Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-23
"SOUTAPAW' STAFF
Mack Has Best Group Of Left
Handed Pitchers in Country.
SECURES ROGER SALMON
Makes Fourth "Port Wheeler Sign
ed in the Past Three
Years.

PHILADELPHIA, December 23.-Con-
ME Mack has again beaten his rival Dig
league campaigners to base ball plum
in the person of Roger Salmon. the
Princeton University pitcher. Salmon and
his father appeared at Sable Park yes
terday afternoon and the youthful south
slider" affixed his signature to contract
that will insure him generous tr1al at
the southern training camp next spring.
Salmon is the fourth left-hand pitcher
to be signed by Connie Mack since 1905
Krause was signed in 1909. Lefty Russen
in 1910 and Dave Danforth made his ap-
pearance direct from college into q
evident that Connie Meek does not in
tend to be caught mapping when Eddie
Plank. the grand "southpaw veteran OF
his pitching corps. decides to retire.
Perhaps Plank intends retiring sooner
than the fans expect. as he has init
mated that he soon would be through
with base ball for the past two or three
years. but judging from his work last
season, especially in the worlds series,
Plank has several more years Of excel
lent service slowed away in his pitching
arm
Connie Mack has always been famous
for having sensational left-hand pitchers.
When the lanky catcher came out of the
west to take charge Of the Athletics In
1901 he brought with him a Square-Shoui-
dered. square-jawed youth who pitched
with his left hand. He was unruly. stub
born. erratic in habits-but he could pitch.
Connie handled him as he would have
treated a child. and the big left-hander
became the sensation of the decade.
George Edward Waddell was his name.
but he was known from coast TO coast
as RUDE Waddell. In 1902 Waddell
pitched the Athletics to championship
and was also instrumental in winning
the pennant in 1905, but he later out
lived his usefulness and he drifted back
to the minors
Perhaps the memory of RUDE" whom
many have called the greatest physical
pitcher of all time, has kept spot in
Comics heart warm for "southpaws.
Anyhow. Connie developed Eddie Plank.
Harry Krause and now has Lefty Rus
sell, Dave Danforth and Roger Salmon.
without q doubt the greatest left-hand
pitching corps in the world.
Plank. Krause and Danforth have
been tried and each has been found 10
have the goods" Danforth and Russell
perhaps are the only ones Of the quartz,
about whom Connie has any DOUBTS, pu'
Danforth behaved we'll under fire last
fall and was the star rescue twirler OF
the team in the late weeks of the season
Russell now says he is in condition, anC
will be tried again. Salmon. OF course
is An unknown quantity. but Connie rare
IN signs a man unless he feels he cal
make good. so the fans can almost fee
assured that Salmon will eventually be
come a regular Elephant"
The youngster Is twenty years Old
six feet and two inches tall and weigh
no pounds He was not a varsity pitche
at Princeton, as the varsity had severa
good twirlers, and Salmon stuck closet
TO his class. winning all the game
in which he started. He prepared 10
Princeton at Newark Academy. Newark
n. j.. where he lives. and later pitche
for Tome Institute, at Port Deposit, Md.
Connie may or may not have clear TIT
a BIe9nanan
st. Louis Nationals declares he has
prior claim to him. Salmon worked GU
with the Cardinals in New York las
summer, but never started In game
and Bresnahan declares he sent him
contract. Salmon declares he did not sig
st. Louis contract
Reports that Jack McInnis will nc