The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-25

w trOlt again Sldub X
W er the poor Sena
tors from Wash
~ ington, climbing
IN all over the battle
Scared frames OF the Cantillonites
C 10 to / win, and went away. IN
all probability without giving a
thought 10 the fact that they had seen
what, In all probability. was the I'm
lshing touch OF one OF the greatest
Old pitchers in the business
For many years Nick Altrock has
been an American league hero. First
with Boston and later with Chicago he
won the reputation of being one or the
best left-handers in the business. For
the Sox he was a prominent factor Ill
the teams great championship vistory
of 1906. Memory still recalls how he
came to the front in the worlds series
of that year and beat the Cubs In two
sensational games, securing for his
club the most coveted team title In
ali organized sport.
The worlds championship win. how
over. proved Nick's undoing. His re
turn 10 his home in Cincinnati found
a horde OF friends out 10 meet him.
Then ensued a winter OF dissipation
and late hours.
The iron constitution Of the ball
player seemed shattered when he re-
ported the Eext year and he was OF
little use 10 his team, in 1907. Last
spring Comiskey signed him TO an
anti-booze contract and Nick went
round the circuit with his tongue
swelled to a point where living was
hardly endurable. He made a plucky
fight to get back his old effectiveness
but failed. This spring Comiskey de-
termhed that he had played the pars
ln<<fhe sentimental uncle long enough
and cut Nick loose in a trade in which
he was virtually thrown in Tor goo9
measure.
His Trial Yesterday.
To see whether OF not Nick VAS
really there. Joe Cantillon tried HIN
yesterday against the Tigers.
Nick had all his old confidence to
all appearances. He retained the
swell motion toward first base which
has caused Ty Cobb to pronounce him
the most effective pitcher in the pro-
fession in holding men close TO the
sack. The little tricks OF fielding anf
the mannerisms which have made
AItrocks style pattern TO SO many
left-handers were all there but the
old speed and curve were missing
The Tigers took one inning TO GET
the range With Nick's trajectory
thus sized up they started to blaze
away.
The veteran was lucky 10 get of
with one run scored against him IL
the second inning. In the third Nc
Intyre's triple and singles by Bush
Crawford and Cobb in order caused
Cantillon To yank Nick of the sia5
and send out Smith.
Slowly and with apparen: reluctance.
game TO the last. Altrock obeyed the
summons Nor had he any excuses
To- make after the contest was over.
May Play First Base.
He may get another chance ~
make good for the team that has con-
scented TO try him. In all probability,
: however. his destination IS one OF the
minor league clubs controlled by the
CantIIlons. There he may regain some
of his lost effectiveness IL not as
PITCHER. there is still a chance for
the once great pitcher as a tirst-base-
man. To a certain extent he has rec
ognized the approach OF the finish ana
has been practicing hard with Just
such an effort in view
Smith was wild and the Tigers
scored two OF the runs, started in the
batting bee of Altrock Lie rest OF
the game was "a processN marke1
enlv by the Intellectual attempts OF the
Washington club to score on Eddie
Summers, while the Tigers kept roll
ing up their majorities after the fash
ION Of an anthsaloon league ticket In
az upstate county.
cantilIon Has Faith.
Joe Cantillon. however. still has
faith In his team.
1--WE got the best club In the east
and any of those folks from Boston.
New York or Philadelphia can get Il
chunk of my money II they think they
areg ding 10 beat us out" said he, as
he watched the game Of yesterday
from his point OF exile in the stand.
They'd better save Us a berth in
the frst division TO save themselves
the trouble OF being forced 10 make
ROOM" he continued. The race j.
voung yet and my pitchers haven't
rot 10 working. Hughes and Johnson
in particular haven't been at them
selves and the others have been go
Ing but fairly. I've got the ball club
"a back them up and make the runs
for them. The other eastern clubs
viii Re coming back TO me when this
western crowd strikes It's gait And
.rm Wiling 20 go on record as saying
that we'll not be worse than fourth
at the end"
Cantillon Is OF the baseball gen
erals who are not foolish enough TO
rize up the present positions OF the
Athletics. Boston and New York as
nny true line on the calibre OF these
clubs.
-Do you think the western clubs
win be hack up there around the TOP
before the season Is over?' he was
akfed
~There's no question about IT, You
f<iIowt. and couple OF the others out
here. with washington possibility
viii make the race" said he.
Today Mullin and Hughes are due