Evening Star Newspaper, February 17, 1925, Page 24

24 SPORTS. ‘THE . EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON. VD .C TUESDAY, ' FEBRUARY 17, 1925, - SPORTS. Harris Scores Critics of Spring Series Arranged Between Griffs and Giants JOHNSON SETS A RECORD - FOR TRIMMING ONE CLUB WANTS KEEN OPPOSITION TO TUNE UP COMBINATION Resents Statement in Which He Is Represented as Playing Season Backward—Says Team Will Try Best to Trim McGrawmen. : BY DENMAN THOMPSON. Sports Bditor, The Star, H OT SPRINGS, Ark., February 17—“Pennants are won on the ball field, not in the newspapers,” that was the retort made today by Stan Harris to the flood of” denunciations of the coming Spring exhibition games between his world champion Nationals and the New York Giants, whom the dcefeated in the post-season set last Fall. The Washington manager's usual serene disposition showed signs of strain when quizzed about the broadside aimed at him through the press by self-appointed critics who are seeking to have canceled the barnstorming trip scheduled for the American and National League title holders. He took particular umbrage at the blast sent out from New York by the Associated Press last Friday in which he was represented as plan- ning to play the season backward. In it the fear was expressed that dollars at the gate in March might mean the wrecking of a champlon- ship club before midseason: that if they really fight the Giants, Harris' crew wil emerge from the practice games too tired and bedraggled a bunch to successfully contend with their opponents in the champlionship games, and that if they loaf agalnst the McGrawmen and merely seek con- dition “Harrls may have to rebulld the morale of his club and explain to the lovers of the game how he hap- pened to win a world champlonship.” Will Do Level Best. t's all a lot of twaddle,” said Har- ris with some show of heat. “You can bet that so far as my gang Is concerned we are going to do our level best to beat the Glants this Spring, just as we did last Fall. There sn’t a loafer in our bunch and if that fact is not already established it soon will be. We welcome thé opportunity of hooking up with the Giants and 1 am convinced that thes: games will afford us the best means to face the barrier in shape to do ourselves fus- tice. Merely going through the motions of playing In games which don’t mean anything is a poor way to get a high-spirited squad 1fke ours ready for the opening of the season. This was conclusively demonstrated in the last two years, when we hooked up during the Spring with the Boston Braves. These games left us without the zest for battle needed for a team to jump into the fray and hit on all cylinders right from the beginning. Likes Real Competition. “I would much prefer being stacked up against opposition as good, or even better than we are. When you knock off a team under these condi- tlons you feel you have accomplished something worth while; it glves you confidence, and if you happen to get licked you know the trick was turned by a club that Is capable of beating the best, and there is incentive for trying all the harder to reverse the verdict on the next occasion. “I have mo fault to find with the new rule which will prevent pre- season clashes between the pennant- winning teams after this year. It probably is a wise precaution to take. But attempting to call off our'coming games with the Giants, which might involve costly damage sults for breach of contract in various cltles where we are scheduled to appear, and at a date too late for any other satisfactory training arrangements to be made, Is downright silly. “We are golng through with our series with the Glants. We are golng to beat ‘em again, too, If we can, but regardless of the won-and-lost figures, these games should put us right on edge for the real business in prospect, which starts at the Yankee Stadium on April 14 Await Whalter Johnson. Fans of ,Washington and other cities who have the opportunity of seeing Walter Johnson perform in champlonship games are not the only ones eagerly awaiting his hoped-for decision to return to the Nationals this year. Followers of base ball in this town of tubs are all het up over the expected arrival of the veteran mound star. An_erroneous report that Johnson would get here Sunday caused a hasty assembling of the big wigs of the municipality to extend an officlal welcome to Johnson and his team mates. The ceremonles planned by the delegation of leading cltizens. headed by Mayor Harry A. Jones, have been deferred untll, and If, Walter arrives. Minus Johnson the squad, consist- ing of Goslin, Judge, Ruether, Mar- berry, Coveleski and McNally, which Harrs plloted on fts initial jaunt over the hills hereabout, caused nary a ripple of excitement. They were unaccompanied, save by a lone cam- era man, when they set off on the first of their daily morning hikes, bundled in sweaters and carrying paraphernalia for some casual tossing en route by way of limbering up their arms. ’ More than one member of the squad will be just as well satisfled if John- son_does all his training this year _at Tampa, In view of developments during the preliminary work here last Spring. Then Johnson Invariably set such a stIff pace in tramping over the hills that he had them completely tuckered before the route was half covered. Johnson actually trotted over hills that some of his mates ‘were able to conquer only by slow and laborious walking. Different Thin Yenr. Johnson's remarkable stamina last Spring undoubtedly was attributable to an off season spent almost entirely out of doors. But this Winter, with train trips to and from his Nevada home and the coast In connection with his unsuccessful efforts to buy a minor league franchise, he has had far less opportunity for hunting, and probably is in much more need of the conditloning treatment available here. If his contract negotiations with Clark Griflith are so protracted that he has to forego a sojourn at Hot Springs his attalnment of proper physical condition may be seriously interfered with. Lacking any offictal word from Grift or Johnson himself, Harris Is a bit skeptical about the story published yesterday that John- son had accepted terms and would re- port here In a few days. Practlcally the same “news” was sent out from Reno last week. All told, there are enough big league ball players here now to form & couple of first-class clubs, Everett Scott, Wallle Schang, Steve O'Neill and Sam Jones of the Yankees, being on the scene, in addition to Babe Ruth, who right now can easlly cover twice as much ground as any out- fielder in the game—sitting down— while the Cleveland Indians are rep- resented by George Uhle, Glenn Myatt, Bennie Karr, Jim Edwards, Sherry Smith and Joe Shaute, with Tristram Benedict Speaker due in another week. * MAKES HIS AUTO FLY. CULVER CITY, Calif, February 17.—Bennet Hill, who last November established a world record of 135.95 miles an hour, while practicing at the Board Specdway here yesterday toured the bowl In 32 4-3 seconds, a record speed of 137.2 miles an hour. Vs SMALL BALL SQUADS ARE RULE THIS YEAR By the Assoclated Press, CHICAGO, 1, February 17.—Small squads will be taken to the training camps by most of the Amerlcan League clubs this Spring If Indicated plons of the managers are carrled out. Reports reaching President Ban Johnson today safd that If the Cleve- land Club could arrange deals for the disposal of Its young players Tris Speaker's squad would number less than 30 men, which probably will be the average of all the American League clubs, although the Chicago White Sox plan to-take 35 to 40. Washington, which for several sea- sons has carried a heavy roster In the Spring, has whittled down to about 30. The St. Louls Browns re- called, purchased and drafted not more than a half dozen players and three or four of them have been dis- posed of in the deal that gave Man- ager Sisler a new catcher, Leo Dixon. Connfe Mack, despite his heavy in- vestment In new talent, lists less than 30 to Ko to camp. In the National League ‘there may be something of the same tendency to cut down squads early. Last ring . Branch Rickey of the St. Louls Cardinals had no less than 80 players in his Florida camp. Many of them were just getting the benefit of Rickey's Instruction preliminary to belng sent to affillated minor league clubs, but they were Cardinals, at least for a while. This Spring, since the Cardinals make the long trip to Californla, the polley will be different and Managet Rickey says he will carry not more than 40 men to Stockton, where the Cards start their Spring training. DIES DURING BOXING BOUT. SPARTANBURG, S. C., February 17.—Manton Steele, 18, freshman at Wofford College, dropped dead yes- terday during a boxing bout with an- other student. Only a few light blows had been struck. { B CATCHER TATE REPORTS TO GRIFFS’ TAMPA CAMP TAMPA, Fia., February 17-- Bennett Tate, second-string catch- er of the world champion Nation- Als, alighted rom a rattler last night under cover of darkness, ped between the sheets and surprised President Clark Griith by hia mppearnnce in the dining room at the hotel this morning. ,Tate followed closely upon the heel of Sam Rice, whoe wurrived from Hot Springs three days aso. Rice finished his preliminary werk at the Arkansas resort enrly and came to the training camp for nome ing the uni- form for hard training. BOXERS SHOW WARES IN DISTRICT TONIGHT Washington's newest organization promoting boxing, the National Capi- tal Sporting Club, {s prepared to test that portion of the District code pro- hibiting prize fighting here. Claiming to operate on a strictly club basls, it intends to offer in the Washington Auditorlum tonight four bouts sched- uled for not more than 10 rounds each with the main go bringing to- gether Sully Montgomery and Martin Burke, heavywelghts of considerable reputation. The first of the three houts pre- ceding the Montgomery-Burke mill will get under headway at 8 o'clock. It will be Young Dencla and Harry Farrell. flyweights. Goldie Ahearn and Louls Guglimini, local feather- welghta, who have done much boxing throughout the South, will, be oppo- nents In the second bout of the eve- ning. The semi-final engagement will have have as principals Wolf Larsen and Charlie Potash, llight-heavywelghts. Heinie Miler Is expected to referee the main event, while Tommy Gib- bons, who aspires to world heavy- welght laurels, and Pat O'Connor may officlate in the other contests. The Natlonal Capital Sporting Club annoggces its Infention to be “to demoWhtrate tothe public that box- ing contests can be conducted in this city in a high-class, clean way.” The club plans to offer another fistic en- tertainment in about three weeks. PIRATE SQUAD LARGE. PITTSBURGH, Pa. February 17.— Another rookie pltcher, James Rich- ardson of Greenville, S. C., has been added to the already large list of players who will make the Spring training trip with the Pittsburgh Na- tionals. Last year Richardson played with an independent club at New- berry, S. C. Samuel Dreyfuss, treas- urer of the club, sald he expected the Plrate party to number about 64. - HERMAN FACES GARCIA. By the Assoclated Press. Babe Herman, who was an alter- nate In the recent featherweight box- ing tournament which gave Louls (Kid) Kaplan of Meriden, Conn., his crown. meets Bobby Garela of Camp Holapird, Mdi at Madison Square Garden Friday night for 12 rounds. o ST. PAUL, February 17.—St. Paul moved Into undisputed possession of second place In the Western group of the United States Amateyr Hockey "FRED BARONI TELLS Melhorn’s Two Costly $1,500 Putts League by defeating Pittsburgh, 1 to 0. ILL MEHLHORN, who showed his class last year by finishing third in the national open and by winning the Western open champion- ship, never will forgive his putter for the way it betrayed him in the tournament at San Antonio, Tex., in January, 192.3, Bill gave Walter Hagen one of San Antonio. the hardest battles of his career at He started off the first day by collecting rounds of 68 and 69, for a 137, but in the morning round of the second day he slipped up and took a 74. Hagen at the same time had cut in with a great 65 and finally finished with a total of 279 for the 72 holes, so that it was up to Mehlhorn to do his final round in 68 to tic Walter, who already had finished. Bill great reached buckled down to his shape, and when he finally the elghteenth green he seemed to have more than accom- plished his purpose, for he needed only to sink a three-foot putt to fin- ish with a 67, or a total of 278 and the winning score. However, he missed that putt and went Into a tig with Hagen. It was like tossing away a check for $1,500, for that was the amount of the first- prize money. Well, the next day, in the play-of, the enthuslasts gathered at San An- tonlo witnessed the most spectacular golf ever played there, and, Indeed, one of the hottest struggles to deter- mine a champlonship which the his- tory of golf records. : Coming to the home hole, Mehlhorn had one stroke the better of Hagen. task in It was only a 350-yard hole, and Hagen “was on in 2, but Bill was short on his second and falled to get close to the cup on his chip-shot third. All he had needed was a par 4 to win the hole and the title, but now he would have to get two putts for a 5 in order to square the match and push it to extra holes. This seemed easy enough. How. ever, his first putt left him three feet from the hole. Then, what doe: he do but miss on the next, finally holing out 6 while Hagen made his 4. Again BIll had flipped away $1.500 on a measly little putt. And It wasn't according to form, either, for there are golfers better than he. Of course, he had some consolation. Second-prize money came to him, and that amounted to $750. THE CALL OF THE OUTDOORS BY WILL H. DILG, 7 President Izaak Walton League of America. haps the hardest wild animal Q NIMALS, at least wild animals, are hard to fool. Coyotes are per- to get the best of. Although, as one old trapper of Wyoming said the other day, “You can poison any coyote if you can get him hungry enough,” still every wile of woodcraft and ingenuity must be used to get these wary creatures. J 1 heard this trapper tell of the catch- ing of two coyotes the other day. One of them was a very large animal, and the trapper had tried for some time to catch him. He absolutely refused to touch poisoned bait. And he was ex- ceedingly “trap wise.” The trapper finally got him. He placed a small plle of horseshoes near the car- cass of a dead horse. The shoes were in a sort of a circle around a trap. The trapper knew that the coyote, in step- ping on this pile of clanging horseshoes, would, as soon as he felt them under his paw, quickly change his step and step on the nearest avallable bit of snow— which was in the center of the horse- shoes, covering the trap. That is just what the coyote did. Agaln, sometimes the elaborate detall of preparation defeats the end. Care- Geaveatent 1o, bet/away froms Gengeetion WE ADVERTISE SERVICE —SOME GIVE IT—TRY US STAR SERYICE STATION 12th and C .Sts. N.W. lessness may become genius. This same trapper was once trying to get another notorious coyote. The coyote had only three legs, and was famous as a killer of sheep. For a whole Winter the trap- per tried to get him. Then, when the animal had eluded his most recent effort, traps cunningly con- cealed around a dead horse, the trapper gave up. But he decided that as long as he had the dead horse he would catch a few ravens, So he placed a circle of traps right on top of the snow, with no leffort at concealn®@nt, around the horse. The next day he found the peg-leg coyote in his traps. 60 Years! Satisfactory 1423-25-27 L St. Willys Knight and Overland Specialists—Main 7228-29 When I saw “Jimmy"” Johnston, as Harrison R. is known to his pals, he was more Interested in a hunting trip which had just ended than in any attain- ment in_ other sports. But he admitted that he had «had one great mo- .ment which could easily be termed his greatest thrill. He dld not want to talk about it, but sug- gested that I read of it in the reports of the 1924 title play when he won the Wash- ern ama teur. Here Is what was sald by an observer in presenting the picture: Breaths were bated. The large &allery atood on tiptoe watching the drama_that was belng _enacted. And then fighting “Jimmy? Johnxton of St. Paul hit the ball ci€anly, and as it rolled along the greem to the cup 25 feet nway several thousand eyes fol- lowed {tx course. And when the ball hit the back of the cup and dropped in a tremendous whout went up from the crowd. H. R. JOHNSTON. That moment was the climax of a serfes of thrills and marked the highest pinnacle of feeling ever reached by this fine golfer. Before it MY GREATEST THRILL IN SPORT BY HARRISON R. JOHNSTON ‘Western Amateur Golf Champjon As Told to Homer George Fifty Years of Base Ball One of a Series of Articles by John B. Foster Commemaorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the National League This Year. came a story of play which seems miraculous as one looks back on it. Johnston and Albert Seekle were in the finals for the title play in this contest. In the morning round, by a rare show of courage and splendld play, Johnston had won a half with his opponent through two birdies on the last two holes. But in the after- noon Seckle played wonderfully well until when the thirty-first hole was played he was 4 up and 5 to go. It looked lke the fade-away for Johnston. But not so. The St. Pi man came back with a mever-di stout-hearted fight to. prove himwelf one of our greatest match players by winning the first four of these holes with two birdies and two pars, leav- ing the match aquare as they stepped up to the tee for the final thirty- sixth. It was a tense moment for the crowd. Both players got on the green in two, but Seckle had to putt first, He missed, but was dead for par 4. Then came Johnston's great mo- ment. A birdle meant the title. A half meant extra holes—how many no one dared predict. And now back to the second paragraph of this story —and the great thrill. For the putt fell and the champlon- ship was Johnston's after a rally which marked n new record for the Western amateur and proved the winner a grent-hearted fighter with spirit which would not be downed. Tomorrow—Fred Miller. (Copyright, 1925.) LXIV—League Presidents—Col. A. G. Mills, Third President. : 4 If Arthur H. Soden of Boston, who is. still living, may be considered the father of the reserve rule, It will be well to accept Col. Mills as the father of the natlonal agreement, because It was largely the result of his pronounced attitude for falrness in base ball, as concerned the rela- tions between leagues and the re- specting of players' contracts, that the national agreement came into ex- tstence. Prior to its adoption one of the discouraging and reprehensible fea- tures of base ball had been the pirat- tng by one club of players who were signed to m contract with another club. If the team of B went Into the city of A as likely as not somé of the players of B team would be invited to desert thelr organization, and there were at least two or three actual instances where base ball players of visiting clubs signed with home clubs, and where home clubs lost their players to visiting clubs almost while games were going on. That sort of thing did not appeal to the American sense of fairness and patrons of the game began to desert it because the team toward which they had glven their support and which they were most Interested in watching suddenly would be weak- ened because its players were award- ed enough of a bonus to desert and g0 with another base ball team. Col. Mills. before he had actually Interested himself in league activities, took cognizance of this situation and addressed several communications in one way and another to base ball men and the press, criticizing it se- verely. He was one who could do so with some assurance, because he had heen identifigd actively with base ball in Washington after the war and had ayed much in the vicinity of New York when he was a young man. To be frank, he was a base ball en- thusiast from boyhood up. He was made chairman of the board of arbitration which operated under the first Agreement, known as the tripartite agreement, which in many respects resembled the national agreement of the present time. It was very natural that he should go from that to the presidency of the National League in view of his ad- mitted knowledge of the sport and the necessitles which were always evident to try to better its early con- ditions. He resigned from the of the National League because he was at varfance with the policy of that organization, which restored certain players to good standing who presidency had violated their falth with the National. While he was in office the Union Association was formed, the primary purpose of which was al- leged to free the players from the reserve rule, an undertaking since conceded to have been foolish and not to have had much merit when it was attempted. Players of the Cleveland and other teams jumped thelr contracts to go with the new organization. When the Unifon falled these players were relnstated and Col. Mills, who was opposed to putting them back in the the league game, withdrew from when the action was taken. He was bitterly opposed to contract break- ing and it has since been the ex- perience of the league and of baseball generally that he was right. That first relnstatement ' which followed contract breaking has since been followed by a course on somewhat similar lines and always has made trouble for the professional game. In knowledge of base ball require- ments and in purpose of adminis: trative influence and strength the league never had a stronger presi- dent than Col. Mills. (In the next article Foster will write about the National Léague's ourth president, Nicholas E. Young.) R. McReynolds & Sons INC. Service in Washington Automobile Painting General Overhauling —Repairing— All Makes of Cars N.W. HE third president of the National League, Col. A. G. Mills, is alive and actively engaged in business in He was clected to succeed William A. Hulbért, in 1883, and ‘*continued in office for two years. New York City. Inside Golf By Chester Horton. Most average golfers will invariably And themnelves stooping teo much for iron shotxs. It is often a very difficult matter to fina exactly the right poxition for these ®hotx hecanxe the poxition must of necesity chamge with the use of the different club« for constantly changing dis- tances. The fm- portance of the right position to the ball in fron Ahots in reflected in the number of MUCH - STANDING Too FAR FROM these shots that BALL 'FOR %0 bad, =0 the matter of poni- tRON SHOT tlon, it will be obserted, Isx mot a small detail after all. The full fren 'hn!’—,fl full shot for maximum dli. tance ‘with the ball and a three- quarter back swing—a slightly open stance is uscl. You draw the left foot around a little purposely to comtrol body action in the back swing and keep this action compact. The iron shot munt by all means be a compact exértion. (Copyright, 1923, John F. Dille Co.) HORSESHOE TOURNEY DEVELOPS SURPRISES LAKEWORTH, Fla., February 17.— Playersin the Midwinter tournament of the National Horseshoe Pitchers’ Assdclation today resumed their struggle for high scores. A gallery of more than 3,000 spec- tators saw the first day's play, wit- nessing:several defeats but no elimi- nations. All players will continue in the tournament for the first week, after which only the twelve having the highest scores will be eligible to enter the finals. The biggest upset of matches was the defeat of C. C. Davis, Columbus, Ohio, by Clark Wallls, Akron, 30 to 48. Wallis scored 32 ringers and 8 doubles agalnst the 32 and 10 of Davis. Frank Jackson, Kellerton, Towa, twice' national champion, won his match with Fred Brundige, Colum- bus,” Ohlo, 50-15, .while Loren May, Akron, Ohlo, lost to Putt Mossman, Bidorado, Iowa, present natlonal title holder, 50-46. sterda SETS RECORD FOR LINKS. By the Associated Press. Mrs. John D. Chapman, Greenwich, Conn., holds the season record for women on the Pinehurst course. She established the record when she ne- gotlated the 18-hole No. 1 course in 83 strokes, winning the prize by car- rying her flag to the twentieth hole before running out her allotted num- ber of strokes. NEW.YORK, February 17.—Willie Hoppe, balkline billiard champion, leads Robert Cannefax, carom king. 240 to' 227 at the end of the fourth block of thelr 600-point exhibition three-cushion match. —— (1 ' POLITENESS AND GAS —go together here, not to the _ladles exclusively, but to all patrons Indiscriminately. You are sure of both courtesy and quality at this filling station, whether you are a Tegular caller or only a casual one.. Promptness is another notice- able feature in our service, as customers realize. Sheridan Garage, Inc. A. A, A Service Btation 2516 Q Street N.W. (Q_Btroet Bridge) Telephone Went %‘4’ W. B. B. A. A. LEADERS WILL HOLD MEETING Directors of the Washington Base Ball and Athletic Association are meeting at the District Building to- morrow night to consider important business vertalning to the coming diamond season. The first general gathering of man- agers of unlimited sandlot teams is scheduled for Thursday night at Spalding’s, 1338 G street. Reorgani- zation of the Potomac League and the formation of new leagues are among the important matters to be discussed. A possible consolidation of the Benning and Loeffler base ball clubs will_be considered at a meeting of the Benning Athletic Club to be held at the Benning Odd Fellows' Hall tomorrow night at 8 o'clock. Mem- bers of both clubs are urged to at- tend. Members and prospective members of the Eastern Athletic Association base ball squad are to meet at 8 o'clock tonight at the .home of the manager, &t 321 Fifteenth street northeast. STRIBLING-DELANEY BOUT BEING PLANNED NEW YORK, February 17.—Efforts are being made to sign Young Stribling, the Georgla schoolboy, and Jack Delaney of Bridgeport, Conn., for a six-round bout In Madison Square Garden February 26. The date was originally given to a contest between Paul Berlenbach, Long Island light-heavywelght, and Tiger Flowers, negro, from Atlanta, both of whom had been conquered by Delaney through knockouts. Ber- lénbach, however, refused to enter the ring as he clalmed that he needed a rest. If Delaney and Stribling cannot be brought together at that time the officlals hope to have the Georgla prodigy meet Jimmy Slattery of Buf- falo, who has defeated him. Slattery outpointed Delaney Friday night. WESTERN JOCKEY CLUB LIKELY TO BE REVIVED CHICAGO, February 17.—A revival of the old Western Jockey Club to include race tracks in _Cincinnati, Chicago, Aurora, 11L.; St. Louls, Mem phis, Nashville, New Orleans, Paso, Fort Worth, Dallas, Hot Springs and Oklahoma City is planned by Chicago sportsmen interested in the Business Men's Racing Assoclation, operating Hawthorne track here. Two or three Canadian tracks may be included, it was sald. The amalgamation proposed is nec- essary to protect the turf, accord- ing to Charles T. Essig, president of the Chicago association. The issuance of licenses, mainte- nance of a history of the stables and enforcement of laws protecting the sport would be the principal activ- itles of the club. WASHINGTON AND ORIOLE SHOTS CLASH SATURDAY Washington and Oriole Gun Club marksmen are scheduled to meet In Baltimore on Saturday in the fourth of a series of seven matches to de- cide the intercity championship. Five and ten man team matches, singles, doubles and sweepstakes events have been arranged by Baltimore organization. the Only Twirler to Beat a Team Six Times, Turning Feat at Expense of Athletics—Showing Is Tribute to Veteran’s Prowess. BY JOHN B. FOSTER. N EW YORK, February 17—Official records show that Walter John- son, veteran pitching star of the Washington Americans, was the only American League pitcher who won six games from any other one club in 1924. Johnson achieved this against the Athletics. If that showed nothing else, it would give a good line on the rivalry in the American League circuit in 1924 and help explain why it was that the championship winning percentage hovered all season around the .600 mark, Washington finally winning out with .597. But it shows more. It shows that in many respects Johnson was going as well last season as ever he did in his life. That he will collapse in the season to come hardly seems "probable in view of his performance right up to the close of last season. And there is little doubt that he will appear with the Senators the coming season, despite reports print- ed here that he is now among the ranks of Senatorial holdouts, No Top Heavy Star. There was no top heavy star in the American League plitching de- partment last season, and Johnson for that reason ‘really deserves the gréater credit because he was forced to fight his way along In a race that @id not possess a man who could win four-fifths of his games with any certainty. There were six pitchers who won five games each from some one club. That s something of a record In itself. Thurston of the White Sox won five from St. Louls, Zachary of Washington won five from Chicago, Whitehtll of Detrolt won five from the Yankees; Pennock of the Yankees won five from Chicago and five from Philadelphia, Shawkey of the Yankees won five from Boston, Shocker of the Browns won five from Chicago and lost five to the Yankees. That, however, did not prevent the Yankees from grabbing the chance to add him to their pitching staff. New York figures that it has got the best pitcher in the league for 1925 in Shocker/ but there are some critics in St. Louls who doubt this. At any rate, the Yanks appear to have made a pretty good bargain. These five or more victory pitchers had a great deal to do with the ulti- mate standing of the 1924 tallender. Chicago, which finished last, was beaten In braces of five games by three pitchers—Pennock, Zachary and Shocker. As two of the trio were southpaws, that shows that the Sox as constituted last season were not an overly successful team against left-handers. This is borne out by other facts. Due to Be Repeated. Another fact which is demonstrated in part by the winning of these games is that the American League 1s just as likely to run a close race in 1925 as it did in 1924, because the half dozen pitchers mentioned have merit and there are not six other pitchers who show any indication of developing into “phenoms” between now and the end of another season. If the junlor circult has a Hitcher who can go faster 'than those who did the bulk of the work last sea- son, he will have to emerge from the “leids” who are starting in this year. There is no prospect of a freak run of luck falling to the lot of any of the veterans. Of the high-run pitchers here dis- cussed probably Thurston got the most satisfaction in running up his string of five wins over St. Louls. The reason is that St. Louls traded him to Chicago, glad to get rid of him, and thinking Thurston would be lucky to keep himself out of the minor leagues for long. Which was one more managerial miscalculation. YANKS LAND COLLEGIAN; BEALL GETS INTO LINE NEW YORK, February 17.—The New York Yankees has signed Elmer Deggan, sensational southpaw pitcher of Brown University. Deggan gained fame last year by twirling a 20- inning game against Providence Col- lege, in which he struck out 29 men, a college record. He allowed only five hits, but was beaten, 1 to 0, through an error. He also scored three-hit shutout victories, twice over Yale and once against Harvard. The Yankees also have signed Wally Pipp, veteran baseman, and Walter Beall of Washington, crack pitcher obtained last season from Rochester, N. Y. —_— EVERS IS GIANT COACH; DEAN SIGNS CONTRACT NEW YORK, February 17.—The New York Giants have signed Johnny Evers, former manager of the Chi- cago Cubs and White Sox, as coach to fill the post vacated by the black- listing of Cozy Dolan. Evers served in a similar capacity in 1920, prior to signing to pllot the Cubs. The Giants also have recelved the signed contract of Wayland Dean former Louisville piteher, who joined the National League champlons last season. - GENARO AND SCHWARTZ EARN FIGHT DECISIONS PHILADELPHIA, February 17.— Frankie Genaro, American flywelght {champlon, wgs awarded the judges’ decision last night at the end of a slow 10-round bout with Henry (Kid) Wolfe of this city. Genaro's title was not at stake, both men being overwelght. Genaro weighed 1133%; Wolfe, 115 pounds In another 10-round bout Benny Schwartz of Baltimore received the judges’' decision over Collettl of Elizabeth, N. J. FLOWERS FOULS BOGASH. BOSTON, February 17.—Lou Bogash of Bridgeport, Conn., won from Tiger Flowers. a negro middleweight of At- lanta, Ga. here last night on a foul in the 3d round of their scheduled 10-round bout. Hoodmard & Lothrop See Our Other Advertisement on Page 18 bring them in. shape at a reasonable price. e Get Ready Now We are ready to help you get ready, whenever you are ready. thing good ' that a golfer needs, in clothes and equipment. Shirts Knickers Sweaters Coats Oxfords Gloves Suits Caps Hose Clubs Bags Tees Balls : Look Over Your Clubs If some of them need repairing, Every- We'll put them in e e