The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-23
AND GOSSIP OF
THE WEEK IN BASEBALL.

FOR rHr SUNDAY PCB
] Developments in the st. Louis club in the
I last week have not been OF an unexpected
character at all. Bert Jones won a game.
Inat In itself. was a surprise but the
southpaw has been due for several weeks.
Harper blew up in ono inning at PhiIadel-
phia. and now the pessimistic are shouting
that the brilliant young twtrler has ruined
himself with overwork this spring. They
seem to overlook the fact that Harper was
relieved in nearly every ono Of his Eastern
games during the first invasion made by the
D~onovanites. Harper has yet to prove that
he can withstand the rough knocks and
sleepless nights coincldent with Eastern
trips He has won all OF his genes on tn.
home diamond. and the three which have
been charged against him were played In
the East.
A startling story was published early in
the week to the effect that Harper would
not win another game for st. Louis: that
ne had pitched when suffering from most
complicated complications. 1T Is ali over
with Harper 20 said those who always
view the local team through the darkest OF
goggles. That Harper has worked hard this
season Is to his credit. and he has the vi
tally TO go through a hard campaign with
out injury. He strained his side a bit. and
like any athlete-worried over Il. where the
average man would forget all about 1t and
De mono the worse. Harper will round to.
Powell and Sudhoff are still going at top
speed. and Jones has broken the ice.
Last Sunday there were but three pitchers
on the clubs roster who could be- looked
upon as even possible winners. Now there
are four. The nth twirler Of the stan. Ed
ole Murphy. has taken quiz a slump in the
last seven days. Before his game at Pitts
burg he was looked upon as a certain
conner. and there arc many who still hold
to the belief that he will be q crack within
the month. The Pirates are playing the
fastest ball In the League at present, and
when they hit heavily few slab artists can
battle with them Murphy was unfortunate
In drawing the Smoky City assignment, es-
pecially as II was only a one-day stand. BUT
youngsters with a proper amount of ambi-
ton would have delighted In such an OBJ
portunity. and II pitching was In them it
would have come out on that day. Murphy
has absolutely no ambition. according to
certain members Of the ST. Louis club. He
will pitch as well as he knows how while in
the box. But q chap never knows how un-
I'll he becomes determined TO make people
think he knows II all. Murphy doesn't care
what they think. ard he does not seem t.
care whether his salary is forthcoming on
the stipulated days. Perhaps the only way
to make a twirler out OF Murphy will be to
exchange him for some Won
der-one who will try his best. even IL he
can do no better than Doctor J.. Harley
Parker did in his first effort for the Gin
cinnati club.
Murphy Is such a ~good-natured young
man that every one who knows him wishes
him well. All would hate to see Murphy
but the tribe of Donovan has made a
good start after honors this season. and a
pitcher who cannot win his way with the
team Is worse than an anchor In a swamped
skin. The pitcher will get out at times aud
pull the team down.
Up to the series in New York, which be-
gan yesterday. the Donovanites had tust
split even on the trip. winning three games
and losing as many. This showing Is what
the fans asked of them last Sunday. and
Manager Donovan said that he would re-
turn with better than an even break. 1t
will take good pitching. as well as the
heavy hitting. to get better than half of
the remaining games. Boston is fairly iy-
ing toward the top. How Selee's team can
get along so fast is hard to understand
after having witnessed the crude exh!bi-
tons Of the Beaneaters in st. Louis. But
they are going just the same, and Brook
Ign seems to have picked UP since return
ing to the other end Of the big bridge. Ned
Hanlon will not have a'second division team
II there is anyway under the heavens to
prevent it.
The Brfdegrooms were q badly battered
lot. while in ST. Louis. Three Of the seven
regulars were playing their positions here.
McCreery at center. Scheckard at left. and
Tom DAILY at second formed the trio. The
team IN shaping up on the home diamond
md WIN give the Donovanites a sitter ar
Bument than they win get In the Hub.