rJ?T
12
t
EVENING HEDGES
PHICA-PEEPFT-A THURSDAY, aTTflTTST,
12, 1915:
PHILLIES NOT THI
NKING-IOT PENNlNFciAS
MANAGER MOHAN STILL REFUSES'
TO ALLOW THOUGHTS OP PENNANT
Although Phillies Arc Leading League and Need Some
thing to Spur Them on, Peerless Pat Says it is
rToo Early to Think of Flag1
Which is tho beat Why to breed Jim spirit that cnrrlca a team to a baseball
championship? This Is ft questloh of great Importance from a local standpoint
at the present time,, nnd It Is n matter of much discussion whether Manager
Moron Is adopting tho proper courso In refusing to Allow his players to talK
about tho pennnht. Moran himself Is willing to talk about anything under tho
sun but tho Phillies chances, and, whllo ho probably Is correct In not making
n. lot of foolish predictions, It Is a question whether his nttltudo Improves tho
Kplrlt and eonfldenco of the players.
Last season George Stnlllngs won tho pennant with tho Braves because no
convinced a lot of misfits that they wcro tho greatest team In tho country.
No team ever showed greater confidence than tho Braves throughout tho cham
pionship race and during tho world's scries. Stnlllngs says this was duo
entirely to tho fact that ho had kidded tho players Into believing they had a
great team, with a clmnco for the pennant, and tho men went out and won It.
Thero Is no denying tho fact that confldonco Is half tho battlo In athlotlcs
of any sort, and It muBt also bo adlmttcd that ovcrconfldcnco Is tho greatest
handicap to a team. Thero Is n happy medium, but Manager Moran Is
evidently afraid of overstepping tho mark.
Now Is the Time to Get Pennant Spirit
Ask any Phllly player or Manager Moran what ho thinks about tho pennant
raco and ho will hand out tho rcmarkablo Information that "wo havo a.
chance." Any tlmo a ball team Btays out In front as well as tho Phillies havo
through a gruelling race, and has such powerful pitching, It decidedly must
havo a chnnco to win. Tho stngo has been reached where tho National Leaguo
team that gets tho Idea that It can't nnd won't bo beaten, will go out In front
and eventually win out, and tho fans hopo to seo ho Phillies get that spirit.
Worry has lost many pennants in tho past, and Manager Moran is probably
trying to guard against this -in his policy of discouraging any pennant tall:
Among his men. Defeats havo a bad effect on a team that Is thinking too much
obcilt tho pennant; but, on tho other hand, a team that gets tho Idea, that It
has something on Its opponents, will not err at critical stages as often as ono
which Is thinking too much of tho gama at hand.
MOVIE OF A MAN" CLOSING A SUITCASE
Moran Well Satisfied But Not Too Confident
Manager Moran declares that ho Is woll satisfied to have como back homo
In first place, but laments tho fact that tho team has been In a batting slump.
A great Improvement in hitting was- shown In Cincinnati, and with plenty of
morning batting practice, starting today, tho Phillies should soon bo out of
their slump. Lack of batting In tho pinches caused many brilliantly pitched
games on tho trip to go to waste. This prevented tho Phillies from gaining a.
lend In tho race that, "could hardly bo overcome, unless tho pitchers Bhould
suddnnly crack, and It Is hardly likely thoy will break now.
"What do I think of our pennant chnnccs? Well, wo aro not thinking
of tho pennant just yet, Tho boys aro In thero fighting for each game, and I
don't 'want them thinking about tho pennant. It Is too early to predict
anything. Wo havo a mighty good chance, and that's about all I caro to say
About It. Wo had a hard trip, but not a poor one, and I am greatly pleased that
We CAmo back In first place.
"Wo won six games and lost nine. True, wo should havo won more, but
tho boys foil of in tholr work after striking a hot spell in St. Louis. All of
them wero affected, mora or less, by tho heat at St. Louis, and this showed In
our gumes at Chicago and Pittsburgh.
.
Booted Easy Games Away "
"Wo booted some of the games away, and others, especially tho threo that
Alexander lost, would havo been won If the boys had hit at their naturnl
speed. There Is no sign of 'tho players going stale. Wo aro still fit to put
tip c good fight. v
"Homo looks good to all of us Just now, nnd wo aro ready for tho Braves
wi-tn they land hero tomorrow. The playcro need a lot of batting practice.
Now they can get all of this that they require Thoy will also havo tho benefit
of fielding practfeo at homo, and this 'should servo to steady down the team
and inako It easle? for tho pitchers."
Charley Hnll Making Remarkable "Come-back"
Perhaps tho greatest of baseball "comB.-back" Js being Btaged by Charley
Hall, the former Boston American hurlcr, who is now with the St. Paul team
of tho American 'Association. Coombs, Wood nnd others are termed "come
backs," but their feats do not compare with that of Hall, because the latter is
nn older man nnd ono who was counted down and out. Hall pitched grand ball
for the Red Sox n 1912 nnd did much toward winning tho pennant for McAleer
nnd Stahl, but in doing so injured his arm and was roleased In tho middle of tho
following season.. ,
Hall went to St. Paul, believing his pitching days wero over, and ho played
In the outfield for tho rest of tho season. In 1914 he tried his hand at pitch
ing but had llttlo success, A complete rest was the only euro for his ailment
and ho twirled but llttlo until this spring. Hnll announced in the spring that
his arm was "better than It had beon In years, but It was generally believed that
ho was overestimating his ability. Starting back In May, Hall has burned up
the American Association nnd registered his 14th consecutive victory when he
beat Don Tipple, of Indianapolis, in a pitching duel on Tuesday. If thero has
ever been a more remarkable "come-back'' than this It has never been brought
to tho attention of tho public. Hall's record Is all tho moro remarkable because
of the number of shut-out and few-hit garnes that havo been Included In. the
streak.
The Marsans Case Is Baseball's Greatest Joke
The announcement that Marsans, the Cuban outfielder who Jumped tho
Reds for tho St. Louis Beds and was restrained from playing by the courts,
had asked tho court to dissolve the Injunction hnrdly caused a stir in baseball
circles. This is another evidence of tho fickleness of the public and how soon
star players nro forgotten. Two years ago Marsans was considered tho very
best outfielder in. the National League, but after being kept out of baseball for
over a year, he Is almost forgotten entirely.
The Marsans case Is the greatest Joko of baseball. If tho Cincinnati Club
Is finally awardctl his services by the courts they are compelled to pay tho St.
Louis Federal Leaguo Club all tho money It has advanced to Marsans and his
salary for the two seasons, If tho St. Louis Feds win, they must stand for
Marsans' large contract, though ho has been unable to play a Blnglo game.
Marsans would be valuable trading material for tho Itcds, but thero is not a
chance of him ever playing in that city again and perhaps fiarry Herrmann is
secretly hoping that tho case, is lost.
j Texas Circuit Tries to Boost McDonald, a HaB-Been
The Houston Texas Leaguo club insists that It has sold Third Baseman Mal
colm McDonald to tho Athletics, but Manager Mack knows nothing about it.
Just why the Athletics bhould want McDonald la a mystery, as It is not Maqk'a
policy to use veterans to build up a team.
McDonald has had three chances to moke good In tho major leagues, but
has failed dismally each time. Ho was with the Cardinals in 1810, having been
purchased from Shreveport. and was with the Dodgers and Braves In 19H. Ho
was always known as a hard hitter but a poor fielder. At tho present time ho is
batting under .280 in a Class B minor league, and it is difficult to see where he
Would fit into Mack's plans. McDonald Is nearly 30 years of age,
Jack Barry Day will be celebrated at Shibe Park on September 1, when the
Red Sox appear here. Thero have been Cobb, Collins and Murphy Days at
Bhlbe Park this season, but Barry Day will outclass them all. becauso there has
never been a more popular player In this city than Jack Barry. Cobb Is Idolized
for his. spectacular playing ability, Collins for his value to the Mackmen In
their pennant-winning days and Murphy had his own following, but Barry has
nlwaya stood abova all others In tho eyes of the fans. Barry Is a credit to
thei game and it Is likely that the fans will provo his popularity by filling Shlbe
5ark for th firet and last tlmo this season.
Halo & XUburo's teamv which haa been making a record this season
has two youngsters who wU bear watching. They are Pitcher Haas and First
Raseman Dixon, Haa. shut out Bleetric Storage without a hit and struck out
14 men on Saturday wh,U tolxon pounded out five hjts. Including a triple and
a double In the sain sarge. - v
ii rsi m -N v n J Ynm 1KX
W6LL- I OUESS - 1 CAM'T ffllMK OF "J2E,N ' ' .
TmaT'S all SNVTVliMG MORE" "& FLO" j
almost" BEST CA" IIJJZ &TK T T" PUT "
AUJ CATCM The My .jjpgss SU,T
TRMW
. I ' ' ' '
John Henry Merry, mnnnirer of tho Dudes,
la accosted by a etranKer who nnys t
i name la Abner Abercromble .loalpr. Str.
Zlegler ta the ujllmt man on record, vnlh
an Inhuman, horne-llko face. Merry la a
jema (port, nnd Unite him to alt down
Heeler confesses that ho haa never played
ball, but aya he dreamed that he'd play
for the Dudea. Merry accepts nitn na
Joko and flta him out with n uniform At
a critical point Z'euler prodlcta tho out
come of tho en mo and Reta It rlaht.
Merry claya a Joke on Zlexler. telling him
to pet hla transportation and take the next
train with the team. A week later Zlealer
arrlvea unkempt and hnggnrd, but ready to
play Seeing that the poor flan la game.
Merry takes him on
(Copyright. 1011', by Street & Smith)
Then almost at once things began to
happen which convinced tho most skep
tical of the Dudes that tho club had
really found a mascot who was a mascot.
Ball players are superstition folk.
They bellove In Jinxes and lucky signs
and cross-eyed women and hunchbacks
and all sorts ot things. There Is ono
big hitter, at present In tho game, who
would walk a mile rather thnn meet a
cross-eyed woman; thero Is hnothcr who
FOOLISH AS A FOX
A Real Mascot for the Duc'es Major Boots Warms Up
Quite Frequently He Gets Into a Game at Last -and
Pitches One Inning A Hummer
By CHARLES E. VAN LOAN
Tho World's Moat Famous Writer of naaebalt Fiction.
park, nnd Johnny bought him a suit of
clothes, but tho major still retained his
Ill-fitting uniform. In the (mornings,
when certain members of tho team prac
ticed at tho park, Hamilton took It upon
himself to teach tho major the fall-away
slide, a very exacting performance for a
wcll-trnlncd athlete, and for Zlegler, with
his tremendous height and length of limb,
a verltablo crucifixion.
"You see, maje," explained Hamilton,
"It's this way: Baseball ain't all pitching
and hlttlnp. Tou'vo got to Do able to get
around tho bases, and you can't do It
unless you loam this slide. Now, try It
ngnln, and hit tho ground a llttlo bit
harder, Tou're doing fine."
Zlegler continued to "hit the ground"
until ho waB black and bluo from kneo to
shoulder. He practiced tho fall-away
slldo as he practiced everything else
painstakingly, earnestly, and with all his
might. Serious Injury might havo re
suited had not Johnny Merry put a stop
to Hamilton's comedy.
"You let tho major alono," sftld the
manager. "You want to get him laid up?
He may be crazy, and all that, but he's
harmless, and he's brought us luck, and
I nln't going to have a lot of mutts like
you give him the worst of It I Do you
get me?"
After a time, the major began gently
Insisting thnt he bo given his tum in the
box. Merry suavely explained that ho
was saving him for some big game some
game which ho really felt he had to win.
"There's no hurry," he said. "Just keep
your arm In shape, and practice that slow
ball of jours. It's a peach."
As a matter of fact, tho continued prac
tlco was having Its effect. The major had
developed a slow outcurve the easiest
curve ball to throw and there were times
when he could split the plate with It.
Tho Dudes continued their winning
streak; their luck held long enough to
carry them out In front In August, nnd
the pennant Beemed theirs boyond any
reasonable doubt. Tho major continued
to clamor for his chance in tho box, and
at last he got It but It was in a game
which was hopelessly lost nt the begin
ning of the ninth, by a score something
like 12 to 3, The opposition had devel
oped a terrific batting streak, hammer
ing the ball to all corners of the lot, and
the fans Jeered, sarcastically,
"This game is a Joke!" said Merry,
with disgust. "That being the case, we'll
mako It a good one,"
A little later he signaled Zlegler, and
the major ambled over and sat down by
the manager, very proud of the second
hand white uniform which he had re
ceived after sliding through tho first col
lection of misfits.
"You're going to pitch the ninth In
nlng,' said Merry. "Get out there and
show 'em that slow ball of yours."
Johnny had expected som sort of a
remonstrance from Zlesler-isome com
plaint at being sent Into the box with
such overwhelming odds against him.
Nothing of the sort. Tho major at once
began to peel oft his sweater, his face
wreathed in smiles.
There were only a few disgruntled fans
remaining In the grandstand when Urn
plre McGeo whipped oft his mask and
bellowed the announcement;
"Zlegler now pltchlngl Zleglerl"
The runways leading out of the park
"Zefgler now pitching Zefgler."
elects berth No. 11 In a sleeping car,
ana win navo no otner. Tliere is a
great manager who once threatened to
fine members of his team for singing
"Casey Jones," regarding the same as
a most malignant Jinx. And as ball
players believe In bad luck, so they be
lieve in good things and the things which
bring It. On the day when Major Boots
rejoined the team, the Dudes won out
In the flfthlnnlng, sewing up the game
with a succession ot hits and once more
the laconic Zlegler "called the turn."
By the time the Dudes had won five
straight, no man could have convinced
them that Abner Abercromble Zlegler
was not a mascot above all other mas
cots, and the Jinx dispenser extraor
dinary. "He works both waysl" said Biff 13 o
hannon, the catcher, "He's good luck
for us, and he's poison to the other fel
lows. He puts the sign on 'em, I tell
your
As might have been expected. Major
Hoots made a terrlflo hit In the home
town. The newspapers took him up and
made much of him. The fans watched
his awkward attempts to copy the pe
culiarities of the team's pitchers, and
howled wjth delight at his serious atti
tude and demeanor. He was interviewed
by the representatives of the press, and
photographed in a thousand poses, When
ever he talked for publication, Zlegler
always Insisted gravely and with all
earnestness that he had come Bast to
pitch for John Merry, and Johnny helped
the Joke along by encouraging Major
Boots to "warm up" before every game)
and after every game one of the assist
ant masseurs gave Zlegler a rubdown,
using a preparation wblch would have
burned holes In rhtnoceroua hide.
, He lived at a email hotel near the ball 1
were choked with the back nf rti.ir,,..
patrons, but at the yell which went up
from the remaining handful these de
Bert era paused, recognized the tremen.
d.0Jf51bulJc.of.Ab,ier Abercromble Zlegler
striding into the diamond, and then, with
Joyous yells, scurried back to their seats
The bug was going to pitch, after alll
There followed 10 minutes of delirious
c-nedy-the sort of a spectacle seldom
seen on any diamond. The opposition
team entered. Into the spirit of the thing,
and helped It along. Man after man
bunted that slow curve straight down
toward the pitcher, box. and Abner
Abercromble threw the ball all over the
park In his anxiety to head oft base
runners. At last the side was out and
the comedy was over. The opposition
had secured four more runs which were
totally unnecessary.
(CONTINUED TOMOIIROW.)
WHAT MAY HAPPEN
IN BASEBALL TODAY
NATIONAL I.IIAGTJK
Won. I.oat. Pet. Win. oe.
rhllllcs na in .nit
nrooklyn fin 40 .R!9
Plttalnirgh fil 40 .RIO .SIR JUKI
Clllcngo ....' SI 4D .R10 .R15 .503
Boston S2 R0 .RIO
New York 40 4R .ftOI .RIO .500
Nt. IrfHll 40 Rft .1(17 .173 .40!
Cincinnati 43 67 .430
AMEIUCAN LEAGUE
Won. I.ot. Prt. W In. Lour.
Iloston (1.1 3.1 .fl.V) .053 .044
Detroit 01 SO .031 .MS .015
Chlrnun 03 40 ,00H .013 .003
Washington Rl 49 .R34 .R3D .RIO
New York 40 49 .500 .5AK .49S
Kt. Lnuls 40 03 .380 .301 .385
Cleveland .18 01 .384 .390 .380
Athletics 33 69 .334 .330 .330
FEDKnAL LEAGUE
Won. Lost. Pet. Win. Lose.
Knnsna City 58 45 .303 .507 .518
Clllonco 58 45 .503 .507 .538
Newark 57 41 .5.19 .50.1 .553
Plttsburch 50 45 .5.14 .559 .519
St. Louis R0 47 .514 .518 .518
Ilrooklyn 47 00 .139 .444 .43.1
Ilnrralo 47 01 .435 .440 .431
llnlllmorp 30 67 .350 .350 .310
Not scheduled.
LOCAL HOUSES WIN HONORS
Capture Events at Flcmington.
Breeder to Hold Meeting
Local-owned horses wero tho class at
tho opening day's fair races at Fleming
ton, N. J Tuesday. Joker D. Lake trot
ted to victory In the 2:30 class In threo
straight heats, 2:194, 2:20, 2:20, and
King Wilkes had the footing In the 2:30
pace. Winona showed tho way in tho
initial heat, but the next threo heats went
to King Wilks.
A special breeders' meeting will bo held
next Saturday at Narberth, Pn and
from early reports, many colts and fillies
will go after marks
$25,000 IN STAKES
FOR LAUREL MEET
Plans Already Laid for Fall
Races at Popular Maryland
Track
At Laurel Park, Md the sum of J25.000
has been set aside for t'no stakes and
early closing handicaps, which will bo
run off at tho Laurel meeting October 1
to 30, inclusive. Thero will bo six stakes
and handicaps for 3-year-olds and upward
at distances ranging from 11-16 miles to
14 miles; thero will bo two handicaps
exclusively for, 3-year-olds, ono of hlch
Is at six furlongs and tho other at 1 1-16
mllps; there will be five -handicaps at
vnrloua distances for all ages, whllo
thero will be four fixtures for 2-year-olds
at from 5, furlongs and up to a mile.
It may"bo safely said that no meeting
In tho country meets with moro pop
ular favor than tho session In October at
the pretty plant In Laurel. This not alono
is proved by horsemen who have raced
their charges ovor this Maryland courso
in previous seasons, but is attested by
the growing patronage seen during tho
lost two years.
Various reasons may be assigned for
these conditions, principally niriong which
Is the flrst-claas entertainment provided
for patrons of tho sport nnd tho
open and above board treatment accorded
horsemen by tho management. Though
It has been only a few days since the
stake blanks were first distributed among
horsemen, tho nominations havo been of
tho most liberal sort and embrace tho
names of every thoroughbred of quality
In America.
LOUGHREYWILLBOj
WITH JACK M'CAREl
AT NATIONAL AK
Ttrnnnvmilrni Wi4,. x v.
....j ....v-. iruwi wjjfiij
of Sen Legs Date m
Be Set for Second We
In September,
MEET AT 158 Pqi
Star Lightweight Bouts ni 3.
Club Five Thou' to Back Ktffl
man Agninsl Williams
Krank Loughrey, Just back W
Journ to Australln. will mni v.j
nppcaranco In a Philadelphia rurfW
National A. C. probably tho ,.5S
H CnAW.1.M T-l- i ""llll
,11 uKiuim, mun jucuarron
town's aspirant for middleweight '
will Iia nnnnnnrl in ttin ftf...-. .V
ew.;.. mi :::. r . "."" y
"v' "" """ " "" puumis rinji
jjougnrey acciarca that he did 1
to appear in any contests for at
month, as ho still felt tho rr.J!
ocean voyago. Ho has started
lnary training, and as soon as ha I
for ring action Frank will Uks
Carron.
An effort was made to muli-h rJ
nHMi Tnn Tlnriwtl K..f .. ..' """iB'
not consider It unless ho was VKi
Jnck Hanlon Is negotiating for'
star lightweight matches. i,.'
Reynolds vs. Charley Tliomnn t-Jc?!
Androws vs. Johnny Nelnnn , ,M
Murphy vs. Walter Mohr for tha mill
Olympla show August SO. -91
An effort will bo made by Mugrll
lor this senson to fofco ChamWiSSI
Williams Into u, match with Bcnny-ffil
man. Jfe says ho can get btcklSI
fcOOO to go as a forfeit for aDn2s!
weight and n, sldo feet for a 20-rowrfSl
nf 11ft nnllnilD "'JJBq
Kid Williams Is vacationing atagi'
Followers of Frnnkio White am nSfl
to sco the Llttlo Italy favorite la IS
with Bobby Reynolds again. Ptn
loy, Whlto's manager, is dickering
return iato. ja
Heavyweight Champion Jess mS,
"" " 'v- "" "" csi Bnoirt
bo tho attraction in Camden th Q;
purl, oi luo luuiiui.
T w. .. 1 U-., . . . -
x'ltiiiiiiuia iiuiu ajiuum noi DO BurpHw I
10 receive cans irom Jiiss ilanilj
Iloag, or rather Manager Miss Hoagjjj
urrungva uitiiuuvH lur ner Droiner, Giri
Marshall. Sho contemplates boefei
Benny Palmer, Mexican light
win book mazuma ana matches Mjea
city In the 'near future. His bImk
Joo Levy, who handled Joo Rlve-Jlv
pects to bring Palmer here. J&
Within three months, Joe" Smj5
nctor-boxcr, will be ready for honfiSB
,I11 nlaVi l.ln lt.nnl.lnnl ..... -. 1
..... .....at. ...o b..bu.,,bM .umitt(;tiG;
wceK ana men joo win mo nim3(l
tho Maino woods, whers he will rot;
until about October. a
Terry McGovcrn. one-tima feit!
weight champion, wnnts ta be a rttm
His namo la up before the Nfw
Boxing Commission board for a
man Job.
VICTRIX GAME ON SATURMl
i
Schjighter to .Pitch jn ContesJ Vij
vjiutun neignis toi
Manager John Weeks, of the Vktrt!
Club, announces that Vic Schllchtcrg
pitched such sensational ball last jwl
will oppose Frank Poth's Clifton He!
boys when they meet Saturday afttn
nt Vlctrlx Park. CSth street and HayeSiS
avenue. Schllchter, who was forffleJrj
with tho Athletics, has proved a wjft'
wind this season. jfi
ECONOMY
IN MAINTENANCE
further commends the new
" mm
KnnwWffAv ,WWM49
i wiJN-six:
Because of perfect combustion, it twelve
cylinder motor yields a greater mileage
per gallon of gasoline than previously has
been expected from cars of corresponding
capacity and power.
Because of itsperfect mechanical balance,
and its smooth flow of full-bodied power)
,nP-Lra-,0niW freef aPPciable stress
resulting in a longer life for all moving parts
C?nit3uentJy "duced repair bilk anci
a greater tire mileage.
Boll, "Walnut SOOfe 1
y sfsr
A BAT ! J
EVENING LEDGER MOVIES--SOMBHOW, CHAWLES, TIjOSE ATHLETICS CAN ETOJtJJlY
I JAUS7
.hawa bat
WHALE THE BALL, BUT TOATiriiljSEf
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VVV"S X I ;i PW - ----. -y uii.1 i M a rtlw I . N. HaA A UnuinAr - rr
brick-bat!
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