Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

them all sitting up and taking notice
| Inside OF two weeks he was being herald
ed broad and wide as the find Of the year
| There is no more shining light in base
ball today than Cobb. yet as a minor
| Lacquer he was regarded as only ordinary
! Since Cobb made his mark at least a
, dozen outfielders have drifted into the
majors with the reputation Of having Ty-
rus backed off the board, but most of
them are again doing duty in the minors
Tvs crown remains undimmed. Many
are bought as the real thing, but play
ers like Cobb. Wagner. Lajote, Mathew
son. Killing and a host of other big league
stars are the exception to the rule. II
such wasn't the case the major league
club owners wouldn't spend money so
lavishly each year in an effort to dig up
higl-clasS material.
OF all the young players who broke
last year none showed to better advan-
tage than Catcher Killifer of the St.
Louis Americans. 1 happened to work
back Of the first game the Texas League
recruit caught in the big league, as well
as quite a few others, and he looked like
Killifer has the spirit and the nerve that
makes great players was proved by a
very unfortunate accident that happened
during the last series of the year at New
York.
Killifer Has Treat Nerve.
In the fourth inning of the game KILL
fer was struck OH the collarbone on the
left side by a foul tip. The ball was q
fast one and hit the youngster with ter
rife force. felt certain that the collar
bone had been broken, and SO Informed
Killifer. telling him that he had better
not take any chance and retire. He re-
fused to listen, however. and insisted on
catching. claiming that he was all right.
The inning was quite long session,
and twice Killifer was compelled to make
throws to second in an effort to catch
runners stealing, and each time he was
successful. At the close of the inning he
went to the BENCH sat down and practi-
caIly tainted away. A doctor was sum-
moned. An examination revealed a badly
broken collarbone. The youngster had
caught an entire inning suffering greatly
and had thrown out two base runners.
It's just such nerve that makes great
players.
Jimmy McAleer also had a recruit
pitcher who is now satisfied that he is
booked for the minors. The new one was
tried out against Detroit, and In one in
ming Sam Crawford hit a fast one back
at him that nearly tore off one of his
legs. while Cobb hit terrific liner at his
head that would have scattered gray
matter in many directions had it con-
nected.
do those fellows always hit the ball
that hard? remarked the new recruit
to one of the veterans on the way to the
bench
why, they amt half trying today
replied the old-timer. When these fell
lows are connecting with the ball right
there is no chance to get out of the way.
You simply have to duck and pray"
AS the veteran walked away the young
ster was heard mumbltng something
about good old Kokomo suiting him.
Quite often players who fail to make
a hit on their first appearance in fast
company come back after a year or two
of experience and set the big boys on
fire. Pitcher Adams, the big noise In the
worlds series, didn't score very heavily
on his major league debut. Catcher Arch
er Of the Chicago Cubs, who succeeded
Johnny King had a rough road for a
time. yet he is now looked on as one of
the best catchers in the business
AS stated before, If club owner picks
I'D a man able to hold his own in the
big league from a dozen or more re-
cruits he is satisfied Very often he finds
four or five more who look to have abil-
uy, but need more experience, more fin
ish These men are sent to minor league
teams With a string on them, SO If they
show Improvement the club originally
picking them up may again secure the
and thousands OF dollars have been spent
by the different big league clubs. All
kinds of nice things are now being said
about the new players, but how many of
them will make Hans Wagner, Ty Cobb
and all the other shining stars look as If
they were standing still? You can safely
wager that they will be few and far be-
tween. So don't be frightened by any
loud reports early in the spring OF 1910.