Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-09
ARE BONUSES GOOD
FOR NATIONAL GAME?
Pitchers Run Great Risks to
Their Arms in Striving
for Extra Pay.


again bobbed up. and will be in force the
coming summer as much as ever. When
George Mullin had so much difficulty In
pulling down his prize for winning TWEEN
Iy-five games the Detroit management
gave it out that no more bonuses would
lie offered. as it appeared to handicap this
clever twirler to a great extent as he
neared his goal. The latest magnate to
come to the front is Murphy of Chicago.
and he says Il shall offer Overall 500
if he wins thirty games during the sea-
son of 19lo''
Clever Charlie knows what he's about.
lie comes with a generous offer of a $500
bonus to Overall If the big twrler man.
ages to cop thirty victories. Yes. gener-
Gus, not.
At first glance this offer of the Cub boss
appears generous enough. When we think
of the great number of games in a league
schedule ii seems easy enough for Il
pitcher to win the required number. But
it isn't.
Chase back through the records of the
National League and see how many
pitchers have won thirty games. Joe Nc
tiinnity won just thirty for Brooklyn in
$50 Not till 1.M; did another pitcher
reach the mark. That year Joe copied
thlrty-one victories. and Christy Mathew
son reached the mystic number. The fol-
lowing year the great Iron Man won
thirty-five 10 Christy's thirty-three games.
In 1909 Mathewson was the only twirler
10 pass the mark, WE .ing thirty-one bat
lies. The next year brought not single
thirty-viCto.y pitcher, but in zoos Christy
came 20 the fore again with thirty-seven
victories. Last year Mordecai Brown led
all with twenty-seven victories.
The story of the American League
twrlers is similar. Cy Young marched in
victorious thirty-one times in 1901, repre-
scnting the Boston club. The next season
ON IN
thir:y-two victories. He led all his
leagues slab performers in 1865. but Won
only twenty-eight games.
Jack CheSb. was the Sh ming light of
1901. his greatest year In base ball. He
brought home the bacon forty-one times
Tor the Hishlanders, establishing a record
conditions. Bill Bernhard of the Maps
came within one game of landing inside
the AIu ply limit.
Cntil Ed Walsh's great year in 1905,
Wnen he won forty games and lost but
fifteen. the American League didn't have
pitcher with thirty victories to his cred
IT. Last year George Mulln of the Tigers
Won twenty-nine games and led all his
competitors.
Yes. Charlie Murphy IS a wise guy with
his offers of a bonus. He probably looked
up the records before uttering word
Without knowing positively Manager
McAleers intentions as regards the line
up of the Nationals at the beginning of
the season, it is a pretty good guess that
IT will be as follows: Street. catcher;
Johnson, pitcher; Unglaub. first base
Schaeffer. second base; Mcbride. short
stop; Elberfeld. third base; Lelivelt, left
field: Conroy, center field, and Gessler,
right field
About the only change in this lineup
IS Wild Conroy in center field, and he will
be there unless Clyde Milan and George
Browne show unusual strength in the
spring practice at Norfolk. Conroy did
not hit very we'll last year, but he did
we'll enough for an infielder In the out
field the clever lad viii he working in a
position he likes. and this fact cuts
great big figure with ball player. What
makes ConrOy almost a certainty in CEN
ter is the fact that both Unglaub and FL
berfeld believe him strong enough to
hold up his end with the best Washing
ton has in the outer garden, and in addi-
tion Manager McAleer is very sweet on
the Widow. Conroy will be one of the
first players to reach Hot Springs in Feb
ruary, as he recognizes the fact that he
must be at his best to head off Milan
and Browne, and those who know believe
that he will be a totally different player
next season from what he was last year.
Secretary-Treasurer John Heydler of
the National League is spending a few
days in Washington attending to his
business affairs. and several of his per-
Sonal friend have taken advantage of his
presence by rendering him a banquet at
the Releigh tomorrow night. 1t is to be
an informal affair, and base ball Will be
entirely cut out of the program.
Mig Norcum had but placed his name
to a contract to manage the Augusta,
Ga. team when he wired an engagement
to Jack Carr of this city for next season.
Norcum and Carr have been pals for
Years, and the new manager writes that
lie is confident Jack can get back itno his
old time stride with him.
The prominence given Norcum in the
Southern League brings forward the fact
that he was once a member of the Sham
rocks of this city, and that title has Ger
tainly carried good luck to many of the
old boys.
Charley Moran was one OF the pitchers
before he went TO Georgetown Ed
Powell was the catcher, and he is now
in the plumbing business in this city
Boucher played first base and he is en-
ployed at Chase's. Dougherty was on
second and he was about the only south
paw to play that position in the amateur
ranks. Jakey Atz, now with Chicago.
was the shortstop, and he has certainly
made good Tom Boucher played third,
and he is doing we'll with the local fire
department. Tim Costello was in the
outf1eld, with Norcum and Tom Quill
Tommy Harlow was the manager, and he
had his hands full looking out for dates
The Shamrocks' grounds were at North
capitol and u streets. and their greatest
rivals we're the Canterburys. Many
heated contests resulted between the two
riubs, and almost every player on the
Two teams played professional ball for a
RI, ..itf