Buying Baseball Pitchers Proves a Lottery Says Draft
The article notes many athletes are declared unfit for service and that teams have paid large sums for pitchers only to see mixed results. It cites Earl Craddock Tommy Gibbons Heinie Groh and others as examples and references Grover Cleveland Alexander and Marty O Toole to illustrate the unpredictable outcome of buying hurlers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Earl Craddock
Tommy Gibbons
Heinié Groh
Samuel
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Philadelphia Nationals
Syracuse
Phillies
Pittsburgh
Marty O'Toole
St. Paul
Alexander
O'Toole
Umpire Advice Aided Ehmke Career At Detroit
Former Federal League umpire Bill Brennan says his warning against the emery ball helped Detroit pitcher Howard Ehmke develop faster. Brennan recalls spotting Ehmke experimenting with the grip and delivery and urged him to abandon the illegal method. Ehmke then refined his repertoire and thrived for the Tigers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Howard Ehmke
Detroit
Emery
Bill Brennan
Detroit Americans
Ehmke
Brennan
Joe Higgins Emerges as Possible Mel Sheppard Successor
Joe Higgins, noted middle distance runner of the Irish American Athletic Club of New York, trained at Holy Cross and hailed as a potential successor to Mel Sheppard in the mile and 1500 yard events. Higgins has not decided whether to stick to the mile and 1500 yard or relocate his focus.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mel Sheppard
Joe Higgins
Higgins
Keeps Away From Umpires Hughie Jennings Stays Calm
Hughie Jennings spends much of his time on the coaching lines and avoids trouble with umpires. In a recent game he accepted two close calls without protest. He expects the same from his players and even called one to order for kicking after an umpire’s tight decision. Jennings believes kicking never pays.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hughie Jennings
Jennings
Hughie
Browns Sign Tei Murray and Molymeaux As Coaches
Scout George Davis recommends Tei Murray captain of Trinity College to the St. Louis Browns. Murray is an in fielder and a heavy hitter. Davis also signed pitcher Molymeaux who has gone west with the Browns. Davis joins the team as coach and recalls the 1906 White Sox championship under Jones.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George Davis
St. Louis Browns
Tei Murray
Trinity College
Murray
Davis
Molymeaux
Browns
St. Louis
Chicago White Sox
Jones
Army Navy game likely canceled for war effort
Secretary of War Newton D Baker opposes the annual Army Navy football contest this year. He says West Point and Annapolis should focus energy on wartime training and rapid graduation, not athletics, even to raise a war fund.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Newton D. Baker
Baker
Daniels
Col. Palmer Pierce
National Collegiate Athletic Association
West Point
Annapolis
Ray Caldwell in Outfield For Yankees Precedent
The text notes Ray Caldwell shifting to the outfield as a precedent for the Yankees following pitchers who moved to the outfield. It compares Caldwell to Elmer Smith Jimmy Ryan Cy Seymour Mike Donlin Dave Robertson Harry Walter and Walter Thornton highlighting Caldwell as a natural hitter and fast fielder.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Yankees
Ray Caldwell
Elmer Smith
Jimmy Ryan
Cy Seymour
Mike Donlin
Dave Robertson
Harry Walter
Walter Thornton
Cauldwell
Fohl Calls For Three Umpires In Every Game
Cleveland manager Lee Fohl endorses a three-umpire system saying it is far ahead of the two-umpire arrangement and would improve officiating. He notes he has seen enough of the three-umpire setup this year to support its use in all games.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lee Fohl
Cleveland
Freakiest Play of the Season Sparks Baseball Banter
In St Louis and Philadelphia antics unfold as Reds and Pirates clash. Rousch on first to second baserunning confusion ends with Kopf on third, Tony anchored, and Paulette tagging Kopf for an out while Rousch scores. Fans question Evers dismissal and umpire Rigler’s calls amid season’s quirkiest moments.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Louis
Rousch
Reds
Paulette
Kopf
Fred Tony
Philadelphia
Johnny Evers
Pat Moran
Rigler
Jacobs
Pirates
Evers
Johnny
Jake
Batters Delay Games With Excessive Box Steps
Umpires are urged to address a rising habit where batters step out of the batter's box for little or no reason. The practice slows play, often sparked by a pitcher’s slight hesitation, and is described as childish and petty.
Bowlers Accept Cincinnati for 1918 Congress Tournament
Cincinnati has accepted the invitation to host the 1918 American Bowling Congress tournament. The event will occur in February or March. A. L. Langtry of Milwaukee, secretary of the congress, telegraphed alley owners that he is optimistic for a successful journey despite the war.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Langtry
Cincinnati
American Bowling Congress
A. L. Langtry
Milwaukee
Congress
Alley Owners’association
Tank Town Homer Stopped By Water Tank Putout
Tex Jones recalls a Western league game where a batter hit a ball into an open water tank behind center field. The center fielder climbed a ladder, retrieved the ball from the surface, and threw home for a close tag, with the umpire ruling the play fair since the ball never touched the ground.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tex Jones
White Sox
Physical Weak Spots for Baseball Players
The army tests reveal many players suffer athletic heart, barring enlistment. Over twenty five show trouble. many have broken toes and limbs, crooked elbows, torn ligaments, and other ailments. Eyesight remains most reliable, as flat feet and bunions from baseball shoes are common issues.
Coombs and Burns Name Each Other Toughest To Face
Brooklyn pitcher Jack Coombs says George Burns of the Giants is the hardest batter to fool as he rarely strikes at bad balls. Burns replies that Jack Coombs is the easiest pitcher to hit. Both players praise the others’ skill and difficulty.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jack Coombs
George Burns
Brooklyn
Giants
Coombs
Burns
Also Mentioned on This Page
Tesreau
Robertson
Holke
Rariden
Fletcher
Onslow
Wilhoit
Schupp
Demaree
Rallee
John McGraw
Perritt
Joe. Higgins
Army-Navy
Yankee
Fohl
Clevelander
Williams
F. Collins
Risberg
Faber
Gandil
Hasbrook
Jourdan
Jackson
Byrne
Leibold
Lynn
Cicotte
Weaver
Felseh
Schalk
Russell
Clarence Rowland
Danforth
McMullen
Murphy
Benz
Scott
J. Collins
Wolfgang
Jenkins
Fielder
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