davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
Says George Mullin
Will Lead Pitchers

DETROIT, Dec. 25.--"George MuIIin
Will be the leading pitcher in the Ameri-
can League 1, 1922
This from Tyrus Cobb, leading bats
man. fielder extraordinary and base
runner par excellence.
Because of physical dis: bility Null
lin was unable to do himself tusticec
In 1911. 1t was not until near the close
of the season that he regained form and
followers of baseball will remember his
prowess then.
In the preparatory games for the
worlds series Mullin had the Athletics
on the hip. Had Mullin pitched for
New York in the championship games
a worlds champions pennant would
have floated over the Polo Grounds in
1912.
There isn't player who has been
with Mullin any length Of time but
acknowledges George Is among the best
OF them. Mullin has everything at his
command. His experience IN the big
leagues has added to his craftiness,
There were times in 1911 when Null
lin pitched under the severest of strains.
The young pitchers mad failed us and
1t was up to Mullin and Donovan to
keep the Tigers in the running. Dono-
van bore up well, but Mullin was pitch
ing when he should have been in bed
During the all-star games with the
Athletics Mullin and were thrown 90
gether, and 1t was then that George
told me he was in physical condition.
That being the case. YOU can watch
for repetition of his 1909 work"
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
BASEBALL FINDS
BEST RUNNERS IN
COBB AND OEVORE
Milan, of Nationals, Had
Fifty-eight Stolen
{ iw Bases.

Ty Cobb. OF the Detroit Tigers. stole
eighty-three bases during the 1911 sea-
son Bob Bescher, Of the Cincinnati
Reds. stole eighty. In these two base
ball finds her greatest base-runners, at
least. as Ear as figures 70, Josh De-
wore. of the New York Giants. had
sixty-one stolen bases to his credit;
Clyde Milan. Of the Washington Nation
ala. had ffty-eiSht. These two came
nearest to euualinR the total Of the two
leaders,
Cobb and Bescher differ in size and
style, Sand OF the two Cobb In unques-
uonabiy the greater. Cobb depends OH
biz speed, agility. and cunning: Bescher
on. weight and speed.
m foll Bescher played In seven more
gnmes than Cobb. A member Of the
team that was never serious conten-
der after the first two months Of the
season. Bescher had the opportunity to
run wild. Cobb. a member Of team
that was in the pennant fight until the
last six weeks VI he season, had to
keep In leash. Cobb's ability to steal
was not given full liberty until the
Championship race was practically de-
ciled against Detroit.
Bescher could afford to take almost
any chance: Cobb could not Although
I'cschcr stole but three bases less than
Cobb. the Detroit star scored forty-one
more runs than Bescher. getting a total
OF III runs to Bescher's .1i6. Cobb stole
more bases in less attempts than
l}escher. "a -s. sEt ass9.F
In the American League conditions for
base. runners are about even with those
In the Natioaai.. The pitchers of the
American are much more alert in watch
ing hase~runners than those of the M
tional. while the American League
catchers are inferior to those of the par
ent organization.
With Cobb, base running, like bat
tnig, Is a science. Cobb has spent
hours practicing sliding. Cobb slides
when the occasion does not call for It.
He has done much sliding that appeared
unnecessary to opposing players and
spectators, but he continually slid into
bags to make the action mechanical,
tutoring himself 10 time the slide per-
fectly. to prevent sliding short or over
sliding the bag. Cobb claims that hit
from the bag has become as natural
for him as starting for first after hitting
the ball. -
The pitcher and catcher figure prom
ihShliy III NopD HetnOOS. lie mas
studied every pitcher in his league; ne
hes studied every characteristic move
ment of each individual hurler'
Cobb's lead is not nearly as large as
Bescher's. Playing against the same
pitchers that Cobb faces. Bescher would
also have to cut down his enormous
leads.
Outguessing the catcher Is another
feature Of the Cobb method. He studies
catchers as carefully as pitchers. He
tries to figure what they expect and
then does the opposite.
The infield covering the bag for which
Cobb Is bound, next comes into play.
Cobb watches the baseman's eyes. The
eyes are on the ball the catcher is
throwing. BY watching the eyes Cobb
plans the course of his slide. His abil-
ity does the rest.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
ED N KEAN NAMES
!. !. !: YOUNG FIRST AMONG
N ...
+. . TWENTYBEST STARS
,c. Inu
Believes That Comiskey
~ Should Have Named
-. 81. Himself.

:, !, CLEVELAND. Ohio. Dec. 3.-"That's
4 something of a job" said Ed Mexican.
tsshortstop Of the old Cleveland Spiders.
when asked to name the greatest twenty
81 ball players of all time. II read Char
-slsy Comiskey's list and thing it cork
er. Every man he picked was or is
q star. Charley overlooked few Of
the good ones, though. including HIM
self, for Comiskey was certainly one Of
the greatest players the game ever pro-
duced: In naming the greatest twenty,
] will not place them in order. I don't
think could do it with any degree of
fairness. - = 80
II. noticed that Comiskey failed to
name %Cy Young. He overlooked a bet
there. T. would place Young first or
pretty near there at the top"
Mexican picks a number of other
players Comiske' failed to mention.
Those on McKeans list and not ON
Comiskey's are Mike Herman. old-time
New, York outfielder; John M. Ward,
old-ume second baseman: Fred Dunlap,
oid-tirne second baseman; Charley Com
iskey, sam Thompson, old-time outfield-
err; Bobby Wallace, Hughey Jennings
and Herman Long.
Players picked by both Comiskey and
Mexican are Ed Delehanty, Nap Lajoie,
" Cobb. Buck Ewing. Hans Wagner,
like, Kelly, Charley Ferguson, Christy
athewson. Eddie Collins, Bobby Car
3athers, and Pop Arson.
NMcKean4 picks only seven present
day stars. They are Collins, Lajoie,
Mathewson, Wallace. Young. Cobb, and
Wagner. He admits that other present
day players are just as good as some
of the old-timers mentioned. and says
the list should be extended to fifty.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
YOUNG BECKER MAY
JOIN MINOR LEAGUE. -.
RANKS NEXT YEAR
Local Sandlotter Is Offered
Contract by Bridgeport
Club.

In all probability. Martin Becker.
brother of "Buck" Becker. of the
Nationals pitching staff, a lad cd
ucated on local sand lots. will be seen
pitching for the Bridgeport team Of
the Connecticut League next season.
1t Is understood Becker has been
offered a contract by that club.
Martin has been more or less prom
inent In amateur baseball circles Of
Washington for many years, he hav-
ing performed with the Navy Yard
League Of the Capital City League
during the past season. Early last
spring young Becker was recommend
ed to the Connecticut leaguers by a
local scout, but he was not taken on
because Of an overflow of good ma
terial already signed.
1t Is the opinion Of many local
fans that Martin has better pitching
material in him than Buck and those
who are familiar with his perform
ances tout him as being a conner. II
such Is found to be the case. the local
boy will have no trouble making good
In the higher company and should
eventually find his way into one of
the two big leagues
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
DIAMOND DOPE

Outfielder Perry, who led the Eastern,
now International League, in batting
last season, has been sold by the Proyi-
dence club to Detroit.
The Pacific Coast League will open
the season on April 2 and close October
a., The coast circuit has the longest
playing season of any league in the
country.
John McCloskey, the former big league
manager and present owner of the
Butts club in the Union Association.
will place a team in Ogden, Utah, next
season.
Joe Tinker says the Cubs haven't
treated him right. After ten years of
service Joe thinks the Cubs should have
released him to Cincinnati, where he
had a chance to manage the team.
w. H. Watkins and Sol, Meyer. own
ers of the Indianapolis team, now con-
troll the Newark franchise In the Ohio
State League and the Springfield fran
chise in the Central League.
Christy Mathewson hit just one bats
man last season. had two wild pitches,
and gave trirty-elght bases on balls,
fewer than one to game. This record
doesn't look very much as II the old
boy were going back.
The National Association of Union
Printers baseball team is made up OF
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Wash
lngton. Cincinnati, St. Louis, Pitts
burgh, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Den
yer printers. The association will meet
In Boston next August.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
Self-StarterS Will Be
Prominent Next Year

Next year will be season of self
starters: During the last few months.
many OF the makers Of medium powered
cars have been scurrying about to select
a self-starter suitable for next season,
Many OF these makers felt that the ad-
dition Of lf.starter would be a big
selling argument, the same as demount-
able rims were year ago. The result
Is that today the self-starter is more
In demand on the car listing at under
1900 than in the higher-priced cars.
Inc makers OF cars selling under the
$1,000 mark always are anxious to com
pete with the higher-priced models and
frequently offer inducements not found
in higher-IriCe,l rachines This was
true In the ignition field year aeD
and Is going to prove itssls in tho self
starter field this season Many of tile
car makers in this clcss do not hesitate
so much about fitting a sslf-starter as
would maker of hieh-priced machines
With the medium and low-priccd ma
chine the old time reputation is not so
much at stake as with -he older con-
panies, ard this often is responsible for
The speed with which innova lions are
| adopted by one class of makers, Whero-
as another class holds back.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
Red Sox Will Face
White Sox Flag Day

CHICAGO. Dec. 25.-The Boston Red
Sox have been given the honor of play
ing the White Sox on ''',ag.reis.ng day"
at Comiskey Park. On trat day the
flag which the south SIdeis prat ed
from the Cubs in tho Chicago city series
will be unfurled to the freezes ut
Comny's ball yard. A celebration be-
fitting the occa sion Is planned
The honor was given the Boston club
because of the friendship existing be +.
tween officials OF the Two teams. Jimmy
McAlcer. Robert McT,oy. and lake
siahl, Of Tho Rad Sox. are close per-
scnal friends OF President Coiuisl ey
and Manager Callahan.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
BASEBALL OUTLOOK
BRIGHT TO LEADERS
Major League Managers and Mogu1s Confident of Doing
Well During Diamond Campaign of 1912
Griff Has Hopes.

Supreme confidence is generally man
ifested in the opinions Of the various
managers and presidents Of the Nation
al and American League teams regard
ing their outlook for the coming base
ball season. Here you have what they
all say. You may take your pick.
Mack-The Athletics won In 1910 and
1911. Next years team will be strong
err than those OF the past two seasons.
INFER what you like.
McGraw-The Giants were the best
team in 1911. We proved II after one
OF the hottest lights on record, and we
Will repeat 1t for good measure In lsl2.
Jennings-Detroit was second in. 1911
despite poor pitching. believe l have
picked up the necessary pitching
strength to land the team first.
Chance-The Giants were mighty
lucky Our pitching will be better In
With good pitching we would have won
easily.
Davis-The Maps finished third with
q bunch OF youngsters. Next year tney
will be better. believe the improve
ment makes Cleveland a big factor.
Liarke-The injury to Hans Wagner
beat us out OF the pennant. with any
thing like an even break next season,
we will win another pennant beyond
doubt.
Cailakan-C Chicago just hit its gait
when the season closed. Inc CITY
series showed our possibilities. AT this
gait next year there's nothing 70 II.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25

ODay-There is lot in the Reds
that will come out with the right kind
OF handling. / believe the team has a
frst-rate chance to land first.
Wolverton.New York is a strong
real form. the Highlanders will be the
most troublesome team in the league.
Bresnahan-The Cardinals proved to
be the National League surprise last
year. and they will be q sensation In
1872. The winner must beat US, believe
me.
Griffith-I will give supporters Of
washington a surprise. They'll forget
the cry: First In war, first In peace.
and last In the American League"
Dahlen-Brooklyn has Just about
reached the point in its development
where 1t will demonstrate its real abii-
ity. Supporters will be content.
McAleer-Boston is too good a base
ball town not to have the very best,
The fans here want to be shown, and
we intend to deliver the real goods
Dooin-The Phillies Will be the Ma
tlonal Leagues representatives in the
worlds series next year. We. will play
the championship of in Philadelphia.
Wallace-The st. Louis Browns will
not win the baseball championship in
1872 Fans who expect them to occupy
that place will be disappointed.
Ward-As president of the Boston
team, / believe we have q better club
than most people believe. I am not
claiming pennant, but watch for ,
surprise.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
VIII Probably Open Season HreBg League Leaders Confident
BOB THAYER'S
Sporting Gossip
Every Knock Is a Boost"
Hope You like the turkey.

Jack Jonnson's arrival here has start
ed rumors OF a battle between him and
Fireman Jim. Flynn. conaueror Of Al
Kaufman and Carl Morris. I. There Ia
little comparison between the two ath-
letes. 1t Ii a contrast. A good big
man is always better than good little
one and Jim Flynn has never proven
himself to be even a good little man.
He would be very easy for the world
champion.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
HERMAN SCHAEFER
PLANS EXTENSIVE
PLAY NEXT YEAR
Sketch to Be Written
Around His Own
Life.

DETROIT. Mich, Dec. Alderman
Schaefer. the irrepressible. is planning
on more extensive vaudeville tour next
winter. Schaef is dissatisfied with his
present sketch. and he plans to have
one written around himself following
the 1872 season.
"Extemporaneous fun-making isn't to
my liking" said Herman. Il plan four
or five more weeks In vaudeville and in
that time I expect to arrive at a point
where can work out 1928 skit for
myself"
Schaef will not acknowledge 1t, but
he believes he has a future in vaude-
Vile
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
Tonorrow's Sports

Amateur Athletic Union Meet in
New York city. -.. ..... ..... ..f.
George Chip vs.. Jimmy Howard,
six rounds, at Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sam Langford vs.. McVey,f twenty
rounds. at Sydney. Australia.
= Joe jeanette vs.. Jack Twin Snlli-
wan. ten rounds, at Buffalo, N. Y.
Terry Nelson vs.. frankie Madden,
fifteen rounds, at Savannah. Ga.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
GREATEST TWENTY
maps INCLUDE OLD
sTQlNEWALL |NF|ELD
Some Wonderful Performers
Have Worn Cleveland
Uniforms.
BY ED BANG.

CLEVELAND, Dec. 25.-The greatest
twenty Maps?
That's stickler and no mistake.
But then list of the greatest twenty
will be read with interest by the fans
evan though they may disagree with
tire writer.
The greatest twenty will be divHled
into five outfelders. six inHelders. seven
pitchers, and two catchers. Only two
backstops are used for the very good
reason that Cleveland has never been
long IN good catchers since this city
has been represented In the American
League.
Heading the outfielders will be Joe
Jackson. Then will follow Elmer Flick
and Joe Birmingham, as the other two
regular fly chasers. Billy Lush and
Harry Bay will, be the fourth and fifth
'lnembers Of the outer garden brigade.
The "old stonewall' flashes through
ones brain when the infield IL given
consideration. George Stovall at first
base, Napoleon Lajoie at second. Terry
Turner at short, and Bill Bradley at
third, That WIS truly wonderful
quartet when all Of the four were play
ing at their best, an infield that COM
pared with the present brilliant inner
works owned by Connie Mack. Neal
Ball and George Perring would be the
sub infelders, the former on strength
Of his great work last season, and
Perring because he has played every
position on the Maps infeld.
Includes Joss.
! The twirling septet would include the
late Addie JOSS. Earl Moore, Vean
Gregg. Bill Bernhard. Robert Rhoades,
Frank Donahue. and Gene Knapp.
What a pitching staff this would make
for the present Maps, II Manager Da-
Wis only had these seven twirlers work.
ing for him In 1912. all Of them at the
clip they showed in their palrniest days.
Joss. Moore, Bernhard. Rhoades, and
Gregg. could Just about pitch any team
to Il championship, that Is, with all five
showing their one-time great form.
The other two would only be needed 10
Finish games. Knapp Is given the call
over Otto Hess because Of his earnest
ness as compared to Hess indifference.
Bemis and Clarke.
OF all the catchers the Maps have had
Harry Bemis and Jaw Clarke stand out
as the best bets. Both Of them worked
In pastures new last year having out
lived their usefulness as Maps.
If one went back TO the days of the
old Spiders. Chief thinner and Jack
0'Connor would nave the call over
Bemfs and Clarke as catchers. Pat re.
beau would be the first baseman and
manager: Ed Mexican would beat Tur-
ner out Of the shortstop Job: Jesse
Burkett and Jim McAleer would make
us forget about Lush and Bay. while Cy
Young and Mig Cuppy would be on the
pitching STAFF. But inasmuch as only
Maps are considered In the personnel OF
the team, we think that our greatest
twenty Is not a half bad selection.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
EXPECT YANKEES
! !. TOOPEN SEASON
Harry Wolvertons New York Hghanders5 Will Prob
% ably Start 1912 Campaign at Florida Avenue. &,
Is Nothing in Airsmith Deal f#s
By SENATOR"

are those who have been most strict
In living up to their religious duties"
The batting averages VI the Western,
League. just issued, contain several
Johnny Beall, who learned his !. first
lessons In baseball on the amateur fields
CT this city. stands among the hrrt
dozen players, with an average OF $3.50.
while Bob Unglaub, the Lincoln man.
pany with q record Of .So2. The much
touted brother Of Ty Cobb made 800,
while Ollie Pickering. who was one ct
the many players brought here by yJoo
Cantillon, dropped to .260, playing the
other washington discard. made IA
which is quite an Improvement on bis
old record as q batsman. ,ss 4
In the standings of tho Subs Bob
Unglaub's team at Lincoln finfshed
sixth on the ,efsht-club circuit. ~
Mack's Denial. /. ~ Is I
Connie Mack has finally come for
ward with an absolute denial .of that
talk of allowing ,stufy McInnes to 80
to Cleveland or Detroit in a threelccr-
nered deal. Mack says he Is ready at
any time to talk business when he sees
q chance to, strengthen the Athletics,
but he thinks to let McInnes go would
be suicide, as he Is counting on that
player to once more play first base.
Frank Farrell, owner of the New
York Yankees, intends to show his APP
probation for the faithful services. OF
Charley Hemphill. He has decided to
send many Of hos surplus players to At
lanta, where Hemphill has just been
made manager.
Select Camp Soon.
1t is expected that the Chicago
White sox training camp will finally
be selected within the next couple of
days. Just now Comiskey appears
undecided between Galveston and
Corsicana, Tex, although he is said
to favor the former. The start of the
first delegation will be made the lat
ter part of February, when Captain
Harry Lord will take a band into
Texas, and a fey days later Manager
Callahan will leave Chicago with the
remainder of the players.
Jim McAleer has selected Hot
Springs as the place where the Boston
Red Sox will do their conditioning
and Immediately after the holidays
he will get together Manager Stahl
to go over the lists of players now
under reserve. Boston has one of the
longest rosters in major league base
ball, but several Of the players will
be shipped back before the invasion
Of the South Is started about the
first Of March.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25

Washington fans may expect to gel
the first look at the Nationals OF 1912 In
q championship game with the New
hYork Highlanders.
80 This week there will be a meeting OF
1.-THE joint committee on schedules from
both the major leagues. While there
Jomay be some trouble in the National
nIeague, the list OF games In the Ameri-
can League ID more or less Of cut
and dried variety. Last spring the
Washington club got under way al
Boston. so IN the ordinary course Of
events It should be New York here for
1.-THE opener.
snt with the Highlanders in Washington,
Aptt will probably be the Boston Red Sox
against the Athletics at Philadelphia,
while the clubs on the Western cir
~ cult will be playing among themselves,
After the clubs in each division have
faced each other in four games. the
atrips will start, this year being the turn
- OF Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and st.
enLouis to come this way for a stretch
Z CATER which the Fasteners will follow
iuHorace Greeley's advice and 60 west.
TO Deal to Vanish.
That nothing will come of that Pro-
posed deal Of Eddie Ainsmith for Jack
thHleHt, OL NOW 1oIhs uPpCdAc ocSAASN'
+ Griffith said last week that as much as
q he would like to have knight around
:, he does not feel that he should weaken
J the catching star which il now one OF
!, the best balanced in the American
!, League.
II Despite the fact that knight was not
"a glowing success with the Philadel-
phia Athletics, Griffith has always liked
the player, and many yet put in a cash
=, bid for his services. but that Ainsmith
. 4 will be allowed to slip away Is most
\ pdmprobable unless Griffith suddenly
sniehanges his mind.
SCI =
s,rl Griff ON Religion.
,sh At this season of the year 1t Is rather
interesting to hear Griffith's opinion
{ son the question Of baseball and re-
nnligion. :
al '"While have never considered my
. self No. on the revised list Of Chris
tians, still believe 1t Is good thing
-rfor ball players to be active church
se rgoers," meditates the manager.
-1t1 Some Of the language used around
sGthe park at times, especially in defeat
would not look proper on Sunday
at school banner, still ! feel that some OF
1.-THE best players have ever directed
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
looming Eack'' Easy

Nothing so unusual about my
coming back and making good"
remarked Manager Jimmy CAL
lahan, Of the Chicago White
Sox, last week. You see, 1t
was this way. Whfn l quit the
White Sox several years ago,
/ turned over a new leaf and
cut out tobacco and liquor in
every form. And. all the time
/ was out of organized base
ball. ] was keeping in shape
physically. Then. when l did
come back. II was as a live wire
and not q dead one. That's ALL"
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
Father of League

Charley Comiskey is the father
of the Western League. or,
rather. the protector. Every
August Commy purchases a
dozen or so promising looking
players In that circuit; and just
as soon as the next spring rolls
around he proceeds to turn
them back. Just now he has
a big bunch of men from that
league on his reserve list.
Among them are Outfielder
Matticks,. of Des Moines; Kelly.
Jones, and Powell, Of the st.
Joseph club, and Shortstop
Berger and Catchers Clements,
of the Pueblo team. Frank Is
bell is the Pueblo manager.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
No Yannigan Travels
For Tigers Next Year

According to President Frank Ma
win. OF the Detroit club. there will be
no YanniEan trip for the Tiger re-
cruits this spring as the tour into
a couple of veterans has always been
a loss to the club and results in very
little good TO the players. The Hot
also be cut out this year.
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
Matty's Record Better
Than MOrdecai Browns

Though many National League root
ers believe Mordecai Brown the equal Of
Big Six Mathewson. the sterling veteran
twirler of the New York Giants, a
glance at their respective records, be-
ginning with 1906, the year the three
fingered gentleman made his appear
ance, shows Immediately that Matty has
not only worked in more games, but has
a higher percentage Of victories. Here
are their records:
The Washington times., 1911-12-25
Marty O'Toole Is in
Best Shape of Career

BROCKToN. Mass. Dec. 25.-Marty
O'Toole, the crack pitcher, for whom
Pittsburgh paid 900. has just COM
pIeted a course of treatment here and
declares he is in the best shape Of his
career. Two years ago O'Toole had
rheumatism In his shoulder, which Sc
riousiy interfered with his work.