giants, though to do McGraw justice he doesn’t trust to luck, but Is always watchful and prepared for emergencies. That Is one of his most valuable traits as a manager. Stil neither he nor any other man can be so fortified that no mishap his team, and this thing of accidents Is more or less a bugaboo with all managers. The Phillies have come pretty near winning the pennant or at least been dangerous to the last if they hadn’t been unlucky. The accidents to Titus and Dooln just about wrecked the Phillies’ chances for the championship. The New York Americans suffered greatly from illness or injuries. Chase, Sweeney, Gardner and_ Wolter being among those who have been forced to stay out of the game for periods of varying lengths. This club never yat has Enjoyed a season In which it went through the whole campaign with its full strength undisturbed. The Clevelands this year were set back by injuries to Lajoie and Jackson.