Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
THE come BACK" IN
BASE BALL RANKS
Better Chance to Recuperate
There Than in Any
Other Sport.
By Umpire Billy Evans.

by umpire Oily Evans.
Can the star ball player, almost ready
to join the down-and-out club, show q
sudden reversal of form and in a short
time win back his place as a stellar at
traction?
In base ball it's the ambition of every
amateur and minor Lacquer to win a
berth in either Of the big leagues. It's
the greatest honor that can be conferred
on diamond hero.
In pugilistic circles it's the one desire
Of every fighter to be able at some time
during his career to write the word
champion in front Of his name.
In any branch of athletics the progress
sive chap always seeks to win the high
est honors that can be attained. II he
has the spirit that wins he never gives W
until he reigns supreme.
A regular place on big league team
is the same to the ball player as the title
champion is to the fighter, especially II
he happens to be recognized as leader
at his position. The strain that any man
must undergo to hold his berth in the
majors or his title of pugilistic champion
is severe one. and sooner or later II will
assert itself. There comes a time in the
career of every athletic when ii seems as
if he starts going back instead of getting
sbetter.
It's the history of sportsdom that the
the minority. 1t is also true that more
men labeled all in as ball players come
back to old-time form than in any other
branch of athletics. Fighters who have
once received their quietus over the
knockout" route rarely regain the con-
lidence and class that made them cham
pionship contenders. After being once
beaten and showed into the ranks Of the
also rams, few athletes are able to win
back the honors and title that made them
famous.
If there is any exception to the rule
that athletes cannot come back after re-
peated reverses, base ball offers 1t. A
perusal Of the averages of the Nationa
and American leagues for 1909 discloses
this fact.
Several years ago, while a member OF
the Cleveland club, Earl Moore. then re-
garded as one of the best pitchers in the
American League, suffered an injury to
his left foot. Moore. while playing the in
field one day In practice, was struck on
the instep by swiftly batted ball. At
the time little attention was paid to the
injury, but later 1t became so serious that
some Of the country's most noted spe-
cialists were called to attend him. The
injury caused Moore to become almost
fiat footed, and so weakened the member
that he was unable to throw any weight
on the left foot when delivering the ball.
Naturally because of the weakened
condition of the left foot Moore was I'M
able to take the long stride that he usu-
ally did when sending the ball to the bat
ter. it interfered greatly with his speed.
and because he was compelled to practi-
caIly change his entire style Of pitching,
he lost control of the ball.
Sand on the Toboggan.
For over q year Moore tried every
known remedy and appliance that might
strengthen the weakened instep, appar-
emily all in vain. 1t was not long before
every one was pronouncing Moore as all
In, down and out. Some critics were very
uncertain as to whether or not Earl
would be able to deliver in the minors
Evidently the Cleveland club entertained
a like opinion, for Moore was disposed OF
to the New York Americans in exchange
for Walter Clarkson. After a brief trial
with New York Moore was tcketed TO a
minor league berth in the Eastern League
The once famous twirler was surely or
the toboggan. and Ii was UP to him to
deliver or keep on sliding. Evidently II
was just the opportunity ne mad oeei'
waiting for. Strength returned to his
foot, he began to deliver the ball In the
style that made him terror to American
League batsmen, and in a short time had
dumped enough sand on the toboggan tc
| stop any further movement toward the
| bottom. With club that finished a near
| last, Moore averaged better than 500 and
| famed better than six men per game.
Manager Billy Murray OF the Phil.
adelphia National League team decided
that Moore had come back, and before
the close of the Eastern League season
| men in particular. Last year Moore woI
Jersey City Club. 1t didn't take Moore
| long to convince everybody that he had
come back. the National League bats
| ben in particular Last year Moore won
| eighteen out of thirty games for the
Philadelphia team, a percentage consid-