Damon Runyon
Salt Lake Tribune/January 27, 1916
New York Cuts the Color Line
Many fans incline to the belief that the middle of next season will not find many of the American and National league lineups changed to any great extent by the addition of Federal league talent.
Some are of the opinion that not even the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Browns, which are loaded to the guards with Feds, will be greatly altered. There may be many sweeping changes at the beginning of the season, but by the time the boys get straightened away for the drive a lot of the old faces will probably be discerned in the old places.
Not so very long ago an interview was printed with a baseball man who was familiar with the players of the Feds, in which he said that the number of men in that league who would be a help to the clubs in the other two leagues was very limited. He meant by that, Fed players who are better players in the respective positions on the various clubs than the men who now occupy those positions.
Joe Tinker of the Cubs and Fielder Jones of the Browns have both announced prospective alterations that mean the passing of a number of old men, but it is quite possible that both these managers overestimate the strength of their Fed and the National. Tinker has room for changes, it is true, because the Cubs have bogged down around the edges, but Jones gets a lot of pretty good talent from his predecessor.
In fact, it is a safe bet that the middle of the season finds Jones with more of the old Browns than the former Feds. The ratio will be at least three to one. We are assuming, of course, that it is going to be an open fight for places on the team, without favoritism being shown one way or the other. Jones—and Tinker, too—are scarcely likely to permit their personal feelings to enter into the matter of picking ball players for a pennant race.
The Color Line
SO far as the Big Black Three of boxing are concerned, the action of the state commission in withdrawing the rule prohibiting bouts between white and colored men in New York will be of no advantage. It is unlikely that any of the white fighters will care to mingle with the Messrs. Sam Langford and McVey, or Harry Wills, and we don’t blame ’em. That is, we don’t blame the white folks.
It is almost a cinch that any member of the dark trio could give any of the blanched boys now annoying the public—with the possible exception of Willard—a lovely plastering in ten rounds. The podgy old Sam Langford may have gone ‘’way, ‘’way back yonder, but even so it almost gives one the creeps to think of what he would do to some of these nice plump lads who are boxing in the heavyweight division. And McVey! And Wills!
But let us hasten away from a disagreeable topic. The black boys can now fight the white boys without legal hindrance, all right, but it takes two to make a fight, and where are the somber slappers going to dig up whites of sufficient ability to make a bout draw forty cents?
Darcy is Heavier
THAT Lee Darcy, the Australian marvel, has gone well beyond the middleweight limit, as it is recognized in this country, is indicated by the fact that the scale mark for his fight with George Knockout Brown of Chicago the other day was 160 pounds at 2 o’clock. If Darcy comes to America, which now seems unlikely, he will probably have to do his fighting as a light-heavy, and not as a middleweight, as he is said to be growing right along.
However, there are a number of light-heavies, and even some heavy middles, banging around just at present, and they will probably be glad to accommodate the stranger. He would make a grand match for Jack Dillon, the Indianapolis man-mauler, who seems to be acknowledged as light heavyweight champion of America, but who never attempts to use the title.
Judging from cabled accounts, Darcy did not make much of a showing against Brown. G. Knockout is a very tough bird, who is apt to make trouble for anyone, but he is a long way from championship class. Darcy ought to beat that kind off by himself, if he is as good as they say.
The Archive 