Evening journal., 1907-04-19
EVERYDAY WORK
FOR OLD TWIRLERS
-Four TwirIerS We're Enough
For Any Team rs Years Ago.
Ferguson Worked Daily

q SuSVh UUlheu Ddily
Slab artists Of to-day arc not in it
in point Of endurance with the old
timers Of "a quarter Of a century ago.
1t IS now the custom 70 carry a stan
of several pitching stars. In the old
days two twirlers were considered suf-
hcient and oftentimes, one bore the
brunt OF the work
II is an rot to talk about Joe Nc
Ginnity as THE Iron Man" as applied
to his staying qualities. The Giant box
antist IS a selling platter compared with
the old, reliable Jim Calvin. who was
physically able to go into the nox every
day II necessary, and who pitched nine
tenths OF the games played by the Buff
falo and Pittsburg teams when he was
on the STAFF Of those organizations. Jim
Calvin loved the game and was always
ready and willing to jump in and work
like a Trojan for his teams success
| McGinnity is a man OF pretty soft
metal when compared With the real
man Of Iron. Jim Calvin, who pitched
more games in one year than Joe ever
pitched IN three, and was none the
worse for 1t.
The old Providence National League
Club won the pennant with staff con-
sistng OF only two twirlers, John Ward
and Charlie Radbourne, the latter aid
ing his team to win the flag by Off
ciatlug in the box IN twenty one suces-
sive contests during the closing days
of the season. when thes truggle down
aNr q
victory counted.
For years Tim Keefe and Mickey
Welch werc the standbys Of the New
York team, alternating in the box week
after week. Clarkson and Mccormick
filled n similar role for Chicago, and
Getzein end Baldwin for Detroit.
Charlie Ferguson was Philadelphia
mainstay. working day after day with
out a let-up.
The youngsters OF to-day and even
the seasoned veterans like Cy Young,
Rube WaddeH Dineen, Powell, Patten
and others I'm the same class have q
snap as compared with the duties OF
the old-timers.
The modern pitcher easily earns a
princely salary. Many OF the twirlers in
the major organizations average 5000
per game, working only once a week
They receive It whether they earn II or
not, and many fail to earn IT, There
was seldom a shlrk IN the olden days,
but the woods are now full Of them.
Time was when bail playes displayed
more ardor IN their work, when they
played the game with spirit and energy
because they enjoyed its excitement
and varying surprises. Nowadays Z
Is different. The financial question
cuts the only figure. and the average
/ pitcher is only too glad to iind "a pre-
! text which viii allow him freedom
! from duty. owing to the leniency OF
! managers some pitchers grow hog fat
/ and unit for work, whereas If they
were compelled 80 go into the box more
frequently the team ana themselves
would he much better OF. Steady work
takes the kinks out of salary wings,
limbers them up. ana removes all
streaks OF lazincss or indifference.
Even with the long schedules of the
present time, four pitchers worked m
turn are sufficient for any club Much
good coin of the realm is wasted on
dead wood, or useless timber There
are too many bench idlers now. The
year Billy Murray won the pennant for
Jersey City he worked four pitchers
alternately and the result was that all
kept i'm first-class condition and i'm fine
fottle throughout the race.
The title of eThe Iron Man" was be-
slowed on Joe McGinnity on account
OF pitching two games in one after
noon. so some contended. Others say
ne received the title through being the
owner of an iron foundry in South Da-
/ kota. The first reason is correct, but
he has nothing on raft Of other
/ pitchers who have duplicated the feat.
| Young Liebhart purchased by Cleveland
from the Southern League, gave the
same performance several times last
/ season, and many others pitched double
headers.
The real iron men wore those OF a
quarter Of century ago who worked
nearly every day and thought nothing
Of It. The twirlers OF to-day are in
fants when compared with the old
4 timers.
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