Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-31
BY ]. ED aRILLo.

, Tom Hughes, for many years the main
| stay of the Nationals on the pitching slab
and now the premier pitcher of the
American Association. will be member
of Jim McAleer's pitching staff next sea-
! son. In fact, Hughes may Join the Wash
| ington team at the close of the American
Association season this fall.
Word to this effect reached here yes
I terday from Minneapolis, for which team
Hughes Is pitching, and which is manag;
| ed by Joe Cantillon, formerly manager
| for the local club.
| It seems that Washington by reason OF
| 1t having turned several of it's discards
| over to the Minneapolis club has first
| pick Of it's players. Some time ago Can
tilion wrote Jim McAleer letter advis-
| ing him as to the players In the associa-
ton that would have chance of making
Of pitchers with Tom Hughes. saying
that there was no question about his be-
ing the best pitcher in that league. He
also recommended First BaSeman Gill as
having chance in the American League,
but was particularly strong in his praise
OF Hughes.
McAleer remarked at the time that he
had always had the greatest respect for
Hughes as pitcher and that as he need
ed pitchers about as bad as anything else
he would look into the matter, and per-
haps select Long Tom. That he has
concluded to do this is the word sent
from Minneapolis, which club he has noti-
fed that he would exercise his option to
take the pick of the team by selecting
Hughes.
The return Of Hughes to fast company
will not surprise most base ball men.
Hughes was good pitcher while here,
but the fact that he was with losing
team proved q handicap, and his repu-
in the league cared to take chance with
him when waivers were asked. Hughes
was always painted blacker than he
really was, but McAleer probably figures
that since he has had years experience
in a minor league he will be anxious to
make good when he comes back to fast
company.
There is no question about Hughes
ability. He has everything that goes
to make a good pitcher. including nerve.
and if 1t should be McAleer's> good for
tune to have a winner built up by next
year, Hughes will be of material help, for
with winning team he is sure to win a
large majority of his games
1t will be joyous news for Hughes when
he learns that he is to return to WASH
ington, for there was no one more dis
appointed when he was notified that he
Washington and he will be glad to get
back here. furthermore McAleer is wise
in selecting him to come back to his
pitching staff. for there is no doubt that
Hughes will work his head off to make
good here. No player wants to be in q
minor league. AS a rule when player
Of Hughes experience in fast company
goes down the ladder he stays there, and
to get another chance in fast company
Is unusual. Hughes will realize this, and
deliver the goods. Like the other pitchers
on the team he will be- sent to Hot
Springs in the spring to get himself in
shape, an advantage he has never had
before.
Hughes can earn his salary by pitching
against the Cleveland team alone. Hughes
could always beat Cleveland. He had but
to make his appearance on the rubber
In speaking Of Hughes McAleer recent
~ said: II always considered Hughes
one of the best pitchers in the league
when he worked against my st. Louis
team. and l thought he had broken an
arm when they got waivers on him a
year ago. o. l would not have allowed
him to get out of the league. 1 believe
that If he comes back he will be sure to
make good"
Hughes will not be the only player who
was dropped by the major leagues last
season who will come back to fast COM
pany. There are SO few youngsters maxi
Ing good that the veterans or seasoned
players look to be the real stars, and
many a club will take a chance with the
players who have been UP, but were sent
down.
Jimmy Williams is one of these. and no
doubt some one may take chance with
Hobe Ferris GILL; too. who had chance
at Pittsburg and Chicago. may come
back. Jerry Downs is already slated for
Cleveland. while many of the other play
ers of experience who are making good
in the American Association stand good
chance OF getting another trial in fast
company.
II 10 hard IN exnlain how On certain
occasions a great pitcher gets his bumps
when 1t is least expected. Johnson was
hit harder by the Athletics yesterday than
he has been at any time this year. It
may be that the fact that he had an
inexperienced catcher handling his de-
livery worried him, for it was Henry's
first try at catching Johnson, and then
again that may have had nothing to do
some team wallop pitching star, APP,
uareutlx without reason. Only the other