New-York tribune., 1911-03-05
\ 'I-ORKED BAL" WONDER
Western Recruit Brings New
Curve to Hot Springs, Ark.
: RIVALS FAMOUS "SPITTER"
More than q Hundred Players
q with the Superbas at. the
Training Camp.
fsv Tolerranh 70 The Tribune !

~ Tional tal players training In THIS Cty.
OF this number tllrty-four belong to BAD
1siH'' Dahlen's Brooklyn team, twenty-five
are members OF the Cincinnati Reds an
equal number are on the roster OF the st.
Louis Browns. and the remainder is COM
posed OF a squad Of Washington players
and other National and American leagre
clubs The veteran Cy Young is also num-
bered among those present; likewise
-~ Vans Lobe-t and otto Knsbe. Of the Phila-
~ delphia Nationals. as well as Jolly bunch
81. OF Tigers. including wild Bill" Donovan.
Push Seminars Willets. stanage end Mul-
len
For more than @ month mary o. tnesa
-rlayers have been hers FOR preliminary
practice and some Of them will leave dur
ane the week 20 join their respective teams.
n which are training in other cities. The
Washington squad viii depart Tomorrow
for Atlanta. and Grover Land, who will do
most of the receiving fer the Cleveland
..- Mrs has already gone 70 Alexandria. La.
H~ Every season there is some new bail
a. sprung cn the fans and this year IS no
exception. From away out in the North
western League, where the timber is typt'
cal Of the tall and uncut" pitcher named
jim Hall is credited with having discov-
ered the new terror. which. for ferocity.
has the splitter looking like busted au-
tomobie tive Hall has named his crea-
-ttion the "forked ball" and those twirlers
now here are giving it rather serious con
slGerstion.
The ball is held between the index end
second finger. This position gives TO It
the name "forked BALI The ball is said
70 break something on the style of the
-"spitter.' but drops quicker and shoots
..more 20 ore side None of the pitchers
have succeeded IN mastering it ss Yet 10
,the degree Of perfect control. but that
credence is given 70 the story is proved
BY the number who are trying 70 90 so.
IN order 10 thoroughly control this new
creation the twirler must have large hands.
Clark Griffith and tho Reds are quartered
At The fashionable Eastman. where Fred
Clark and his bunch Of Pirates make their
headquarters, Griff is quite sure that he
viii not dissppoint the fans" Of the
Queen City this season, and is rather
pleased that certain critics admit that his
team has q fighting change for the bunting.
He was immensely ticBed az the excellent
condition in which he found George Nc
ouilan. Griff will need all the good pitch
4 ing ne can get this season. as lack of COM
- petent boxwork has retarded the Reds in
past seasons. and he depends greatly on
McQuillan doing his share. Mac has been
here FOR months Just as soon as he knew
the trade between Cincinnati and Phiadel-
pha had gone through he hiked for the
VALLEY OF vapors." and has given close at
iention to his physical condition. until to-
day he looks ready to put up the battle OF
his life.
Hans Lobert states that he is going 10
do his best for Philadelphia this season.
He IS resigned now 10 the change from Gin
cinnau and informed the ball tossers here
this week that when the season starts
TN be out there trying 10 win all the
time and giving Fogel the best that is in
me Knabe is also confident that the
Phiilies viii show Grf's men clean pair
.~-of heels.
I, So fs- "a is known, Walter Johnson, the
4 star twirler of the American League, has
I, not Yet signed his contract. There is a
n little difference between him and McAleer
II which, 50 johnson states Will be all
Strengthened out when the team gets busy
~ in Atlanta. Johnson came here under
II weight but the hot baths have acted just
= the opposite on him as they generally do
q, with other players. Instead of taking off
flesh he has increased his avoirdupois in
"a the games played at Majestic Park between
=, National League and American League
. players Johnson has hit like a fend send
=, ing the ball Oh the longest journey it ever
- took-Over the centre field fence lie has
!. made two home runs in two successive
- games
b, friend mentioned to McQuillan that If
ne was ever going TO try to win it would
be when he faced the Phulies.
There's nothing 20 that said McQuil-
Ian, for III t5y just as hard 30 win from
other teams as J would from Philadelphia
-
!, best season l have ever experienced in
i baseball III be greatly disappointed"
y Cy Young is taking things easy lie.
doesn't have TO report at Alexandria, for
n Cy is more or less Of privileged charac-
: ter and knows when ne is right. lie was
i, greatly panied this week 10 learn that the
Highlsnders had discarded his old catcher,
Lou Criger, who, he says, caught him for
over thirteen years.
Many time when I'd get in hole" ="
said Cy, I'D hear Lou calling to me to
brace up, and il always had a wonderful
result. He's not has BEEN but is good
tcr few more seasons strenuous work"
The St Louis Browns will be here dur
ing the early part e 5ext week, and Wal
lace and Griffith. of Cincinnati, have II
.s ranged for q series OF games between the
two teams. Botn are firm believers that
the best way 10 get players in condition
is 70 give them the real article, 50 the
mines will be lighting il out at Majestic
Park. Last season The Boston Americans
shared these grounds with Cincinnati. but
this year they are taking the long trip
TO the Pacific Coast and the St Louis
Browns took up their lease and will re-
I tain the grounds for a number OF years
=, u come.
The Pittsburg Pirates gre due the middle
!. Of the month They will train az Whiting
ton Park, whsre Brooklyn's ball tossers
are now holding forth. Speculation has
been rife as TO whether Hans Wagner,
the celebrated shortstop OF the Smoky City
aggregation. would report on time They
had Honus on the books for jury duty,
J. but there is a judge in PittsburC who is
10 "soue fan and lie Informed Wagner that
/. If he would promise 70 report with the
team in Hot Springs De would excuse
!, him from the jury, and Honus decided 10
\, pick the lesser of two evils and acquiesced
- Wagner does not like tho routine of spring
4, training but this season he has written
!, that he viii he here. il necessary d few
!, days in advance Of the regulars.
"Jiggs" Donohue, former first baseman Of
/ the Chicago White Sox, left to join that
4, team at Mineral Wells. TEX. "Jiggs' was
\. day late in getting away. but his tardi-
/. ness will receive no repri'nand from the