Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-21

Don't clinch an opinion of a party be-
cause of the company he keeps. Some
times you may slip cog.
: For instance, Walter johnson has long
fingered among undesirable hasbeens ana
=..neverwases'' i'll the twirling averages.
Walter never sought nor mer1ted the
company BY a peculiar break IN fortune
= misfortune. rather-it was thrust upon
him. says Tom Terrell in the Cleveland
Leader
= Fans and critics have raved over inns
Idaho wonder. Wise men. base-paiilcai
II. with whom the historic names OIL
glase ball are as familiar as their own
have hummed his praises. have placed
him on pedestal with the greatest OF
the great.
Yet there are those--thoSe thlngS-WHiSh
do him injustice. Records are oiteh
r,nt1rt or resort upon which Judgment OF q
.piayer is based. Just think VIVA. one
eninion OF Walter Johnson would ne u
that one scanned the pitching averages
during the time Walter Johnson has lin
gcred among the American Leasuers ana
based his opinion OF Johnson on those
averages alone.
!, Walter broke into the big snow uui ms e
tlie season of 1907. Since that time ne
has been successful only once In Satnei-
ing more victories in any one season ', n,
bosses A perusal of the records OF i"io
will show that that was ihe ol,ls sr
in which johnson glided above the nan
ay mark.
= In the four years in which he mas
ss,eamed the sphere over the rubber Tor
washington he has gained higher aver
age than that of his club. Even IN iap,
sihe year of the big hurricane TOT WASH
sington. which resulted IN the uenlise "
Zoe Cantillon as a major league manager
land which resulted in "A final average OF
s.a,i for Washington. Johnson won tnir-
icen games and lost twenty-five, "hich
gave him an average OF d4S
rrrowess it is interesting to contemplate
What effect a winning club Will nave
.lupon a pitchers fame and MS piace III
the hearts of the fans.
= Imagine for moment where Johnson
sMould rank if placed with team which
sfinshed one. too. three. Imagine no"
That pill would look to the oppCS1tlon as
1T sailed over the plate, when Johnson
shad the confidence born of repeated VIC
tories Imagine the joy of a h1gh-class
Club playing behind pitcher whom
every club held i'll awe.
= No greater tribute was ever paid TO
.hlan in base ball than was paid to john
son last year when in tanning bee Ad-
Die Joss declared:
% IF / had Johnson's arm and skill and
+was with team, for instance, like De-
1roit. / would agree to pitch for nothing
unless | won at least 40 per cent of my
egames.
= Some people have even gone far as to
Say that Johnson never would lose
sgame if connected with pennant win
shtr. OF course. that's absurd, but he
would undoubtedly merit the confidence
placed. in him 10y Addie Joss.
- The mere presence of man of that
Ialiber in the box is half the victory.
sAround the Washington clubs bench any
gay that Johnson is scheduled TO pitch
one can hear the players say: We'll.
.there's nothing to ii today Walter is
going to PITCH Those players go out on
The field expecting TO win. take chances
which they would not take with = less
-Ieliabe man in the box and actually
play hisher-claSs ball than under ordi |
ffary circumstances
q The opposing manager gets a bunch |
that Johnson is scheduled to work.
s'.There'S no spelling a good pitcher |
against this fellow he will say to him
self one of his Neutenants. He'll prac-
fically admit from the start that his team
Is due to be defeated. and he will send
In one of his unrelables to take a chance. |
= That's the reward pitcher gets for
being a star and the reward club gets
flor having that pitcher on its pay roll.
: The Pittsburg club has thirty-seven
players it's list for spring practice at
Hot Springs, Ark. but four of them will
be dropped March 1. Sixteen pitchers will
go to West Baden March s. the list in
aeiuding Camnitz, Leifield, Adams. White,
PHILIPPE. Lever Steele, Ferry. Gardner.
Faber. Noel Hendrix. Nogle. Smith. Couch
eman and Pressy. Manager Clarke was
9old some time ago to get rid of CamnitZ,
but as several offers for trades have
been turned down this star boxman will
probably have to make his peace with the
Smoky city club owner.
President Taylor of the Boston Red Sox
expects Frank Smith, the piano mover, to
be the teams star pitcher this year.
Smith was secured with Purtell from the
Chicago White Sox last year in exchange
for Lord and Mcconnell. but he couldn't
do much pitching because of a weak an
kle. The big twirler recently informed
the Boston magnate that he was well
as ever and would readily do the bulk of
the work on the slab this season.
Roger Bresnahan. manager of the st
Louis Cardinals. is trying to make trade
with the Giants for Outfielder BeaIs Beck
er. He is angling for Catcher Bill Bergen
Of the BrooklynS, too. Manager Dahlen
SAYS that Roger can have Bergen IL he
will hand over Second Baseman Higgins,
which means, OF course, nothing doing on
those lines.
"Otis Johnson viii make good with the
Highlanders." says President Barrow of
the Eastern League. He can field as
we'll as anybody and is n terrific hitter in
pinch. With men on bases Johnson has
world OF confidence in himself and is
terror 10 pitchers
Larry DOYLE is the only regular Giant
who has not signed a contract but Nc
Graw isn't worrying. Doyle is a willing
worker and IS always on time when the