Evening star., 1909-01-10
BUT FEW BATTERS
FIND WALSH EASY
Mcbride and DeIehanty Two
Who SWatted Lead
ing Pitcher.

Little wonder they call big Ed Walsh
of the Chicago White Sox the premier
pitcher of the American League and
world. Little wonder that he won the
A. L. pitching honors the past season in
spite of the fact that he pitched in far
and away more games than any other
finger.
This fellow Walsh is a marvel-a mar
vel among pitching marvels. He allowed
but 339 hits during the season, and as
1,675 players were charged with at bats
while they were securing that number of
bingles Walsh held the American League
batters to .2Q2 average.
Exceptionally effective was Walsh
against both Boston and New York. the
former batting only .165 and the latter
ITS. The Boston batters were at bat
273 times and secured but forty-five hits.
George Winter, the "spit" ball pitcher,
who became a Detroit Tiger late in the
season, headed the Red SoX in batting
against the famous Walsh. However. he
faced him only three times, securing two
hits. an average of .667.
Brownie" Gessler was the real nifty
hosiery against Walsh In the nine
games in which he faced Walsh he hit
safely in seven, securing two hits in two
OF the seven sessions. He was at bat
twenty-four times and his nine bingles
gave him an average of .315. Cicotte
and Young, pitchers. followed, each hav-
ing 1888 average, both managing to Sc
cure one hit in three times up McCon
nell, Thoney and Lord were next with
averages of go .227 and .219
Easy for Mac and Del.
Jesse Tannehill of the Nationals shared
with Charley Hickman of the Maps the
honor Of having a perfect average
against the "spt' ball artist. George
| Mcbride was the real National leader,
however, and If he could clout the
sphere against all pitchers as he did
against Walsh he would surely lead the
league. In fifteen times up ne made seven
hits for an average of .461. This sur
passes Danny Murphys mark, but the
latter faced Walsh almost twice as many
times. Jim Delehanty batted .429 against
the SoXs star twirler, making three hits
in seven times. Jerry Freeman batted
.3OS, but the next in line, Capt. Bob Gan
ley, was down to .235.
The lowly Highlanders made fifty-four
| hits in 3O3 times at bat. Laporte topping g
| the list with an average of 1853. securing
one safety in three trials. Harry Niles
and Jack KIeinow were the mighty wal
| loperS among those who played in several
games, each having an average of sos
The former made eight hits in twenty six
times at bat, while kleinow'S hits and
| at bats were Just one-half those Of Niles.
Blair. Stahl and Hemphill did fairly
WELL the two former batting .267. max
| ing four hits In fifteen trips to the plate
and Hemphill. $50, having seven bingles
| in tWenty-SiX attempts.
The hard-hitting Athletics and Maps
| were almost as helpless before Walsh as
were the Red SoX and Highlanders the
former securing tifty-siX hits in pa times
at bat an average of .2Oi, and the latter
making fifty safeties in pa trials, IA
mark of .205.
| Walsh Not Difficult for Murphy.
| Although Big Chief Bender is credited
| with the best average among the Ath-
letics against Walsh, still he was at bat
i only twice. securing one hit, a 800 mark,
| while to Danny Murphy the real crown
| belongs. Murphy was not only the
classiest of the Athletics, but also was
| the leading batter of the American
| League when opposed to Walsh. Danny
| was at bat twenty-seven times and wal
loped the horsehide for twelve safeties d
.444 mark. Eddie Collins also travelled at
| a merry clip against the great splitter"
/ having seven hits in twenty-one visits to
the plate. .3s3 average. Nichols batted
/ .2JS, Baker 80 and HartseI 233 against
| Walsh.
4 Charley Hickman of the Maps had the
| unique distinction of facing Walsh just
one time. being sent to bat in a pinch,
Il duu SutSSSucu III CoHuCCI!uE safely, CIV
| ing him perfect average. Dusty
Rhoades followed with .:S;,3 mark. MAX
! ing two hits in six times up. Heinie Ber-
ger was in Rhoades' class making one
hit in three efforts. OF those players
who participated in a number of games
/ Dode Birmingham set the pace with q
i 3O4 average Birrny making seven hits in
i twenty-three times up Stovall followed
with a 259 average, Bemis had go. Flick
the same. Goode .235 and Lajoie two
points less.
/ Walsh was used repeatedly in the
| games against Boston. New York and
Philadelphia. while Cleveland drew him q
! fair number of times. On the other hand.
i Manager Jones was little gingery about
working him against Washington and
Detroit as the big fellow never was any
too successful against either team.