The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-14
STAR TWIRLERS OF
1909 MAY WEAKEN

pions, for they took part In more
games and their greater availability
makes them a valuable asset fer
baseball club to own. Hence the
knuwn pitching strength or rhe f'Itts-
burg and Chicago clubs may he said
to be not far from equal.
Brown. OF course, in the Chicago
club, stands forth as one Of the great
pitchers of the national game. IT Ia
immaterial whether he leads the
league or happens to be third OF
fourth in the league. He is pitcher
OF such reliability that confidence IL
felt In his work when he Is in the
box, and of 50 much useful expert
ence that nothing short of a calamity
to his arm can render him anything
but a valuable assistant to rhe Chicago
club In 1910.
Were Reulbach gifted With the art
of controlling the ball and with the
cool Judgment of his brother pitcher,
he might be one of the wonders OF the
game. for nature granted him an arm
which is made OF sterling strength,
and his speed and curves are two
known quantities which are envied Of
all pitchers.
Overall 10 a steady, strong, stalw art
worker. He is not always go even
In the box az ne might be, but his en-
durancc makes him a valuable man,
for he Is able to pitch frequently Il
called upon to do 80. and IL seldom
bothered by lack of effectiveness be-
cause his strength fails him.
Mathcwson the star.
For the past ten years there has
been no pitcher in the National
League so steadily expert as Mathew
son. II he liz not competiai TO re-
tire before his time by reason of ply
steal disability. the. indications are
good that his record will make him
the king OF pitchers. Personally. the
writer is of opinion that ne IL the 5est
pitcher In baseball to-day, and the
best who ever lived. all things being
taken into consideration, hut liAe all
personal opinions. 1t Is merely one
mans Judgment. TO which exceptions
may be made by those who eel so
inclined.
| When It 10 remembered that in 1909
| he never hit batter with pitched
| ball. and gave but thirty-six bases on
balls In thirty-one games, some idea
| may be had Of the marvellous control
which he exercised as professional
baseball pitcher.
! The four hard workers on the New
York pitching staf in 1909, who COM
bined measure of success with their
work. were Mathewson. Ames, Ray
mond and Wiitse. Together they
pitched lit games. OF these, they lost
50 and won Is. Their percentage Of
I victories was sc, and enough more to
make 1t In round numbers s77 for tho
season.
Mathewson, OF course, with a record
of 25 victories In 20 games, bore the
Hons share OF the work. Wiltse WAS
second, with 20 victories and IL de-
feats--not so good for him as soma
other years. and In part due to the fac;
that ne was III a greater part of the
summer. although he stuck to the game
"a the last.
The New York club has taken no
chances. but has made Wholesale haul
through the minor leagues. selecting
about dozen candidates for the pitch
er'S position for the team OF 1910. II
from this number there should be de-
ysloped one or two who are Of National
League calibre. the New Yorks, with
their seasoned men to reckon upon
maya be able to nut force Into the
Acid this year which shall largely
Increase the chances of the Giants
against their rivals.
MnrquArd. the pitcher. who was Sc
cured from the indianapolis club In
i9es by the expenditure of the sum 81
$4,000, failed to make anything like
H.
the success m the .Nationa' LEAGUE .ha'
he did IN the american Associaa'1 =,
ana YET the Now ao.h ,ia ny ',,.. - ~
no means despondent OF ms uiLl,ma'e
perfection .. major league pitchsr'
Few starr ser the nsds noa
Cincinnatfs pess pHcnsr IA asvs "a o.
daspar. il was his iniuative year az
y steady worker In the box TOT ma!oI
league club. he dia not ATTAIN susn
perfection as men IKE SatnnsA. wa a.
thewson or Brown, for ne pitened ~
thirty games during the season, y.
which he won nineteen. HIS next oes'
team mate IN the oox was EroInme. !,
pitcher who had hsen secured from ~
Louis Fromme pitehed even more
gamss--thirty -two--and won nineteen
OF those After them came WI
who took part In twenty three games
and Rowan. who pitched the same I..e
I number Thus II y apparent tnat loui
men ahouidered the responsipinty ~
more than one hundred games for Gin !.
cinnatt last year ana did the bulk o.
the york.