Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-20


speaks for itself; I will say that ! consider
Al worthy to be ranked along with the
greatest pitchers the game has ever seen.
He has the speed of a Rusie, the control OF
a Clarkson the cunning of a Nichols. aud
the cousummate head work of Griffith. He
combines these four great qualifications
with an individuality of his own, which
causes his worth to be manifest to even the
most lukewarm admirer of our great
national game
Aside from Orth's magnificent work in
the box, he Is a strong proposition with the
bat. and as a fielding pitcher he has no
peers From the time he takes his position
upon the slab until he leaves it the big
chap is continually busy, aud many bunt
and otherwise safe hit is killed by the boy
from Lvnchburg
In personal appearance AL Orth looks the
ideal athlete, which he certainly is. He is
built on the strong and rugged plan, having
broad shoulders, sturdy limbs and pair of
Jaws which mark him as a man Of determ-
inatiou and one who must have a large
amount of reserve energy on which to de-
pend whenever confronted by an emer-
geneY.
Al's last year running mate, Townsend,
the light haired and decidedly good looking
boy from the state where they'raise peaches,
will have not the slightest difficulty in
duplicating in the American League the
splendid success which attended his twirl-
ing performances in the National League
last year. He had the heavy hitters all
guessing, did Jack. and make very bad
mistake in my calculation if he don't have
them guessing worse this year than he did
last, as he looks stronger, has greater ex-
perience, and from the way / have seen
him put the ball over the plate at this early
stage of the game, have not the slightest
fear of adding that Jack Townsend will
establish a pitching record in 1909 that will
be we'll worthy to go down in the historic
annals of the game, so good luck TO the boy
from Delaware.
Next comes Bill Carrick. a particular
favorite with Washingtonians, both on ac-
count of his splendid abilities as a ball
player and also because he is a modest,
gentlemanly fellow. He is never known to
knock" a brother player, and rarely if
ever comments upon his own fine work
have little hesitancy in saying that this
season, I believe, will be the greatest in
Carrick's career. He is Just in condition,
aAA4 AhG EhQhkAlf u0EA d. 10 dEE anu E4 HElA
euce, to play the game of his life, and /
make the prophecy that when the season
closes Carrick's record will be one that any
pitcher should be satished-aye, elated-
with
Aside from Bill's we'll known assortment
of curves, he has puzzling creation, that
must certainly be an original invention of
his own for have never yet seen a pitcher,
who was able to throw the same kind of
ball. It doesn't seem to be either an in
shoot, outshoot, straight ball, or drop; but
it appears 10 partake in a more or less de.
gree, of each and everyone OF the above
mentioned variety of 'twisters, " and as if
this were not enough to bewider the op.
posing batsmeu, Bill, to make certain Of
his victims, mikes in an upshoot, and then
sends this queer couglomeratiou over the
plate. with the almost invariable result of
the batter connecting with nothing more
tangible, than Washington ozone. This
p9culiar ball which I speak of will be the
means of making many a batsman guash
his teeth in rage and modification, and will
no doubt cause Carricks name to be en-.
rolled among the famous ones Of the game.
Not only is Carrick crackeriack" pitcher,
but he is a feet runner, a clever base Dur-
ldiner. and is sure to bring IN as many runs
az the next one, and here is wishing him a
Successful season.
Another pitcher, whom Ihaye great hopes
of this year, is Wyatt Lee, and let me say
right here that this dark complexioned
youth, from the "Grasshopper" state, is
going to be one of the genuine surprises of
the season, and this is not any dream series
either. have watched the big boy work
ever since he came here with Jimmy Man
ming, and his improvement has been so
rapid both as to form and efficiency; that
now Lee. can proudly lay claim to rank
among the highest class "twirlers" of the
day He is pounds heavier. than when he
was last with US, and his increasing weight,
has brought strength along with il till now,
he has the speed Of a cannon ball, and
when he shoots the leather over the plate,
IL resembles nothing so much as a small
pea and indeed, many times it will take a
pair Of United States field glasses to dis
cover it at all.
Another point about the Kansau, you
want to keep your eye on, Is his batting.
For If mistake me not, Wyatt will come
pretty near to leading all the American
League pitchers this season in hitting, and
when he does connect with the ball, he
hits 1t for keeps and no mistake; as to his
running aud fielding he has already proved
that in these departments he is not
blocked" BY any pitcher doing business
to-day. All in all, Wyatt Lee is a distinctly
addition to Manager LOTUS aggre-
cation, and he has big following in this
city has Wyatt
Last but by no manner of means least,
comes Case Patten, whom I have purposely
left TO the last. in order to do full and ample
j Justice to the authenticated youngsfer from
York state. have no medals or diplomas
to testify as to my ability as a seer or as a
prophet, and the following can only be
weighed and sifted, as coming from a man,
who has had years Of experience among the
ball playing gentry and who has been
placed IN a position TO personally know,
and have-in his opinion-a correct appre-
citation Of pretty near every famous ball
playef, who has hOurished In the past de-
cade, and upon the strength of these asser-
tions, / state, and do sincerely believe, said
statement vixen I say, that Case Patteu
will be the premier pitcher Of America for
the season of 1902.
Iust cut out Of to.days paDer the above
prophecy and put away carefully In a safe
place and when the season of 1902 closes