New Britain Herald Newspaper, October 20, 1915, Page 13

. landing such a remarkably versatile . MANY REAL FINDS HAVE BEEN UNEAR THED THI By TOMMY CLARK. HE 1915 baseball season has produced a number of real finds. Several teams, espe- cally in the National league, r.n been fortunate enough to pick up layers who have helped make this #eason’s history. league scouts stated that the minors were well drained of promising mate- rial, and few youngsters gave any evi- dence of sghowing they were second Cobbs or Wagners. But the scouts were a little bit off, as the showing of $ few youngsters have proved. Ot course a number of the kids were sent back to the minors early in the season, but quite a number remained. Probably the greatest find of the! year is Frank Bancroft, the Phillies’ short flelder. This youngster has dons & whole jot to weld together a power~ tul infleid for the Quaker boys. Today Phillles’ finfleld quartet is the est in the National league. Not rlone has Bancroft done pemarkabiy well in Nis position, but his general all around playing has been brilliant. Manager Pat Moran has been fortu- nate in landing such a youngster. Much credit for the team’s grand show- ing this year mast bs given to him. St. Louis has been very fortunate in player as Sisler. This fellow can pitch and do most anything else on the dia- mbdnd. He held down first base in fine style recently, in addition to making ood as a pinch hitter. He has also twirled a number of brilliant games. Next season Manager Branch Rickey belleves he will surely land a place in baseball's hall of fame. Pittsburgh has had the good fortune to land two corking good players in Third Baseman Baird and Pitcher Ma- Paux. The latter is the real pitching find of the 1916 season. This young- ster has stood the heavy batters of President John Tener's circuit on their heads time and again. He is as cool as a cucumber and has wonderful con- trol. Baird has performed notably at last station. His game has been steady and consistently brilliant since the start. JPitcher Wezer Dell has done a whole lot to put Brooklyn on the baseball map. His pitching has been a feature of many of the Brooklyn games this year. Dell cannot really be called a 1915 find, as he was with the team last fall, but then he did not show to ad- vantage. However, his name has to be mentioned in connection with the real developments of this season. Wagner Cincinnati has landed a real gem. This youngster has played| Last year the big Four Youngsters Who Have Helped Make Bassball History of the Phillies. 2.— Wagner of Cincinnati. 3—Dell of Brooklyn. 4.— Mamaux of Pittsburgh. 1.—Bancroft a remarkably flashy game. Of course Manager Herzog's being alongside of him has helped his playing to a great extent. Aside from this, Wagner's showing at second has been fine. There have been a number of other youngsters who have shown up well in different poWkions, but the above men- tioned are the cream. IN order to keep up with the boxing promoters Dan Morgan, McKetrick and Harry Pollok have started what they term “the boxers’ union.” Jimmy Dunn, manager of Johnny Kilbane, featherweight champion, has received a letter from Morgan, asking him to come into the fold. The purpose of the boxers’ union is to see that the bat- tlers get their share of the spoils and |to see that the guarantees are not low- iered for the high class men. Tom Andrews’' pet scheme, the pro- moters’ organization. which was re- cently formed, led Morgan, McKetrick and Pollok to organize the boxers' union. l‘HE caulifiower, or “tin" ear, usea as a *“card of admission” to fight clubs by third and fourth rate boxers, is about to be no more. Reports received from Seattle, Wash., state that a local physician had discovered a method of treating damaged ears without leaving the member swollen. The idea is to drain the tissues and then attach a plaster cast until they knit together again, obliterating all trace of injury. Few boxers who have appeared in ring hostilities have escaped disfigure- ment in this way. In fact, a number of fighters have been actually made deaf by the peculiar swelling caused by repeated pounding on the ear. Some of the leading boxers in the world, in- cluding the cleverest defensive artists in the game—Fred Welsh, Jack Brit- ton and Mike Gibbons—carry marks of their trade. Packey McFarland and Johnny Kil- bane are two of the very few who do not sport “tin” ears. AR from the blighting frosts of his native clime, Steve Natuck, who says he is one of the most famous wrestlers Alaska ever produced, is In New York eager and ready to meet any or all of the best wrestlers in this land. Although he is but four feet and nine inches in height, weighing but 109 pounds, the young Eskimo, born in Point Barrow, Alaska, twenty-seven years ago, is a marvel of strength and agility. Never having had the' least sclentific instruction in the art of wrestling, Na- known the shoulders of many well wrestlers. his people, derived from the necessi- without weapons. tuck says he has pinned to the floor Besides the general run of holds employed by ordinary wrestlers, Natuck says he has many peculiar to ties of encountering wild animals while SEASO For several seasons Natuck has b touring the COUNtry with a wild W show, but is now making his home Singac, near Paterson, N. J, While 0 the road Natuck®attracted much tention by his wonderful feats, thro ing many men almost twice his wel and performing seemingly improb feats. Natuck's grandfather was an Baki chief, while his father owns seve: hundred reindeer, giving him the p tige of being a wealthy man.. Natod attended the mission schedl in Pol Barrow and is well educated. C. K. G. BILLINGS, the New ¥ * millionaire, set aside an old tablished rule when he made a ten! tive purchase of = Willlam, 1:B world's champlon pacer, from A Van Atta for the reported price of ¥ 000. - Mr. Billings is known to be a 00 judge of horseflesh and has a repul tion of paying any price once he f cles an animal. He owns Loy Dil 1:58%, champion trotting mare; Uhl 1:68, champlion trotting gelding, The Harvester, 2:01, champlon trottin stallion. All these cost him some mo ey. All are bred in the equine purpl Not an Aristocrat. Willlam is his first purchase outsid the aristocracy. Willlam is not, so speak, well born. He's one of tho Indiana pacers, bred any old way. was sired by Abe J. a speedy but ratic old pacer. His dam was an ol farm mare. Willlam is a splendid in dividual and doubtless can pace fast than 1:68%, for he is only five yea old. But for breeding he is a “mo grel,” comparatively speaking. $35,000 a Big Sum. And $35,000 is a whole lot of mo! even for one of Mr. Billings' proclivi | ties to invest In a pacer with no bi | ing behind him and no assugance d breeding on ahead of him. Instead |a horse with only a distant relation ship to the old fashioned Jay Bl tamily Mr. Billings might have had a dozen of the more pretentlous Pats ens, Wilkeses, Pointers or Directs. THREE FINGERED WONDERS. MORDECAI BROWN, with three fin| 44 gers on his pitching hand, be came a great winner in baseball as member of the famous Chicago Cub A. D. Poulsen, who rows bow oar I the Duluth B. C. intermediate elgh oared shell crew, has only a thum! and one finger on one hand. Whistle Helps Jennings Coach CONTRARY to general belief, Hughie Jennings was not the first man to employ a whistle in baseball as a me- dium to assist in coaching. There was another, and, incidentally, he was ared too. Of him more anon. the season of 1907 Jennings cre- ated a furore in baseball circles by springing a little postman’s whistle as an adjunct to his coaching. Previous to this Jennings worked his voice so hard that he had to devise some other megne to make known that he was in thé game. The whistle was a success, snd the manner in which Hughie used ft brought down the house. It also brought down the ire of Silk O'Lough- lin, the umpire, and he made a loud protest and ordered Mr. Jennings to Aesist. 1 The next day Hughle was out on the lines as big as life and opened up with Ais little whistle. In a moment he had ther bleacherites in an uproar of merri- nent. The music pleased the fans, and the .innovation was a great hit. D'Loughlin again ordered the auburn haired one to put the whistle up. Jen- nings asserted there was no rule to compel him to desist and forthwith more than mere benching to squelch Jennings, for he was on hand the next day and opened up with a merry tune on his pet whistle, and the hard heart- ed O’Loughlin suspended Jennings for ten days. Then came the.final decision from Ban B. Johnson, with the remark that whistles were all right for steam en- gines and policemen, but were out of place in a well regulated ball park. Credit is given to another ted head for being the first to discover the great possibilities which lay in an innocent little whistle when used in a skillful manner in a ball game. Reddy Mack, the famous second sacker of the old Louisville team of the American asso- ciation back in the late eighties, ap- peared on the field one day armed with a boller room whistle, using it at dif- ferent stages of the game. Red had all the arbitrators in the circuit wild, but they couldn’t stop him, as there was no Ban Johnson in power those days. A wild Irishman by the name of Brannick, who played in the South Michigan league a few.seasons ago, used a mouth organ in a very effective manner in conjunction with his ability started another tune. Silk chased him to the bench. It took as a coacher. When a player fanned Brannick played a dirge. SAM BELLAH IS ‘HAVINO won a national champion- # ship for the Multnomah club, Sam Bellah’s ambition now is to break the world’s pole vault record of 13 feet 2% iches, held by M. S. Wright. Bellah the national vault championship at San Francisco with a vault of 13 feet 9 inches, or about 5% inches shy of the record. Bellah is twenty-eight years old, and, in light of this and the little time of practice, his recent performance was really remarkable. “I am working indoors and have lit- tle #ime for outdoor exercises or for practice,” remarked Bellah recently batween his customers in a sporting goods store. “I wouid llke to take & ouple more years of coilege work, for vy ambition {8 to become an expert agricalturist. I believe that under col- lage training 1 could break the present world’s record.” Bellah iearned to pole vault under n?..uomton at Stanford university. F tended Stanford for three years, {aking an engineering Jourae. #Pole vaulting requires great musc 1arity in the arms, shoulders and back,” AFTER RECORD explained Bellah, when asked for the reason for his success. “It likewise re- quires good leg muscles for the pri- mary spring off the ground. Once in the air the shoulders and arms bear the burden. “The chief regret of my vaulting days is that I was unable to do myself jus- tice at the Stockholm Olymplc games. I was in wonderful form then, and, ex- cept for an injury to one of my legs going over on the boat, I feel sure I could have won at least second place. Babcock, the 'winner, cleared 12 feet 11% inches or thereabouts, and I might not have gone that high. Wright, the world’s record holder, went 12 feet 7, and I know I could have bettered that.” Bellah has mads his home in Port- land for four years. Last winter, In the Columbia indoor meet, Sam established a world’s in- door record of 12 feet 7% inches. In addition to being a pole vaulter, Bel- lah is a broad jumper, a javelin throw- er and hammer tosser. He intends to cut out all these side events next year for a supreme attempt to break Wright's world's mark. —BT);er .Loses Money by Early Knockout Y IBR O’MALLRY, the Toledo emtherweight, tells this yarn: “A few years ugo I landed up In Prince Rupert, a town in British Co- jambia. The manager of one of the clubs there asked me if I wanted to ‘aght twelve rounds with some Cana- dian battler. *““Yeos,’ I sald. “What do I get for it? «sPwenty-five dollars for a twelve ou fight is the best I can give you,” sald the manager. “Well, I'd been getting $300 to $600 for my fights through that section, but 1 decided that $26 was $25. “T knocked out the other fellow in the first round. After the show was over 1 hunted up the manager. ) #'Td Uke to have my money,’ I told him. “‘Oh, sure, he said, and he hands me one dollar bills and a dime. %nt- the matter here? 1 asked. ks Lo get $25 and you're giving me only $2.10. « #rhat's all right, ain't it? he an- ;1 asld. Tm $33.90 : . k- T i Al T T '*fl-fl';«"}w}rf"’i’;’"fl]{"‘ P A, I M"m" e shy and don't you forget it, lad!” “‘You're getting all that's coming to you,’ returned the manager. ‘The agreement was for you to box twelve rounds for $25. That's an average of about $2.10 per round, ain’t it? You knocked that guy out in the first and 80 you get paid only for the time you worked-—one round.’ " PITCHER DEMAREE LOOKS AFTER HIS FRIENDS. FITCHBUBG, MASS,, is the home of Pat Moran, leader of the Phillies. ‘When the Phillies recently played in Fitchburg nearly the whole town jour- neyed there for the purpose of “whoop- ing "er up” for Pat and his squad. Just before the game Pat saw Pitcher Al Demaree at a writing desk in the hotel writing on a telegraph blank. “Whatcha doin’?” queried Patrick. “Oh, I'm just wiring to a burglar friend of mine in New York,” answered Al telling him Fitchburg is de- serted and if bhe hustles up he can folks zoturn” MICHIGAN GETS PONTIUS. OACH DOUGLASS of the Univer- sity of Michigan treshman football squad announces that among the prom- g gridiron performers to enter Michigan this fall will be a brother of Brute Pontins The younger Pontius is only seven- teen years of age and now weighs 180 pounds, with room for 200 as soon as he grows a bit older. He is a fullback and was given that place on the Ohio all state prep school eleven last fall. Douglass also expects a recruit from the Oak park team at Chicago, made famous by Coach Zuppke of Illinois. This lad is a back and comes with a big reputation. HARVARD'S PITCHING JOR drilling pitchers and teaching them control, as well as for trying out new material, the coach of Har- vard’s baseball team developed a pitching box which proved useful dur- ing training season. The device con- sists of a large canvas and board box, approximately six feet in height and two feet in depth. In the middle of the front side is a rectangular hole three feet by two feet, while within the box, against the back wall, is a red flannel bullseye one foot in diame- ter. MACHINE When In use the box is placed at a distance from the pitcher's mound which corresponds to the home plate. To hit the bullseye is in this instance the thing to be avoided. The pitcher must throw a curve which breaks quickly, so that the ball, after enter- ing the hole, does not strike the red flannel. This readily shows the pitch- er, and his coach as well, what he can do. It also does away with all argu- ments on the part of young pitchers, who often accuse a catcher of reaching forward and pulling a ball away from the plate. WHY YOUNG PLAYERS FAIL. HE greatest enemy of the young ball player is nervousness. Many a youngster of promise coming up from the minors ruins his chances by “aero- planing” when he finds himself lined up against players of experience. The bést way for a player to succeed is to try to forget that he is up in the big show and put his whole mind on the ball game. If he can fail to see the huge stands and the big crowd and just remember that he Is playing a game of ball and trying to do his part toward winning it he will surely suc- ceed if he has the ability. The player who is doing everything to win is the lad who catches the manager’s eye. Photos by American Press Association. GIRLS TAKE PLACES OF MEN IN CRICKET MATCHES IN S their American cousins indulge in the national game of baseball occasionally, so the girls of the British isles indulge in the English pastime of cricket. At a girls’ school in Scotland cricket is just now the most popular sport. The players wear costumes which are adapted to the needs of the game, and yet, as can be seen from the photograph, by no means deprive the wearers of their feminine charms. HE town of Cannonsburg, Pa., boasts of the oldest baseball pitch er in the world. He's sixty-eight, and his name i{s William C. Bedillion. A week or so ago he was watching a game between a visiting club and mills. with which he is connected. opposition was hitting the McConnell pitcher all over the lot. “Why don’t ¥ou put in another pitch- burglarize the whole town before the ! er?" asked Bedillion of his manager. “Aln’t got any,” was the answer. the team representing the McConnell |the pitching chores. The |er amazement SCORING STOPPED BY OLDEST PITCHER| “Well, you've got one now,” said Be- dillion, peeling off his coat, vest and other outside rigging. *“And this pitch- er's name is Bedillion.” To the amazement of the crowd, Be- dillion went to the box and took up And to the great- of the assemblage B dillion pitched three full inning struck out four men, passed one batter, hit another, but did not allow a hit. Bedillion was a star player in his youth. P by oy A ~ “CHARLEY HORSE" IS EXPLAINED UST what a “Charley horse” is lots of people do not know, nor why its name, save it is known it causes ath- letes woe. It is a knotted muscle in the leg of an athlete, especially one who chases flies and is active on his Sometimes it stays but a brief again it's there for weeks. It makes the athlete suffer, and relief he often seeks. The trainer rubs the horse each day With liniment quite hot. but often it has no effect upon the pesky knot, PO TRy S GRS ST e S Y Mythology Informed us that the winged steed of the air when captured by Bellerophon, the gay and debonair, and then was tamed and conquered and his rider meekly bore upon the earth or at command into the clouds would soar, was questioned thus, “Old hoss, you have an alibj, of course, for being tamed?” Pegasus neighed, “1 had a Charley horse.” The man who finished last. when the first Marathon Cobb Can't Hit Johnson Very Often JCVER since Walter Johnson cami into the American league he h: been a thorn In the side of Ty Calb. These two athletes are .eonside the greatest ball players fié the circull dominated by Ban Johnson—that is, § thelr respective positions. Cobb's ord proves conclusively that he s th champion batsman of his league and for that matter, the whole world. Cobb has had splendid success as batsman against all the pitchers of th American league save W. Johnsol The “Georgia Peach” has mauled th curves of about every pitcher in th league, slammed them .almost at will He has fattened his batting ave off the pitching of that mighty m: trom faroff Minnesota, Chief Bender, and hit the terrific crossfire of thi great Edward Plank. The foxy Plank has been a sore puzzle to the most ex- pert of left handed batsmen of the American league, but he falled to pus- zle the great Cobb. Just one pitcher has held the whip) hand over the demon batsman—only one. When this tall lad, known as the | “Idaho Wonder,” began operations |against Ty Cobb back in August of 1907 he was as green as New MOWN hay, and his very first time in the big lezgue was against the Detroit Tigera |ana Ty Cobb. In three times at bat Cobb. fafled &0 | make a hit. In fact Johnson only ale | lowed the lad from Georgia foun hits | in the first twenty-four times. a& bat. | This was rather discouraging, 4o.Lthe gentleman from Royston, Ga.. and he has had a rather discouraging time of it ever since, for Johnson been 8 hard proposition for Cobb to solve ONE OF FEDS' PITCHERS. JEDPDIE PLANK, although in his for- i PLANK BEST ty-first summer, is having one of the best seasons of his career. Hia record, made with the St. Louis Feds | after he was released outright by Con- | nie Mack, is one that any hurler halt his age might well be proud of. Plank has pitched 14¢ innings and allowed thirty-four runs, an average of 2.07 runs per game. That includes runs scored on errors, tallles over which the veteran flinger had no control His average based on earned runs is less than two a game Plank’s average Is the best In the Federal league, despite the tight pitch- ing at times of Gene Packard and Nick Cullop of Kansas City, George McCom= nell, Claude Hendrix and Miner Brown of Chicago. Plank has worked three shutouts ond pitched four three-hit games. One of the whitewashes was against Chicago, in which Tinker's men secured only one safety off the old fellow's delivery. Plank has pitched three nine-inning games In which he did not pass a bat- ter. In his 149 Innings he has held op- ponents to ninety-eight hits &n av- erage of a fraction more than five & game. Plank’s record is better than some he made with the pennant winning Ath- lectics. That, of course, does not mean he is a better pitcher, because the Federal league does not contain the same class. The record does show, though, that Plank is still quite a huri- er. and at forty-one is doing better than pitchers who have the advantage of youth and strength. SHAW WORTHY PARTNER OF WALTER JOHNSON. QHAW of ihe Washington American " eague team I8 one of the most de- pendable twirlers In the league. He Ia was run likewise had a Charley horse, he sald, or he'd have won Py P G W a worthy co-laborer of the great Wale tar Tohnson B — P oy .